The Alternative to Sanding: 5 Chalk Paint Tips and How-Tos

Good Day!

Hands down the most frequent design questions that I receive are whether or not it is possible to refurbish or redesign a vintage piece without sanding and all of the hard work that it entails; and if so, how? 

And my answer is...

YES! It is possible! The answer- chalk paint.

I have noticed that everyone and their mom are redoing pieces now, and the secret is simply chalk paint. Sanding and thorough refinishing and refurbishing is not easy and not for the faint at heart. I specialize in the hard stuff and that’s what my clients pay for, but not all projects require all of that blood, sweat, and tears, nor could some of the pieces even withstand it. But, if you have pieces that you just love, and want to give them a face lift without the sweat, chalk paint is the answer.

And its easy peasy! This is why everyone is doing it. And you can too! I refuse to keep quiet when it comes to teaching my friends and followers how to find their inner artist and redo pieces of their own. I have composed my top 5 most helpful tips and how tos when it comes to chalk paint! Here we go!

1.) You can redo ANY piece with chalk paint- wood or laminate.

Yes, this is true. The great thing about chalk paint is that you can use it on just about anything. I have seen things from candlesticks, to iron works, to of course furniture redone with chalk paint. I am not a laminate fan in general, but if you happen to find a legit piece with some laminate, no worries- chalk paint will lay on that too.

Check your local thrift or resale shops, Goodwill stores, estate sales, or online garage sales such as Facebook to get great pieces to redo for a little of nothing. I get pieces from Facebook garage sale often that are solid wood and in good enough shape to refurbish and redesign. Look for pieces that are unique, those with amazing original hardware, and those with simply ornate details. The more of a beauty and rarity it is before it is redesigned, the more beautiful it will be jazzed up!

Check out the before and after of this little lovely I did within 48 hours! 

BEFORE

AFTER

No sanding involved, just chalk painted, waxed, and buffed!

2.) Make your own chalk paint.

Manufacturers and designers such as the great Annie Sloan sell absolutely fantastic chalk paint and chalk paint products. But, those products can be quite pricey if you only plan to use the paint just for something small, or if you plan to frequent your refurbishing projects. 

So, I am going to share my personal chalk paint recipe that you can create yourself with latex paint, old school Plaster of Paris, a few sprinkles of calcium carbonate (if you are using a paint rig or gun), and a few tablespoons of hot water.

Ahava Designs TX Chalk Paint Recipe

2 cups of latex paint 

5 tablespoons of Plaster of Paris

1/4 cup of warm water

(I use Sherwin Williams paints because of the quality and vast color variation.)

I live by my recipe and guarantee that the quality and consistency is just like that of these $29+ 8 oz cans and it works! I recommend whisking it very well when mixing to sift out any clumps of the Plaster of Paris. Warning! If you are new to using chalk paint, it dries super fast! This is good for the completion of projects in a timely matter, but it thickens up after about an hour or so and becomes harder and near impossible to paint with.

Also, Lowes now offers a really cool chalk paint option. Valspar has the chalk paint mix and you can select a color and have it infused in the can. But, it doesn't come cheap- The quart size can starts at $29.99. Also, the Americana Decor line at Home Depot is pretty good too! A small jar is about $10.

3.) Finishing Wax or Polyurethane?

If I just chalk paint something, I use the finishing wax to seal the deal. It works so well on the paint and the light colored wax and dark colored wax options without sanding and stain, allow for the creation of the antique or vintage look. Here is another tip when it comes to waxing and finishing- Never EVER use brushes. I apply any finish, whether wax or poly, with lint free cloth or old cotton t-shirts. I cut the old t-shirts into 5X7 squares and keep them handy for my projects. I find that the t-shirts eliminate ugly stroke marks and eliminate the battle of painting in the wrong direction or inconsistently.

Two great and affordable wax finishes that I recommend are: 

Miniwax's version of finishing wax- it is fantastic! You can find it at your local Home Depot or Lowes.

Valspar's chalk paint finishing wax - it comes in light and dark, just like Annie Sloan. And it works great! You can buy this at Lowe's only.

Americana Decor Creme Wax 

It is fabulous! And a little goes a long way indeed. Just wax and buff to your desired shine!

Annie Sloan

And the creme de la creme of finishing wax is no other than, Annie Sloan.

4.) Sand ONLY if necessary or if you want EXTRA distressing or antiquing.

I use my orbital sander when I use chalk paint every now and then with a 220 grit sand paper to just smooth out the tops of tables, dressers, etc. I have a detail sander that is one of the best purchases I have ever made (see the picture below). This little lovely allows me to get in the cracks and crevices of a piece to refine those small flaws and also to allow me the ability to antique or distress specific areas. I purchased mine 3-4 years ago from Home Depot and it's still going strong. After you have painted your piece and BEFORE you wax or finish it with a sealant, you can use the detail sander to create those EXTRA distressed areas. Once you have used the sander and used tack cloths to wipe it down to capture any sand crumbs or residue, then use your t-shirts and apply your finishing wax. 

