I love chalk paint.
Period.
Anyone who knows me (actually or digitally) also knows this. And I am not a chalk paint snob. I am a Color Snob. The color is what sucks me in. I seem to have a very distinct pallet. I tend to work in black, whites, grays and aquas.
Originally, I began this little adventure with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. My very first purchase was a quart of Old White to make over a Salvation Army dining room table and five chairs.
And I have never regretted it for a minute. It is still in my arsenal.
But eventually I wanted another color. I discovered Americana Decor chalk paint by complete accident. About eight months ago I was ‘Wandering Aimlessly’ as I am prone to do (per Big Daddy) in Michael’s, looking for something to get into when I found this:
I’m going to be honest. The fact that the price was $8.99 and I had a 40% off coupon in my pocket closed the deal for me. Most of the time this does not pan out though.
This one did.
Primitive was my first purchase from this paint line. On Amercana Decor’s paint card this appears to be a buff color. In reality, it is a Putty Gray.
I was instantly smitten.
My next purchase, also with a coupon, was Relic.
I got this a few weeks later and let it sit in my Box Of Tricks . . . For months. It was Christmas and I just didn’t paint any and that is the only reason. When I finally cracked it open my first thought was, ‘Little girl, what an idiot you are!”
This is what I did with it.
Then these
Relic is a cool charcoal gray. When waxed, it deepens and becomes warmer. It has become one of my favorite colors, especially for accent pieces like lamps.
In a nut shell:
I REALLY like this paint. I’m gonna throw out the price/coupon factor because let’s face it. Who on the face of this earth does not love that, I ask you?
So let’s deal with the basics.
This is a great product and an exceptional value. It glides on a piece of furniture like room temperature butter.
The coverage is excellent, the closest to a One Coat paint that I have tried so far.
It is very durable but still distresses easily. It even cleans up easy with soap and warm water. It is self-priming and self-leveling leaving with very few, if any (on the second coat) brush marks.
I also really like the packaging of the paint. It’s a plastic tub with a screw on lid that is easy for me to open and has never gotten stuck on there like other brands have. I have very little strength in my hands so this is a bonus!
And , just so you know it mixes perfectly with other paint in this line as well as other brands of chalk paint! I am really big on using the very last drop of my paint and have McGyvered a few lovely shades.
Case in point.
This is AS Duck Egg and Americana Decor Treasure with a dab (good southern word!) of New Life.
And this
Which is a mix of Relic and AS Country Grey.
The only negative comment I have is about the selection of colors.
I wish there were more of them at Michaels.
But the mixing possibilities are endless!
Have fun!
Paige
Sharing at
http://www.linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com
http://www.thededicatedhouse.com
http://betweennapsontheporch.net
http://www.karensuponthehill.com
http://www.thoughtsfromalice.com
http://www.findingsilverpennies.com
http://shabbynest.blogspot.com
http://www.restylerelove.com
http://www.thepainteddrawer.com
http://www.joyinourhome.com
http://www.commonground-do.com
<a href=”www.savvysouthernstyle.net” target=”_blank”><img src=”http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc454/pianoprincessdesigns/buttonone_zps78e61b85.png~original” alt=”Savvy Southern Style” width=”125″ height=”125″ /></a>
http://www.homestoriesatoz.com
http://mobile.homeremediesrx.com/#2990
http://www.elizabethandcovintage.com/?m=1
http://www.stonegableblog.com
http://www.astrollthrulife.net
Oh my! How gorgeous!
Nice to know there are alternatives out there….especially when one doesn't need a whole quart or that a pod is too small…..
and it looks like the price is right, esp if you have a coupon! Thanks!
Nancy
wildoakdesigns.blogspot.com
I appreciate an honest review. I'll have to give this one a try soon.
This is my favorite paint for pieces to sell. Like you said, it goes on so wonderfully. Currently I am truly addicted to Relic. The paint is also easy to buff with a fine sanding sponge and a rough paper towel to a silky finish.
