Hutch Re-Do With ASCP {Before & After}

I FINALLY FINISHED IT!!

Sorry I just had to say that...and technically it's still not finished because I still have a couple more shelves to put another coat on and wax and some hardware to put on (need longer screws than what they came with), but I am considering it DONE.

The background on this piece is basically that I bought it at a yard sale for $25. It had been sitting on the seller's in-law's wrap-around porch for 2 years and it was completely covered from rain but not from bugs and general dust and pollen. So it was filthy!! It was however a very solid piece and I just thought it had great lines. I know my hubby thought I was a little insane when I called and told him I really wanted to buy this huge hutch and paint it. But he helped me haul it home and that was a feat in and of itself since thing weighed a TON.

Here are some BEFORE shots.

 This is just the top part. Like I said....It is a huge piece.

 This the bottom after being cleaned up and hardware removed.

 This is the very top which had the clean lines I was drawn to.

So this thing sat like this in my basement for a couple of months while I pondered all the insane amount of work that this was going to take to get it to the painting stage. I envisioned needing a palm sander and spending hours sanding every inch of this thing so I could prime it. Then I envisioned two coats of primer (and several hours) and then probably two coats of whatever paint I decided on (more time and work). I was exhausted already so I kept putting it off.

Then amazingly I heard about this chalk paint for furniture where you didn't even have to sand or prime. I cannot for the life of me remember where I first read about it (probably Pinterest) but I was immediately interested and began extensive research into it. I read several reviews from other bloggers (love the blogging community by the way) and of course everyone mentioned how expensive it was. But all I could think was "who cares, at least you won't have to sand and prime." I was sold. So as luck would have it, there was a stockist in the next closest city to us. I went in and the sweetest clerk helped me out and told me all about it and I was fired up to get started.

So here is my review of the Annie Sloan Chalk paint (ASCP) and some DURING photos.

• I paid $28 plus tax for my quart of ASCP at my stockist and got Pure White. I later went back and bought the clear wax too but applied that with old t-shirt rags.
• The cost is worth it!! It goes a long way, covers like not other paint I've ever used and can be watered down (very slightly) to make it last even more.
• It cleans up just like any other water-based paint. Super easy to clean up and I had way less drips than with other types of paint so hardly any mess...and I am a messy painter.
• Hardly any distinct odor to the paint. The wax has an odor but it's not harsh.
• My piece had a lot of imperfections in the wood and the paint just covered it all and masked it beautifully.
• The top of the bottom piece was a wood veneer (plastic stuff) and I painted right over and you would never know the difference.
• I do wish I had known to thin the paint a bit with a tiny amount of water because I think it would have saved me from having to buy another quart of paint to finish out the top. Although, this piece really was so large with so much surface area that I may have still needed another quart. I had to do two coats to get the coverage over that dark wood that I wanted.
• I was scared to death of the waxing part after reading lots of reviews and some that it didn't turn out right or they used too much. I didn't buy the brush just because my stockist didn't have any in stock and I was ready to move on the waxing stage and didn't want to wait to get a brush. I had success with using a cloth but probably would have had more even wax coverage with the brush. I will be getting one in the near future though!
• I really cannot think of anything to complain about with the paint. It lived up to my expectations and then some.

Now time for the AFTER pictures. Some plain and some with it decorated for Fall.

If you have questions about the paint just let me know. I will try to help. My stockist can be found HERE.

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