Can you help with my chalk paint adventures?

Pine won't be s problem but might an extra coat or touch ups to cover the knots. The darker the color paint (or more pigment it has) the less coats you'll need. Our white, for instance, might take more than two coats. I've never had a problem with pine. I recommend cleaning it first with a degreaser first to have a nice even paint absorption and surface. When they're painted, those pieces are going to look amazing! There's a lot so I would stick to one project at a time and take your time choosing colors. it looks like many of the knobs are wood. You can paint those too, in a coordinating color. Good luck!

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Haven't used the chalk paint, so cannot comment on it BUT I have painted pine corner cupboards that had knots in them. I always start with Zinser Bulls-Eye primer but, this last one, had the knots bleeding through after about 11 years. It's on my list to repaint. Just a caution about those knots. Your finished cabinets will look fantastic painted. I, personally, love to do something different to the inside of the cupboard, either with paint or paper; seems to add a little something to the piece.

I like water- based rub on varnish on top of chalk paint sometimes. White or dark wax gives a nice dimensional effect to scrollwork. I don't re-wax my painted furniture and it's been holdlong up well. It never reverts to that chalky pre-wax condition. I definitely varnish surfaces like table and dresser tops that get a lot of "traffic."

Paint pine with clear shellac before chalk paint. It will stop any bleeding of knots.

Chalk paint is so much fun to use! As long as its clean, no priming necessary!

You have LOTS to paint, but plain pine is the easiest to paint on. ASCP is expensive. I haven't used it for that reason, but I know a woman in my town who uses it exclusively for her projects ( and she sells her pieces in her shop), and she loves using it; says it goes a long way so worth the price. I've made my own chalk paint successfully. There are lots of different recipes online. I use plaster of paris to make mine. Good luck! Also, that turquoise piece someone posted is beautiful!!

Rustoleum has a chalk paint which is much more affordable and comes in both a brush application and spray can. They also have a top surface product to keep it more protected. It's at the big box stores. I haven't used it yet but am planning to.

I made my own chalk paint, with plaster of Paris. I just wiped down the furniture with soap and water. I put 2 coats of chalk paint. Then, I brushed on furniture wax paint that I made myself. Then, I went over each piece with a coat of furniture wax rubbed on. But, you can also seal it with poly instead of the furniture wax. Here are the before and after pix

The above cabinet only took me about 4 hrs from beginning to end

thank you all so much for your wonderful and very helpful comments. hoping to start them in a week or so because at the moment i am in the middle of painting my sons room (he is 20 and left home in september and i hated the deep red and grey walls).

v nichols your cabinet looks stunning and definately has that lovely driftwood look. i am still trying to decide what colours to use. got tester pots of ASCP old white, graphite, cream, provence, paris grey, french linen and country grey. think i will do a little experimenting on an old bedside cabinet in my sons room. will hopefully get to post some before and after piccies when i am done.

thank again everyone

debbie xxx

Here are some ideas that might help https://chascrazycreations.com/diys/re-purpose-up-cycle/furniture/