Annie Sloan’s newsletter is always an excellent source of inspiration for all things chalk paint™ and this month has not disappointed! She has so many great ideas to help inspire us to try new kitchen design ideas and techniques. Every kitchen should have a character. Some capture a style that’s sleek and cool, while others are more comfy and colourful. If you have fallen out of love with your kitchen, but are daunted by the idea of updating it, you are not alone! To renovate your kitchen to suit your style can be time consuming and incredibly expensive.
However, Annie describes a number of less disruptive, more affordable and fun ways to breathe new life into your kitchen – by refreshing it with Chalk Paint™!
Cool & Urban Kitchens
If you like kitchens to be cool, urban and with an industrial twist, it’s best to stick with steely greys and neutrals. Photographer and Chalk Paint™ user Paul Massey used Chalk Paint™ to create this relaxed warehouse style in his kitchen in London.
To achieve something similar, try a colour palette of Old White, Paris Grey and French Linen, and Annie also offers up suggestions to pair it with industrial elements such as metro tiles and pendant lamps to really make your kitchen POP!
Country Cottage Kitchens
For a more country-cottage look, try out the classic combination of bare wood with pale creams or whites. You can see this done here on a vintage sideboard, but you could also do the same on your kitchen cabinets or kitchen island. For the cabinet doors, you could use Original, Cream or Old White.
Remember, if you don't have the right type of wood for this look, you can always fake it! In fact, Annie Sloan confessed to cheating by using Chalk Paint™ Wax to give the orange pine that rich mahogany look.
Scandinavian Simplicity
If you want something a little bolder, why not go monochrome? At once both modern and retro, sticking to a monochrome palette is also a beautiful way to add a slightly Scandinavian vibe to your kitchen.
Another fellow Annie Sloan Stockist in Gällstad, Sweden, Trendrummet has done this gorgeously in their kitchen, painting the wood panelled walls with Chalk Paint™ in Graphite. Pair the black with Pure for a crisp finish.
One of the most frequently asked question when it comes to updating your kitchens is 'how do I seal it?' Regardless of style, you must finish the paint with either Wax or Lacquer. We much prefer the finish of Chalk Paint™ Wax, where you can add two to three coats on top of the paintwork using one of our Wax Brushes and wiping away the excess wax as you go.
You can, of course, use Lacquer on the cabinets instead. But do test the Lacquer over the paint on an inconspicuous area first to make sure there isn't any bleed through. Whether you choose Wax or Lacquer to finish your work, make sure that you give your kitchens a thorough clean before transforming them with my paint and products.
If a kitchen renovation is on top of your list, make sure to come see us at The Passionate Home! We are always happy to help with any hints, tips or techniques and of course we have everything you need to up your Chalk Paint™ game!
Using a fine sanding block, 220 grit is ideal, we distressed and exposed some of the natural wood. Always go with the grain of the wood, and hit the high points of the design where “natural wear-and-tear” would happen with age to give it that faux-antique finish. 
