Chalk Paint® & Kitchen Cabinets

Chalk Paint® decorative paints by Annie Sloan is perfect for re-doing your kitchen cabinets. Many people are looking to refresh and revive their look but don’t have the funds to take out all the cabinets. Chalk Paint® developed by Annie Sloan is just the furniture paint you need  to get this job done in beautiful and cost effective manner. On the Purple Couch is ready to help you with your project and can do so from our studio in Rockville at 12276 Wilkins Ave., Suite 311 Rockville, Md 240.292.9470

Need Help? Check out this kitchen done by our team…

Do it yourself or have us re-do the kitchen for you. All hand painted and hand waxed with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint…email or call us to begin the project at bahia at onthepurplecouch dot com or via phone at 301.896.0010. Please send pictures and measurements if you can to begin the process…

Check out these images…all done with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint® and Clear Wax…yep…you can do it too..like my lil guy says…lol…steps below pics…keep scrolling

So how do you get started painting your kitchen with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint®?

1. Clean your cabinets… you can use TSP subsitute (home depot)* read the instructions carefully.. you may also use soap and water etc…most important here..make sure cabinet is clean and well rinsed off

2. determine if you will paint the backs of the cabinets and the interior. Many people only do the face and the back…others do the inside as well. I did my cabinets 3 years ago..I only did the fronts…my mind is too scattered to have gone any further..lol

3. How much Chalk Paint® do I need? A quart of Chalk Paint® covers 150 sq feet of surface…that is a lot of paint. So you 1st need to calculate your space. Measure your cabinets hight and width and this is the square footage of your cabinet. Now of course you will do that for all your cabinets and get your total number. Once you’ve done that you will need to divide that number by 150 ( the amount the Chalk Paint®) quart will cover. This number will give you how many quarts you will need for 1 coat. For kitchens and of course depending on the color you will need at least 2/3 coats…if you are doing the back of the doors…make those adjustments as well.

4. oops this is a big question…will Chalk Paint® adhere to my surface…yes…do you have to take some steps for IKEA type furniture or furniture that might bleed through..yes..

5. a lil trouble shooting…Please purchase and have on hand Zinsser Shellac “clear”..from your local hardware shop.. you will use this product if you encounter bleed through ( a pink or yellow stand that keeps coming up) or need to seal knots in wood or to minimize the grain in your cabinet. Please paint it on…2 coats should be good. Please use a cheap brush as you will need to discard it later…You can put this product on a piece that has already painted..let it dry about 10 to 15 mins and then go back to painting right over it…

6. what color should I use….yikes that’s the most fun and exciting aspect of the project…what look are you going for and secondly what type of use will your kitchen get…Annie has 31 plus colors and you can make your own because the pigments are of such high quality.

7. Remember as you begin to paint..Chalk Paint® is a paint that allows you to use your creativity and your hands. You get to be an artist and create in your own home and space…Please do not expect or look for a factory finish when using this product…the whole idea is that your piece looks natural and one that has been lived in and tried and tested..lol…You can create a smooth look or a more rustic and textured look…so you do have choices…

8. Do you have to keep the doors up or take them down? I left mine up when I did my kitchen..as I said my mind is too fragile at times…lol…If I could do it again I would take them down. If taking them down..be sure to paint inside…resist the urge to go out in the garage..oh and don’t store your paint in a garage while you are at it. There is no order and Chalk Paint is 0 VOC so you can paint at home and in the house. Label your doors and make sure all the furnishings are labeled and bagged with the location they came from…you will thank me later I am sure.

9. Get to painting. and enjoy.

10. Once you have painted 2/3 coats of Chalk Paint® allow your piece to dry well. Now it is time for waxing.

11. A wax finish is a very high quality and superior style and quality finish. Yes it does take a lil direction to get started and get it right..but once you get it you got it…NO NOT USE POLY ON CHALK PANIT…seriously its plastic, its false and it often discolors Chalk Paint®.

12. How many coats of wax should i use on my kitchen cabinets? I would strongly recommend 2/3 coats waiting 24 hours in between each coat. Please use a WAX brush…do not apply wax with a cloth…why? because you are going to use too much…and end up having a hard time getting the extra wax off.

13. With Annie’s wax brush…wipe on your wax..lightly..less is more..wipe off the excess…don’t wipe off the wax…and then wait..why? just wait..the wax needs to set up…if you buff too soon…you will take the wax off..:)…

14. Once you have waited 15/30 to even 24 hours. Come back and buff…you will use a blue shop cloth. These are lint free and can be used throughout the life of your project. Blue shop cloths can be purchased at our shop or your local hardware shop…

15. thats basically it…once cabinets are waxed and buffed you can put them back up. You might wait and week and buff them again….more on that another time and come in and ill walk you through it…you can also distress add dark wax and more…

Hope this has given you some tips and insights…

Chalk Paint, Painted Kitchen, Annie sloan