By Jennifer Ingram,Owner, Gracious Spaces in Brentwood, TN
When a complete remodel isn’t in the budget there are still great options available to update a builder’s grade wood vanity. Starter homes, apartments, and older homes are often where you find those basic wood vanities that are lacking in style and appeal. They often leave homeowners feeling that their bathroom is stuck in a time warp with no real options. However, if you find yourself in this design dilemma, let me assure you that there is an affordable, attractive option that will take 20 years off your bathroom.
I recently decided to use Annie Sloane chalk paint on one of our bathroom vanities. The orangey wood tone was dated and uninspiring. I felt that after 12 years of living with it, I didn’t really have much to lose. But what I gained was so much more. The gray-blue color added warmth and fresh style to the area with little time involved.
Here is what I did . . . I chose Annie Sloane chalk paint in Paris Gray. There is absolutely NO sanding or priming required with this paint. It’s pricey at about $35/pint but is the best paint for the job and still left me with half of the can for another project. I removed the hardware and wiped down the vanity. I decided to use a mini foam roller on the flat surfaces while I used a paint brush to cover the hard to reach areas. I painted 3 coats rather quickly to ensure complete coverage. You only need 30 minutes for each coat to dry so the process is quick. Then I went back with a sand block and distressed the edges to give a gently worn look. Then I rubbed on a coat of Minwax Paste Finishing Wax to protect the paint job. Annie Sloane carries their own clear, soft wax that I recommend but I opted to use what I had on hand. Just buff after the wax dries. You are done! What a difference the chalk paint made in transforming our builder’s grade vanity. It’s a wonderful product that ensures success on your furniture painting projects and is a budget-friendly way of updating your space!
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Jennifer Ingram is the owner of Gracious Spaces, a home styling and staging business in Brentwood, TN.
Follow her on Facebook and at http://www.gracious-spaces.net. Questions? Email [email protected].
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