Why Annie Sloan Paint?
We are often asked “So what’s so good about Annie Sloan Paint?” The thing is that it isn’t just the cost or the colour there is loads more about why you would choose one paint brand rather than another.
I have been an Annie convert since it began. In fact I can remember the frustration of starting out with sales in Spain. We had to break into, what I discovered was a very competitive decorative paint market - dominated by the big names that is. We had a unique paint as there was literally no other that behaved like Chalk Paint™ and I wanted the world to discover it and find what bliss it was to work with. I knew that once anyone had the opportunity to try it they wouldn’t turn back - and I was right! Look where it has got to now!
Anyway I digress. The point is that although there are now a number of look-alike brands out there, none of them (in my opinion) are as accommodating and agile as Annie’s. I am an experienced painter and have high expectations of the products I use. Just with this one paint I can get a professional finish for any style I choose to create. From a coloured stain to a really textured finish. A smooth conventional finish, (I call that grown up’s painting, when you follow the grain carefully laying off the paint to get a slick smooth finish.) Then there is the decorative painterly work that I do, laying down the paint, wiping it off with a damp sponge, adding texture, colour and patterned motifs All these things can be achieved with Chalk Paint™
I like to spend my time on actually painting. Not preparing and cleaning up afterwards. So that’s a tick too! I very rarely have to sand down or even put a base coat, so can get straight down to the fun bit. And afterwards its simply, hold everything under a tap to clean the brushes and utensils. No nasty chemicals and smells, just a bit of washing up liquid!
Remember little prep work means more time saved in the actual painting, it is well worth that bit of time spent on its protective wax or lacquer coat on top. Even that isn’t hard work.
As to how it sits next to its competitors - the coverage is amazing ( a litre will easily do a chest of drawers) It will go over pretty much anything and I have never had to give up on a surface yet. The occasions I have encountered a reluctance to behave properly, it has always been a question of finding a happy marriage between surface and the paint. Adding water perhaps or applying a thin coat first to give a good grounding. I have never given up! The fact that it is such a matt finish paint means that it wants to seep into the surface to be painted (no resin means it does’t bind to the surface like shinier paints do (which is why they require a primer or base coat.) As a matt finish it is also a breathable paint which means it can be applied to surfaces prone to damp because it does not seal the surface, allowing it to dry out naturally.
But don’t just take my word for it, look at some of the other users and the work they create. Painting a piece of furniture isn’t just a question of colour it’s everything I have talked about here!
Annie has written a fabulous piece about the difference between Chalk Paint™ and Wall Paint and I have included it here for you to read:
THE LOWDOWN: WALL PAINT VS CHALK PAINT®
Annie Sloan has been making Chalk Paint® since 1990. Chalk Paint® is a water-based paint designed to be used for painting furniture. The way it’s formulated means it applies to virtually any surface and can be used to execute myriad decorative effects. You then choose whether to finish with Chalk Paint® Wax or Chalk Paint® Lacquer which will provide protection. It took the interiors world by storm, as it suddenly allowed people the freedom to customise, personalise and restore their homes exactly as they wanted.
Chalk Paint® can be used on Walls, and in some older homes which require speciality breathable paints we actually recommend it, but it was not designed primarily for this purpose.
Wall Paint, however, is a whole new formula. Specifically developed to pack the pigment-rich punch Chalk Paint® is so known for, but with inbuilt protection. Although we’ve taken what we’ve learned from more than 30 years producing the market-leading furniture paint and applied it to our Wall Paint, there are key differences.
1. One step. Annie Sloan Wall Paint is harder wearing than Chalk Paint® without Wax or Lacquer. It’s a one-step process.
2. The look. The finish is slightly different. Our Wall Paint has a soft matte finish with a very slight sheen. We wanted to retain that powdery, velvety, synonymous with a quality look that our customers love so much in our Chalk Paint®. The slight sheen makes it more practical for walls.
3. Durability. Wall Paint is incredibly durable, dependable, and reliable. Independent laboratory testing proved our Wall Paint was more “scrubbable” (i.e., withstood more vigorous cleaning) than our peers (we won’t embarrass them here by naming names). It has a wipe-clean finish making it perfect for busy, lived-in, well-loved homes.
4. Colour choices. Although there is some overlap between the Chalk Paint® and Wall Paint ranges, there are 17 brand new colours developed especially for your walls. Including Chalk Paint® favourites that have been lightened to better suit walls.
5. Unlike Chalk Paint, Wall Paint will not work on surfaces other than walls, without preparation and priming. So we would not recommend Wall Paint as an alternative to Chalk Paint for furniture painting.
In conclusion, Annie Sloan Wall Paint is the paint for your walls, and Chalk Paint by Annie Sloan is the paint for furniture, kitchen cupboards, floors and older walls which require a breathable paint Here is some more info from Annie herself.
If you have any further questions do email in I will be happy to answer.
xx Jane