Annie Sloan paint

[spotty26]

Can anyone please recommend the best colour for a neutral beigey grey from the Annie Sloan range?

I have just used Paris Grey (looked totally different to the tester wooden spoon in the shop). It is nice but on the bluey end of the grey spectrum which was fine for the project I was doing (a sleigh bed in case you wondered).

Also, has anyone used Graphite, the very dark grey/black? Successful?

Thanks muchly

Spotty

Spotty - sorry I missed your post, I'd have replied if I had seen it!!

I'm probably too late - but just in case...

A good neutral beigy grey is Country Grey - much more 'yellow' then 'blue'.

Graphite is very dark, not at all beigy. It has a very 'patchy' finish to it, much improved by waxing, but certainly not a 'solid' colour.

Check out the Autentico chalk paint range (sorry about the music ) - they have a huuuge range of colours and waxes, and I reckon I'm going to give them a try on some chairs rather than Annie Sloan.

Why is that Selks?

I've used both and I far prefer the Annie Sloan paint. Because her colours are 'pure' you can mix them to make pretty much any colour you want.

Chipping I just suggested it because I thought the OP might find a shade to suit in that range.
What was it about the Autentico paint that made it not as good as the Annie Sloan? Interested as I don't want to waste money on inferior paint.

(Sorry for hijack OP)

I just didn't like the way it went on, the coverage wasn't as good and the colour didn't seem as 'deep'.

It does have an enticing colour range though :) I wonder if I should try it again? But frankly, I have enough AS to start my own shop right now, so need to get painting, not buying more paint!

Interesting to hear your impressions of it Chipping; thanks.

Given your experience with AS paints, what colour mix would you suggest to get a good dark grey?

It depends on what you mean by 'dark grey' really. If you want a 'colder' dark grey I'd use Paris Grey & Graphite.

However, if Authentico has the shade you want, you should give it a go.

I am brand loyal to a fault, about pretty much most things, so maybe sometimes blinded by that

I have a few things I need to do first, but when I have done them I will buy another tin of Authentico and give it a go. I do love their colour range. I'd feel like a traitor, but hey... it's not like she pays for my brand loyalty

I'm imagining a mid - dark - blue grey or something.
Bit bluer, but have you used the Aubusson blue from AS? That looks gorgeous from the pics I've seen.

Aubusson is lovely and it goes on amazingly (due to the nature of the paint and the natural ingredients the different colours have different 'feels') I have never needed to do more than one coat with it either.

Graphite is a dark dark grey, not black. It mixes well with other colours so you could happily look at mixing them if you wanted something darker.

Is this for the chairs? What are they like?

I loved Napolionic blue, but we can't get it here in the UK anymore, though I think it's still available in the US. I've got close to it with mixing but it's a faff and not quite right.

They are four battered old oak dining chairs like these but tattier.

Oh, very cool :)

I haven't tried it yet, but you can actually paint fabric with AS paint

Have you used any chalk paint before? If you haven't, I'd give it a go on something 'easier' first, just to get a feel for it. It will go on pretty much anything, so just pick something that you either want painted or it doesn't matter about - chairs are fiddly!!

Are there any other colours you like the look of?

No, never used it before, this is my first project! Bit confused about waxes. Would you just use the clear one? Is the dark one for specific effects?

It depends on the 'look' you want. The clear wax is just that, clear. You can put it on, wipe off the excess and pretty much leave it if you want a more 'matt' look, buff it a bit for a 'sheen' and buff it a lot for a 'shine' - it pays to do at least 2 coats on chairs. It goes on best when it's not cold, so if it's a bit too firm you can warm the cloth or the wax on the cloth with a hair dryer if you want to.

The 'dark wax' - you can use this in two main ways, the way it's mostly used is in grooves etc to add a bit of character, highlight the detail. You put a small amount on with a cloth and you can use a bit of the clear wax on a cloth to remove any excess.

Or - you can put a 'smear' of it all over to 'age/darken/dirty' a piece. It's not a look I like, but many do.

If you are going to 'distress' the chairs, paint then wax then distress and wax again. You can distress before you wax, but you get a less 'clean' look to it and it makes a lot more mess!

Thanks, that's really helpful.

Sorry again for the hijack OP!

No problem at all, I can bang on about Annie Sloan Chalk Paint for England!!

If there's anything else you'd like to know, or if you need help once you get started, just ask! (Probably best to PM or I might miss it).

It would be great to get an update from Spotty :)

Thanks Chipping; may well do.

Come back, Spotty!

Here I am! Got a bit Annie crazy and have now attacked various items in graphite and French grey amongst others. Am pretty pleased with the results. Do not get on well with the dark wax though (ok on graphite).

Thanks for all the tips!

Hey you - lovely to see you :)

Sorry they were too late to be much use!

I don't use the dark wax much, but go through tons of the 5l tins of clear wax. It would be nice if it wasn't so expensive!

Are you going to do anything else or are you all done now?

Hi Spotty! Ooh graphite - I love the look of it; tell me, did it turn out very dark or a mid/dark grey? What did you think of the French grey, is it very light? Got any photos of your finished items?

You guys can I ask you to look at my new AS thread? (Having a table crisis, ha ha) - here

Selks Graphic is great. It's dark grey - it's like blackboard paint :) It is hard to describe what I mean, but it isn't a block colour, it is exactly like a blackboard. It looks better once it's waxed.

Do you mean Paris Grey or French Linen? Paris Grey is a light grey, quite a clean look - it looks lovely, French Linen is quite a muddy grey, also lovely, but very different.

Will have a look at your thread now :)

Sorry I used Paris Grey and French Linen! Thought it sounded wrong.

Have never put pics on here but will have a go. Graphite is fab with dark wax over the top, like Farrow and Ball Downpipe but a tad darker.

French linen came out very light until I waxed then it was a lovely dark greige. Goes well with everything sort of colour.

Ah right :)

Yes - Graphite is nice with the dark wax.

I am loving your colour blends it was a lovely dark greige grey meets beige?

I am doing a sideboard in Old White overlaid with French Linen on the outside - not sure what's going inside yet, will decide once I've started.

i am wanting to try and paint a wooden fireplace with annie sloan paint.has anyone done this ? and wa s it successful ? thanks

Ooh a chalk paint thread! I haven't bought any yet, but have the book on my Kindle and am thinking of re-vamping an old chair to start with. I prefer the non-distressed look, so I'll be aiming for a solid colour. Probably white. I've also got a dark wood heavy-framed mirror which I fancy having a go at. Has anyone tried similar? I was thinking I'd be miles away from the nearest AS stockist (am out in the sticks in Cumbria), only to find the tea rooms/village shop in the next village stocks it!