I used chalk paint for a long time, and even with prepping and buying the most expensive brushes in the world I could not get a smooth finish, neither one without brush strokes. Expensive and the look is awful! I emailed the chalk paint thief twice about how to proceed but shes not answering me. As a final alternative I used chalk paint and WOW?? Nothing like reinventing the wheel.. Also, for kitchen counters, I then coat with a layer of epoxy resin for an extremely durable finish. My review on Vintage Market-I hate their waxes. can I spray paint over it? I hate when my furniture gets scratched. Probably because its less chemical and more organic than other paints. After doing further research on a painting/DIY FB group I belong to, I discovered that others have had this same problem with Amy Howard chalk paint as well and is the very reason why others refuse to use it. This was an interesting article and loved that you shared your opinion. Thank you for confirming that I am not the only one out here think what is the big deal about chalk paint?!. i really appreciate this post. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I wish there was a way to replicate that feel with poly without all that work. Dragging behind a truck.. LOL. The photos look amazing BUT in person crap job. I have pieces that I want to paint but good grief the cost of chalk paint I was browsing a large diy type store and was very overwhelmed in the paint aisle. Other companies are calling theirs chalked paint or chalky paint in order to get around the trademark issue. Literally just went through that but with a midnight, inky blue. Its sad to me that you had to use so many disclaimers, and couldnt just state your own opinion on your own blog for fear of backlash. My first big project was our kitchen table, and I was thrilled with the feel of the paint and the results I achieved. Good post. I also get really growly when I see stuff that is faux distressed, because obviously the person has never USED furniture. I swear this Glidden paint regenerates in the can. I make a lot of furniture from reclaimed wood and do not use chalkpaint on iti dont see the point. Im a neophyte when it comes to crafting & painting of furniture items. Ive been painting anything and everything well before Chalk Paint was invented! I also agree with you about sanding and priming and dont feel like the job is properly done if those steps are skipped. I appreciate your advice. Your post on this was very informative. And yay to prepping! So it works for people who like modern or more antiqued finishes. I use all different types of paint. I dont use chalk paint either. And to really save money, most of my paints are bought from the mis-mixed section of the stores. I am grateful I read this before getting started! I work at a Home Depot in the paint center. Now the last step your missing about latex paint is that you still have to seal it!! Read our privacy policy here, I create easy-to-follow craft tutorials to help. i have painted furniture for many years have even written books on the subject. Also, have fun with the chippy chalk paint that scratches right off with your fingernail! Ugh. And it sounds like it might be! I just painted my dining table, and did one coat of oil-based primer, two coats of paint, and two coats of water-based polyurethane in one day. She loved the end result; it was far too rustic for my tastes!) The stuff I see being put out for sale these days is more like Lets put on fresh paint and then sand it all over anywhere and everywhere, and go down to the bare wood with coarse sand paper. I am big on the more modern ultra-smooth finish! I am getting ready to redo several pieces of furniture and your no nonsense info resonates with me. You can get the same look and effect with a lot less effort and money. Thank you for your thoughtful information about chalk paint. On laminate, Id recommend oil-based paint. There are tons of different finishes you can achieve. Consider me done with crafting and painting. So I did a bit of research and feel like an idiot because I had believed so much hype about it being natural and odour free. Beautiful name by the way, lol. It was a total headache and Im not sure what they hype is all about. NO wonder it was there. So you live and learn. I have used Blackberry House Paint, which is a furniture paint and I have a love hate relationship with it. To get a rich mocha color you might try General Finishes gel stain, which is like a stain but is thick like a get so easier to apply. Thank you for writing a well thought-out (and gracious to those who do like it) argument for not using it. I like to sand and smooth out my pieces, even if Im later distressing them, the extra work makes them look so much better. Mi cerebro, que ya duerme :P, no paro de [], [] gold acrylic paint, above), but Ive found its pretty easy to whip up another batch of DIY chalk finish paint and quickly paint over the top of my table again. My bad, I new that but I went ahead anyway. BUT my clients love it, and I love using it. I just looked sloppy. My husband makes furniture, and he made an adorable table and chair set for our niece. Not only does the saying make me smile every time I see it, but I also love that I can corral everything I use for my morning cup in one place. Im pretty time poor, like most people, wanted to get it done in a day so this sold me. Its therapeutic for me! I have had real problems with some chalk paint projects, I did not realise until too late that if you apply laquer it draws any wood stains right through the paint and you can end up with a real mess. The molecular structure is just not designed that way once it is cured. I have been researching tips, techniques, and inspiration for the last few months, and I was so confused by the ridiculous amount of distressed, shabby chic, and/or chalk paint tutorials I saw. She had purchased her first piece of furniture painted with Chalk Paint, and evidently the piece wasnt waxed. Thanks so much! For a while I was second-guessing myself and thinking I was doing the whole chalk paint thing wrong!! Too late for me. My newest project is my set of HIGHLY laquered, very black built ins. With limited funds I cant afford to throw away money on something that isnt that durable. There is a nice explanation