(This is the Ryobi Detail Sander- Retail Price $30 - Home Depot)

(These are the sanding pads- buy them in 220 grit for minor distressing.)

5.) Waxing and Buffing: How do I do this?

After your paint is good and dry, you are ready to wax. The finishing wax has a colored tint to it, hence the reason they sell it in light and dark, so it really shows up beautifully and can add that naturally antiqued looked to your pieces. 

Application:
As cheesy as it may sound, think of Mr.Miagi from Karate Kid saying, "Wax on, wax off." Because this my friends is really how to apply it. Always ALWAYS wax on a clear wax first. Use your lint free cotton or old t-shirts to do this. 

For the more antiqued look, this is where dark wax comes in. Wax on the dark wax using a wax brush (I am a stickler for controlling the darker wax more because it can ruin a piece if applied excessively or incorrectly). 

Once I have added the dark, I take clear wax on a t-shirt and WAX OFF the dark wax. The only thing that removes the dark wax is the clear wax. So, again, wherever you applied the dark wax, wax off until your desire of antiquing has been reached. When you are all done waxing, let your wax sit before you buff for 18-24 hours.This gives the wax a great amount of time to "set in" without drying completely. And what I have found is that in waiting 18-24 hours until buffing, I get the most beautiful clear, satin finish. 

You can find buffing brushes at any hardware store just about, or invest in what we call a buffing drill. Remember, a little wax goes a long way. And also to simply, WAX ON, WAX OFF.

(I am doing an ENTIRE post on how to wax and buff so stay tuned!! )

So, don't stress about messing up- it's really impossible with chalk paint. Sanding and extensive refurbishing can annihilate delicate furnishings if done incorrectly. But, chalk paint, nah! Even when painting the piece, the consistency and appearance of the paint is chalky in a sense and covers well. So, what might normally appear as a painting flaw with standard paint cannot be seen with chalk paint. And if you can wax on and wax off, too, you are good to go! Tackle your inner designer and give it a shot! You can do it!

Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest @ahavadesignstx. 

Until Next Time,

XO

A New Kind of Art: 5 Step Push Pin Wall Art

Hello Mates! Lets get started.

Here is what you will need:

Materials:

1-2 foam boards (depending on how many you wish to make)

100-400 traditional gold push pins (depending on the length of your words/quote)

A photo frame of your choice

Several sheets of printer paper

2 pencils (One dull, one super sharp)

An exacto knife

How-To:

1. Select a frame of your choice and size. The color is up to you and the size of the art is up to you. I went with an 20X20 because for me it was a pretty good size and it wasn't as common. Remove the insert from the inside of the frame and trace your foam board to fit the size. Use your exacto knife to then cut the foam board. I wanted matting around my wall art, so I purchased a frame that had a mat inside of it. If that is the case, make sure to trace where the matting would be onto the foam board and create your wall art within that space.


Ikea Frame Selections

2. Using the printer paper, cover one side of your foam board the entire length and width of the board. DO NOT OVERLAP THE SHEETS. You need the paper to be thin for later, so you may have to cut pieces to fit. Tape together the printer paper and then, using the dull pencil, GENTLY sketch out the word(s), quote, or calligraphy that you wish to be displayed as the wall art. Once you like what you have created on the printer paper, use the sharper pencil to trace over it with pressure so that it transfers on top of the foam board. See the photo below for assistance.

3. Once the image has been successfully transferred and is visible in its entirety on the foam board, remove the paper and begin inserting the push pins along the lines of the image. Insert push pins on your lines until the entire image is lined or traced in them.

4. Then, open your frame and insert your foam board inside as you would frame a normal photo. Secure the back on your frame.

5. Display that wall art with confidence! And tag us in pics so that we can see how beautiful it is!

Follow us or tag us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter @ahavadesignstx and if this is your first time visiting, make sure to check out some of our cool archived projects, too!

Until next time,

XO

5 Best Places for One of a Kind Home Decor

When it comes to decor, my style is atypical. While I enjoy hints of tradition, I don't like contemporary overkill either. I would describe my decor style as classic, with a hint of vintage, and a sprinkle of contemporary or modern. So many retailers give you one extreme and not another, simply because that's their personal style and the trend that they market. But, there are a few retailers out there that I feel hit all styles and all trend preferences, and have an array of great finds that can take your space or your decorating project from a 1 to a 10. I have 5 favorites that I live by, and outside of antique or thrift stores, are where I go for just about all of my personal, as well as my client's, home decor. 

So, lets do this Letterman style and work our way down the list- starting with my #5

5.) Hobby Lobby

www.hobbylobby.com

The people at my local Hobby Lobby know me by name and check in on Ahava projects and whats coming up on the blog next every time I stop in- which is minimum once a week. I absolutely love me some Hobby Lobby. While traditionally Hobby Lobby had been an arts and crafts retailer primarily, they have become very heavy on home decor and home furnishings. And its absolutely divine. A good chunk of the accent decor in my home has come from Hobby Lobby. It is great quality and priced even better. So whether you want to DIY it or buy it already made, move over Michael's- Hobby Lobby gets the win. 

