Mantle and Built-In Revamp

I met Claire through Facebook over the Summer.  She had me paint her master bathroom vanity with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in French Linen.  Since then, she has taken our Fall family photographs (check her out at Claire Roberts Photography) and did an amazing job!

Claire contacted me before Christmas and wanted to purchase a gift certificate for her mother for Christmas.  She wanted me to paint her parents' oak mantle.  Her parents built a house in a beautiful neighborhood in Trussville, but it has a LOT of oak cabinetry and mill work.  The Steadman's home is gorgeous.  They just don't build houses like the ones built in the late-1980's/early 1990's.  The solid oak mantle and oak built-in desk/book shelf were great to start with, but they are working on some updates to the interior, so painting these fixtures was right in line.

Here are the before photos of the mantle and built-in desk/bookshelf:

 

(Nice coffee cup and impact driver, right??)  I ALWAYS seem to forget to take a "before" shot until after I've removed doors or have a bunch of junk in the way.....*sigh*

Claire and I decided on Amy Howard One-Step Paint in Selznick Grey.  I knew once I added my favorite Ralph Lauren Faux Glaze in Tobacco, it would change the "grey" undertones to more taupe.  Mrs. Steadman decided she wasn't sure about any distressing to the edges, so we opted not to do it.  So, after two coats of paint, some new hardware and glaze, this was the finished product.

Detail of glazing in crevices

Dark oil-rubbed bronze hardware and hinges

What a difference!!  The desk has several shelves that go in the top section. I left those out so that the homeowners could adjust them for their books.

What do you think?

Annie Sloan v. Amy Howard

The BIG question in most furniture painting circles is this:  Annie Sloan or Amy Howard-which do you prefer?

When I took the plunge and purchased a quart of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Country Grey, clear and dark waxes and a wax brush, I was nervous.  I have painted furniture for many years the "old fashioned" way....sanding, priming, sanding, painting, sanding, painting again, distressing, glazing, sealing....blah, blah, blah....IT. TOOK. FOREVAH!   I was hesitant to try AS because of the initial cost involved.  Paint-$36; Waxes-$27 ea; Wax brush-$30-ish.  Not cheap when I don't know if I'll like it or if I can even use it properly.  I got home that afternoon, took the hardware off of a buffet I have had for several years, wiped that sucker down and started painting. I was SHOCKED at how easily the paint went on. I shook the can a little before I opened it, but nothing was separated and it was nice and thick. By the time I finished the first coat, it was dry and ready for the second.  AS paint dries super-fast.  It drys to a perfect chalk-like finish.  The finish was very delicate and would scratch off easily before waxing.  Once the second coat was dry, I waxed it first with clear and then dark to get that great antique look.  I was hooked.  Literally in love with AS products.  I've painted tons of furniture, bathroom vanities (even the crappy thermofoil (yes, a client taught me that word) ones that so many builders are fond of), even kitchen cabinets using AS paints, waxes and lacquer. 

Some pieces I've done using AS Chalk Paint and waxes:

 

Now, on to the comparison....

I was interested in trying Amy Howard One-Step Paint because a cute store down the street from my home started carrying this line.  Before she did so, however, I went to Homewood, AL one day and picked up a quart of Bauhaus Buff and some Light Wax for myself and the spray Primer and Lacquer for my shop-owner friend, Mary.  I got home and wanted to try my hand at the One-Step paint to see what it was all about and if it could compare to my oh-so-loved Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.  I shook and shook the can, removed the lid and was shocked at the floating "water" on the top.  It was so badly separated.  I stirred and stirred and it just never seemed to mix well.  I started painting a small bookshelf.  I literally put on four or five coats over several days.  It was streaked, uneven and didn't cover well.  I was disgusted and went back to buying AS products. It literally took me nearly an entire quart to cover this small bookshelf.

Flash forward to last week:  I kept seeing all of these pieces people have been painting with AH paint and none of them seemed to have the problems I had.  I decided to give it another shot.  I went to see Mary.  I told her what a horrible experience I had with AH paint the first time I used it.  She gave me some tips and we decided I must have had a bad can of paint.  I chose Dunavant Green. Oh my grannies! I  loved it!  I had an antique buffet I purchased about two years ago that was in rough shape. I knew I wanted to paint the bottom and re-stain the top (which I have yet to get around to doing).  I took Mary's advice and turned the can upside down for 30 minutes prior to using.  When I popped the lid, there was none of that watery separation that I experienced the first time I used AH.  I stirred it good with a plastic knife then started on my buffet.  It is significantly thinner than AS.  I did have to do three coats.  I didn't use a lot of paint, though.  I decided to just use the AH Light Wax on this piece after roughing up the edges a bit.  I love how it turned out!! 

Antique Buffet - Before (yep, it's a catch-all)

This is more the true color. The bottom picture looks a bit too lime

So, which paint do I like best?  At this point, I can't say with clear certainty which I prefer.  They both have great qualities.  They are very different from each other. 

Ease of use for beginners:  Annie Sloan
Dries smoothest:  Annie Sloan
Color choices:  Amy Howard
Price:  Amy Howard
Durability:  I'm going with Amy Howard right now because you don't have to wax this paint.  Annie Sloan HAS to have at least clear was on top.

I think I'll choose which paint to use on a job-by-job basis.  Try them both...see what you think. Let me hear from you.