I can't wait to try this! I'm an Annie Sloan snob, and will always be a loyal customer, but I have wanted to try some of the new chalk paints, and love the price. Thanks for your opinion and color samples
Jenna
I bought this paint in Home Depot and loved it too! Beautiful makeovers!
Thanks so much for sharing at my party today. I have used this paint and like it too!!
They also sell it at Home Depot…but I always buy it at Michaels because I can use a coupon.
Blessings,
Linda
Good to know! I saw a Valspar chalk paint at Lowes last weekend but they wanted $20 for it! Do you wax over your chalk paint?
Yes with Annie Sloan clear soft wax
I used this paint on a bathroom vanity over the weekend, as we are selling the home and did not want to replace the unit. Usually new owners like to choose their own style and prefer to update smaller bathrooms like this one. I used the Primitive with the Americana Wax, and the results were wonderful!
This is one of my favorite paints, too!
I appreciate your honest review of Americana Decor. I have never used it personally but did use their "wax" to finish off a project for a friend (she had painted a bed with the Americana but didn't know how to use their wax). I was pretty put off because the wax is actually liquid, but besides that the paint seemed great. Question though–have to heard or or tried Fusion Mineral Paint? It is absolutely now my go-to paint for anything and everything. It's new to the market as of September 2014, and is an acrylic based paint goes on with little to no prep and seals itself–which means, NO WAXING! It's an amazing product. $20 for a pint, gorgeous colors you can mix, fantastic coverage, and no extra money (or time) spent on wax. If you like "chalk-type" paint you will LOVE Fusion. This isn't just a sales schtick . . . I am a Fusion retailer but am also, like you, not a chalk paint snob 🙂 I like experimenting with new paints and saving money, and once I found Fusion I am in love with painting again. Just trying to pass along the word!
Hi Melanie! I've only just recently heard of Fusion through your blog but have not tried it yet. I seem to be on a Milk Paint kick these days. I'll have to look closer at the colors. That's usually what sells me. Thank for visiting me,
Sounds like Americana chalk paint will be my go to for chalk paint as there just isn't budget for more expensive chalk paints. We have an Ace Hardware close but Amy Howard is too rich for my budget. So good to know can buy Americana, save even more with coupon and have good paint for projects. There are two American paint distributors in Grand Junction but it's also way out of my budget. Need to get couple of those good brushes so will watch to get on sale or with coupons.
Want to try those colors you used, love how those lamps turned out, they're classy looking lamps and where did you get those lamp shades?
Am disappointed in shades at Target this year, don't have pretty colorful ones like last year and prices are higher. But then I tend to like drum shades I get when available at Goodwill for $5, lol. Have great weekend
I appreciate your review. With AS Chalk Paint, you don't have to sand or de-gloss before painting. Does this paint have the same benefit? Looking forward to hearing, I've got a great table to paint and thought I'd check reviews before heading to the store.
It does. No prep required 🙂
I know this is late but I've ben using Americana Chalk Paint for about 8 months now and still love it. The varnishes are fantastic too AND non-yellowing, goes on thinly but very durable. And, a great part, all the colors are available online at JoAnn's for $4.97 for 8 ounces without a coupon. Oh yeah, 8 ounces covers 60 square feet per DecoArt website and I get that kind of square footage out of a jar easily. I have a never-ending jar of Vintage, my husbands favorite so I paint a lot of pieces in this color, and I'm still on the first 8 oz jar I bought last November. It's impossible not to love this paint. It does thicken up if left open for long but a little water fixes this and doesn't dilute the color at all.
Thank you, for your honesty on the Americana Chalky Finish Paint. I have been looking at so many brands of this chalk type paint, however I didn’t know what brand to try and most are just so expensive. I used to tole paint and Americana acrylic paint was one of my favorite paint brands back then, so I wondered if they made the chalk paint and I was pleasantly surprised to see that they did. With that being said, I didn’t know what it would be like in terms of quality, coverage, prep and clean-up until I read your great review, so thank you for posting that. I am in Canada and I found that Stockade.ca carries the full line with all of the colors, as well as the Americana Decor Creme Wax clear finish.
Smiling Simone
Alberta Canada