Oh and don't forget that every week half of the store is 50% off and there is always a 40% off coupon on the app for that item you love that may not be on sale that week! 

Take a look at this weekly ad! Every week, a good selection of home decor accents are 50% off. They are excellent quality and very trendy!

Hobby Lobby's cute accent furniture is 30% off everyday! 

Get their app from the app store to have the coupon at hand and to know the weekly items that are 50%. It's free to download!

Some of my favorite items to find here:

Accent Decor, Accent Furniture, Framing, DIY Materials/Craft Supplies

4.) Ross

Before I discovered their stash of decor and linens hidden in the back, I avoided this place like the plague. The crowds, the lines, ugh! You would never catch me in Ross. But, one day I ended up in there after a dear friend recommended that I give their home decor a chance. And boy I am glad that I did. On many different occasions, I have found the savviest little accent pieces and "randoms" floating around there. Quality items and even brand name items find their way on the shelves of Ross and there truly are some great finds there. 

Ross always has a wonderful selection of curtains and pillows in an array of colors and styles.

Check out this beautiful copper vase above, an import from india, less than $20.

This gorgeous, petite Eiffel Tower shelf - $59.99. Rod iron and wood. Adorable!

They have a great selection of small accent furnishings at great prices. And unique indeed.

Some of my favorite items to find here:

Curtains, Pillows, Vases, Storage, Accent Decor and Furnishings

3.) West Elm

www.westelm.com

Ummm can I say love at first encounter? Ha! I absolutely love their style. While Nordstrom is the leader in fashion trend, West Elm is the master of home decor trend. Period. If Restoration Hardware and Eurway had a baby, this would be it. While there are many modern items available, they still have the classic and clean element working for them. West Elm features a nice selection of "stand out" pieces, as well as the chic but traditional staples too. I absolutely love their linens and accent furniture in particular. And while they are what I would indeed consider a luxury home decor retailer, there are many affordable pieces and those that may be more of an investment, but one worth investing into for sure.

The linen selection and accent decor is uber trendy, but the classic colors and styles keep it balanced. 

Some of my favorite items to find here:

Linens, accent furniture, decor accents, kitchen accessories, PILLOWS!!

2.) World Market

www.worldmarket.com

I discovered this gem too late in life. We met and fell in love in the Summer of 2014 and have been together ever since. How we hadn't become acquainted sooner, I will never ever know. World Market is first class. I had never found a place that satisfied all of my trend, decor, furniture, and grocery needs all under one roof. The quality and the style are second to none. World Market has some of the best cookware and kitchen items that not only are exceptional quality, but that will bring a classic and chic flare to that eating space. Many of their rugs, tapestries, and wall art are elegant pieces and are sure to make heads turn!

World Market is my personal favorite and go-to for many of the furnishings in my own home. Easy assembly, solid durability, and again always scores a perfect 10 on trend. 

This is one of my favorite collections shown above, the Cala accent and coffee tables. These chic and one of a kind imports from India will surely make a statement in any space. 



I love their framing, wall art and decor, and rugs. Amazing prices! Great quality! 

World Market provides exceptional customer service, and has a FABULOUS wine and grocery selection as well!

Some of my favorite items to find here:

Furniture, Framing, Accent Decor, Kitchen Decor, Kitchen Ware, Rugs

DRUM ROLL PLEASE…….

And the Number 1 spot goes to...…

1.) Home Goods

www.homegoods.com

Ok, so I discovered this little lovely after a conversation over dinner with one of my best friends who in speaking about a piece of decor in the restaurant as being random but cool - her exact words were, "it's like something you would find at Home Goods." As we laughed, I asked her to tell me more about this Home Goods place. I had seen it in passing, but had never actually went in and checked it out. She described it as "Random Capital". And I couldn't have described it better myself. The randomness and uniqueness of what they carry is what makes them my number 1. 

Home Goods carries products ranging from bath, to bedroom, to kitchen, to accent furniture, to accent decor, to garden, to linens and pillows, and even pet decor/furnishings. There is too much goodness under one roof here! Their inventory changes all the time, which makes their finds pretty exciting! Every Home Goods piece in my home are what I call conversation starters because I guarantee your guests will never have seen anything like them before.

They have an extensive storage selection with good variety!

Home Goods has such a great selection of the most rare accent pieces. I don't like matchy-matchy decor, so home goods has transformed my decor life and satisfies many of my decorating needs!

Some of my favorite items to find here:

Accent Decor, Accent Furniture, Pillows/Linens, Storage

These are my 5 go-tos, but I am always looking to expand the pool! If you have any photos or recommendations for any other great decor retailers around the DFW metroplex or outside of DFW that we can shop online, tweet them or post on our Facebook page and share the wealth!

Until Next Time,

XO