about the difference between the two paint types on DIY Mommys blog (she even has some homemade recipes for making your own chalk paint and chalkboard paint!). It just isnt a sound surface. What is Coastal Grandmother Decor? I was starting to think I was the only one who wasnt a fan of chalk paint. Dixie Bell is resonable.Thanks for review going to try your recipe. I have half a mind to just tint the Stix and use that on my next makeover. I hope people read up before starting any painting projects. TOTALLY agree with this! Although it is very popular, and the pictures are beautiful, in reality, I think latex paint and I get along very well. Do not waste your money and time on store bought or name brand chalk paint! Wish I had read this before I tripled my work and had the bleeding through experience ! (I do happen to like distressing alittle, but not a ton) but I HATE the waxing part of it. I bought a quart of pure white Home Depot Chalked paint, and a quart of Annie Sloan "old white" and wondered if I could mix them. I did buy BBFrosch Chalk Paint Powder (only $10 for 4oz) - and I'm going to use that with some flat paint this time. Love, love, love this article and thank you for writing it. Sheesh! Thank you Lynn, I think you would be very happy updating your cabinets with chalk paint. Waxing a flimsy paint to make it more durable seems like madness. Terrific article. I did all the stripping and sanding and did a good job as he would have had issues with my work when he did the first coat. I do like the fact that you can get it in many colors but really dont see what all the excitement is all about. Once its primed with oil-based primer, you can paint with latex paint. I cans sand them. To me matte latex paint doesnt strike the right balance that Chalk paint does. Or I am told, to save $. I always thought it was disgusting,and it took me a very long time to acquire a taste for it. Some pieces I will do a few coats of satin polyurethane to protect the paint from staining. Keep posting. Not so much for the look but for the feel? I let the tray sit overnight and then put on a coating of protective wax the next morning. I have some beautiful family antiques that provide incredible richness, warmth and luster that paint of any kind will not touch. Painting anything an extra coat is EXTRA WORK. Thanks for visiting, Dani. I could kick myself for using that stuff. I kind of like the distressed look, but I think there may well be better ways of getting it and after this was sanded down the wood had its own beauty. Sanding also helps to minimize wood grain!! who do not care for chalk paint. Learn how your comment data is processed. AMEN!! Super, super expensive paint, even the other brands. In addition to the wonderful selection of colors, they sell a clear coat and glazes to add "antique" features to painted projects. It has truly been overdone and has lost all of its original context. The art of it seems to have been forgotten in an appeal to the masses wanting the contrived farmhouse look. If I refinish a piece of furniture I want it to look pristine not like I was too dumb to know how to paint properly. The price of chalk paint is unbelievable, you couldnt pay me enough to bother even trying it, I have always gotten good results from latex and acrylic paints, and I sure as heck wouldnt spend that much on paint without going to the work to make sure it is going to look good! I hated to paint this little piece but it needed to be white or light gray to work. So I use chalk paint, milk paint, and carefully chosen waxes to minimize my exposure to solvents. Its an old Behr (from Home Depot) color called Jungle Trail. I do want to say that I follow you and I really enjoy your blog. I am not the best prepper though, so that could be why the latex scratches off too. I quickly mixed up a batch of DIY chalk style paint using this recipe and a can of flat latex paint I had on hand. I wish I had read yuri post prior to painting. Yah, Im that old. I also dont use wax on my pieces I put an actual sealer on it. Thanks! Make sure cabinets are very clean. This stuff is an absolute rip off. I dont think youd need primer again. (I would have used it on a good / almost new cupboard) The wax is the hardest part of the process you have to really rub the wax into the surface. Sothe biggest pro you dont have to sand or prime. Pros I did not sand before putting on the paint and it only required 2 coats to complete cover the already lacquered wood. Ive tried the higher priced (and allegedly higher quality) brands, such as Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams, etc., and Im always disappointed that I paid so much for paint when Behr has always been just as good (for me) as those higher priced brands. I do find that the Annie Sloane wax is REALLY STINKY to work with, but there are other waxes that are harder but less fume-y. Its not your imagination however I have found that the large box store brand of chalk paint smells much worse then the kind I got from the local lumberyard store. I would like to whack the people who say any idiot can paint furniture with chalk paint. Not too shiny, not too dull. I use an electric sander where I can, and then sand by hand everywhere else. Wish I could post a pic on here. I have tried stripping it (not realizing it was chalk paint) mineral spirits (works a little) a small amount of scraping and sanding (but it gunks up the sand paper and I dont want to ruin the piece I am working on). nuff said. Thanks again for helping me find focus! Its your house, so just as long as you like it, its fine! oh wait i could have made my own line and charged 10 times the costs.. Its like a woman trying to take a picture in great lighting and tons of makeup to look appealing on a dating site only to meet the person to see she looks NOTHING like her picture. This can definitely be achieved using Chalk Paint! (I call it a bicep workout!) I like the fact that it requires only a minute of sanding to feel buttery soft, and doesn't have the powdery excess that I find with chalk paint. I do love the no prep part as I HATE sanding. So Im sanding down and repainting with my 8 dollar sample paint from SW. Yeah this whole distressed thing isnt for me I hate the paint brush lines. Money made the choice for me. ME TOO about the horrible smell.