Before

This piece was in excellent condition. All it needed was a cleaning and scuff sanding to prepare it for paint. Krud Kutter does an excellent job of removing dirt and grease. After the initial scrub down, it was rinsed with water and left to dry for a bit. Then, I chose a flexible sanding pad because of the curves of the piece, I thought it would be the best choice. It was scuff sanded to disturb the finish layer of poly so that the new paint would have better adherence. Once it was sanded, I removed the dust with a tack cloth. I then used white Shellac based primer.

Painting

I just loved the curves of this piece and the beautiful arch in the center. It just screamed french country, so I took this cue and chose a beautiful neutral Chalk Paint color called Old White by Annie Sloan for its makeover. Before painting however I taped off the center area because I liked the contrast of the wood and painted finish. I love using Chalk Paint for its amazing adherence quality and have found that a little goes a long way. I thin it out a little when painting and use a mister bottle to spray my brush every now and again. After the first coat of chalk paint was applied with a natural bristle brush and dried, I used 400 grit sandpaper to smooth the surface. Then, I applied the second and final coat. Once that was dry, I sanded lightly again and removed all dust with a tack cloth.

Sealing

Once the final Chalk Paint coat was dry, I used Annie Sloan's clear wax to seal the piece. I love using this wax because it gives the paint a gorgeous matte finish that can be buffed to a beautiful sheen as well as offering a great deal of protection.. Wax can also be reapplied every 6 months or so, but doesn't really need to be. It is very durable and easy to clean.

After

Here is the after, decorated and ready for the holidays.