I am a fan of walls that appear to have centuries of patina created by layers of paint, smoke, and age. This is how we created an Annie Sloan Painted Wall Technique.
Annie Sloan Painted Wall Technique
There is a small and narrow hallway that leads to the master bedroom in our home. The right side wall has an architectural niche that measures 19 inches wide by 52 inches in height at its tallest point.
The niche begs for a fantastically oversized French statue but alas the right one has alluded me.
So the niche has remained rather plain, decorated with just a simple, but lovely, piece of ironwork gifted to me by my good friend and former neighbor Phyllis. I have thought about painting just the back wall. As you can see, like all the corners in my home, the edges are softly rounded making a paint stopping point rather difficult.
I’ve long admired the old world painted wall finishes used by French Interior Designer Frederic Mechiehe. Particularly those he created in his own home, an old fisherman’s house in the south of France. (You can see more of his home in “Rooms to Remember: Interiors Inspired by the Past” by Barbara Stoeltie.)
So I picked up a 4-ounce sample size pot of Annie Sloan chalk paint in “Provence”. (It retails for around $11.00.) Then I taped off the portion of the wall. Since my walls are so highly textured I made sure to really seal the tape down by running a credit card over it.
This is where it got fun and interesting.
Sweet Guy has been working on his Home Repair Merit Badge in Boy Scouts. He needed to paint a wall for one of the tasks so I handed him a plate of paint and a paintbrush.
Good job! Task completed.
Then I looked at that wall for two days…
… and lived with it for two nights.
I wasn’t “feeling it”.
So I went out to the garage and grabbed my ziplocked bag of Annie Sloan chalk paint in white. (The bag is necessary due to the huge dust storms we get here in AZ. The dust just sneaks and seeps in everywhere.) I pried off the lid with a flat headed screwdriver and…
Mama was NOT HAPPY!!!
I was thinking that Annie Sloan chalk paint does not do well in extreme temperatures.
I was also thinking “Half a can of $40 paint down the tubes.”
A Second Attempt
So I pried out a chunk of the white paint, took a dash of the Provence paint and half a cup of distilled water and mixed it up until it was a pale minty soupy mess. Then I grabbed a dry paintbrush and lightly brushed the mixture onto a small section of the wall.
The pictures are not good. Please keep in mind I was the painter and the photographer. 🙂
Then just as quickly I grabbed a clean paper towel and rubbed and wiped most of the paint off. (You could also do this with a clean white rag that does not leave lint behind.)
This is what I was left with.
Here’s a close up where you can really see the highly textured walls. (Personally, I hate them because the texture is impossible to wallpaper or create various painting techniques such as clean, straight stripes. But I am thankful to have walls.)
It still wasn’t quite my vision.
So I added a layer of Annie Sloan clear wax and then another layer of Minwax “special dark” furniture wax.
Then the heavens parted and birds began singing.
Am I right? Just LOOK at it!!!
Overall the entire process took about 2 1/2 hours. I could see this finish in a small powder room too.
Here is the finish at night. Still in love.
I’ll leave you with a smile.
While Sweet Guy was painting he stopped to take a moment and sing “I see a white wall and I want it painted blue.”
Yep, we’re huge classic rock fans.
Can you name the original tune?
Laura
You May Also Enjoy
I love it, Laura! Even if it's not painted black. But, I think even the Stones would approve. 😉
I love how it turned out!! Fabulous!! And loving that last pic of him!! Toooooo funny!!!!
Looks amazing, I love it and the pic of Sweet Guy is just amazing. Hugs, Marty
This looks great, Laura! I really like your pretty piece of ironwork. You and Sweet Guy did a great job!!
I'd love for you to stop by and see our kitchen renovation. It was done last year, and I'm just now showing the reveal. Can you say “procrastinate”? Anyway, the poor old thing was still partly stuck in the 70's, and we're so happy with the update.
Hugs to you,
Denise at Forest Manor
Rolling Stones, Paint it Black! 🙂
I love the new 'old' look you and Sweet Boy have created. The Annie Sloan ties it in to the surrounding walls. I agree, you need something substantial in that cubby. What size is it?
Your Friend,
Deborah
FairfieldHouseNJ.com
Aren't Scouts great? My DD painted her room as part of earning her home decoration badge, too – from little girl pepto pink to Key Lime Pie – and this summer she started repainting and stenciling furniture to go into it. Definitely life skills kids need! And, as she said, “I won't even be living it it that long – when I leave you'll have a great guest room for Grandpa and Auntie.” True, but it's a tangible reward for all those hours of being a leader and driving around with a car full of screaming kids!
It looks so great with the new addition of paint to the blue!! I will have that song in my head now. It's nice to have a helper!
Laura I love the niche now! perfection, it looks like aged plaster with a great patina. The Stones would approve!
My friend, one thing I love about you is that you always find a way! Sweet boy, what can I say, he is a godsend!
xoxo
Karena
2013 Artists Series
Looks Fantastic Laura! Elegant and rustic at the same time! Your little boy is mighty proud!
I liked the blue, I like the drybrushed white over the blue. And with paint, you can experiment and change to suit. What a great feature.
And love the photo of SB singing his heart out. He is adorable!!! (Probably not really what a young guy likes to hear from an old grandma lol) His Momma raised a great son! 🙂
Hope you have a great week!
Oh yes, that color is perfect…love the aged look!!
Pretty. I love that shade of blue. I kept waiting for you to add the wax. I knew that would do it.
There is a gorgeous, articulated marionette, whose femininity reminds me of Donatello; it's in the Biltmore diagonally across from the man who makes the steam punk and industrial lighting. But sadly it costs a fortune!!! 🙁 I didn't go there this month to see if Pietro was still there. Someday, I'll find one.
Your statue is so pretty. Love the picture of your son rocking out! The blue is a pretty color, but I like it washed even better. Dropping by from Met Monday.
Allison
Atticmag
Great job with all the textures Laura! And your Sweet Guy is just so great!
“Sweet Guy” has probably never even listened to Paint it Black
HA HA! He's so funny! I never would of thought of that tune! 🙂 But then I never was a big RS fan… 🙂
Love how it turned out!
~Liz
I could have sworn I commented on this one! I know I read it because I had that song stuck in my head all day (not a bad thing) and channeled my inner Jagger to go along with it. I love the painting effect! And Sweet Guy's taste in music! Ann
This is so beautiful! Love the blue. The little niche is really cool.
xoxo.
Mary
Laura, you just rock. That is so beautiful, and I'm impressed beyond words at the way you dug in and fixed it after it dried out. Just awesome. (And in case you don't see it where I wrote it, I LOVE the red sofa in the “cave” too!)
Your painting looks wonderful–the fact you are classic rock fans is awesome! (love that picture!)
I wanted to invite you to the Friday Flash Blog Party, the best linky in town! I hope you'll join us and link up. Who knows. You may just get highlighted!
The party goes on through Monday.
Jennifer @ The Jenny Evolution
http://www.thejennyevolution.com
That “aged” look is wonderful! And I think that with this particular treatment your textured walls are actually a plus!
Love the photo of your helper–so he's a Rolling Stones fan, is he? My husband and I have so enjoying introducing our sons to classic rock over the years–the fact that we know these great bands has upped our street cred with the boys! 🙂
Now it looks as though it's a gate to the outdoors!