My Farmhouse Entertainment Center

Let me just start off by saying, I love Annie Sloan chalk paint!  I got hooked on it a few years ago.  When I buy wood furniture, I typically buy it with the intent to paint it “someday.”

Yesterday, my husband reminded me of the fact I’d bought Annie Sloan chalk paint to make our entertainment center all cutsie before my sisters came to visit (1 week and 2 days and I cannot even stand it, I’m SO excited!!!).  He then proceeded to tell me I shouldn’t worry about it because it looks fine as it is and there really isn’t time to paint it before they get here.

Yeah, he’s the king of reverse psychology.  CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!

I started removing the glass panels, knobs and knick knacks like a mad woman.  I pulled out my can of Duck Egg Blue paint and my Annie Sloan pure bristle brush.  I was READY!

Then I remembered I had to wash my furniture first (wah, wah, waaaaaaahhhh).

After a good wash, I dipped my brush into the can and started slopping on the paint.

I put a nice even coat on the entire piece.  I also decided that a little chicken wire never hurt anybody (sent my hubby to Walmart for it), and tacked some up in place of the glass that was once there.

I then started distressing the piece by lightly sanding the edges and little random spots on the piece to bring back some of the black underneath.  By the way… I prefer to buy REALLY dark furniture. If it comes painted black already (as this piece did), it’s a winner in my book.

Next comes the waxing.  I’ve read everywhere to “clear wax first, dark wax second.”  This is to ensure you don’t stain your paint with the dark wax.

While I agree with this approach, my small attention span does not.  I’ve found that my “secret sauce” for waxing is a big scoop of clear wax, with a teensy, weensy dab of dark wax mixed together really well.

The little bit of dark wax “warms” the paint color a bit.  I should mention that I also don’t “wax lightly” like everyone suggests.  I actually paint the wax on, to get beautifully colored strokes.  Then I use paper towels the rub the wax off in the same direction I painted it on (the wax is worked into the piece as you do so).  In the images below, both the top of the entertainment center and top drawer are waxed.  You’ll notice they’re a bit darker than the rest of the piece and you can see the colorful strokes in the top.

After distressing and waxing the entire piece, I added some new hardware (these adorable drawer pulls are no longer available, but I keep checking) and loaded it all back up!  I’m kind of in love with the results…

Before…

To be fair, our entertainment center was really dusty and I had removed the original hardware (just bronze knobs – you’re not missing much).  The piece was actually a lot cuter than the before picture makes it out to be.  But considering it is a “before” picture, we told it to frown and stick out its gut a bit, to ensure the “after” had all the wow factor we were looking for.

What do you think?  Have you tried Annie Sloan chalk paint?  Do you have a “secret sauce?” for waxing?  I’d love to hear your ideas!