Over time, David and I inherited a few stylish but dated pieces of furniture from our parents. Some are in need of a little tender loving care. We’ve been wanting to give them an update; a remodel of sorts. A good coat of paint would bring about a new look that would suit our tastes. But as easy as it sounds, giving something an updated look with paint can be complicated. We have a large, three-section entertainment unit in our loft that was first on our to-do list. The color and style are somewhat dated. And the wood is actually a laminate. Regular paint would simply bead up and not cover the current finish. Hence our dilemma of how to paint it. We found a simple answer: chalk paint. Dixie Belle Chalk Paint to be exact. We’re excited to partner with the Dixie Belle Paint Company as we update our little slice of the world.
Dixie Belle Chalk Paint is brilliant! It’s the perfect paint for almost everything: wood, laminate, metal, glass, and most everything else in between. We decided to try our hand at a few smaller projects before taking on the much larger entertainment unit. We have a unique stool that we use on the patio by the hot tub/spa. It’s the perfect accessory for holding towels and robes while relaxing in the soothing water. But hey! Said spa and newly refinished stool also get plenty of rowdy, wet and wild play with the grandkids.
We chose to paint the stool the color Midnight Sky to bring out the black accents on the spa. We love the look and think the project was a complete success.
Dixie Belle Chalk Paint is unbelievably easy to use. We recommend buying the chip brushes which worked perfectly for our projects.
Now, back to the stool. As the photo shows, there was hardly any finish left on the stool whatsoever. But the glory of chalk paint is there’s not much preparation work required at all. I did, however, give the stool a good scrubbing. I left it to dry in the sun then we, the stool and I, were ready to get to the makeover.
The first thing I noticed about Dixie Belle Chalk Paint is the consistency. It thickens as it’s exposed to the air. No worries, though. Just add a bit of water to get the consistency that you’re happy with and keep on going. It’s easy to use and dries exceptionally fast. So fast that by the time you finish your first coat, you should be good to go with the second coat. That is if it’s even needed.
We needed a second coat because our stool was so distressed. The thirsty wood absorbed the chalk paint right up. And the second coat gave it a lovely matte finish.
To seal the beauty of the Midnight Sky color, we gave our stool one coat of Dixie Belle Clear Coat. It added a matte sheen which is just what we wanted. We love the look and are over the top happy with the finish. And we think it looks great with its surroundings. It’s a functional and perfect accent piece for the spa.
We also painted three photo frames with Dixie Belle Chalk Paint using three different products. We’ll share those results soon.
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
That’s such a great look! I love this because the kids can have fun with it AND it looks good.
Cathi says
We’re happy with the look too, Stacie. And the kids really do have so much fun. Thanks!
Myrah @ Coupon Mamacita says
That chalk paint look is so great. I haven’t tried it on anything yet, but I really want to.
Cathi says
Once you try it Myrah, I think you’ll really like it a lot, too.
Stacie says
What a great idea. I never thought of using chalk paint on regular furniture before. I have used it on my pantry doors though.
Cathi says
We were very pleased with the outcome, Stacie. And it’s so great that Dixie Belle’s chalk paint can be applied to practically any surface.
Tara says
I can’t wait to see the picture frames and the entertainment unit once that is complete. I wonder what colors it comes in.
Cathi says
Will be posting the other projects soon, Tara. For a look at the colors Dixie Belle paints come in, here’s a link: http://dixiebellepaintcompany.com/shop/paint/?sort=featured&page=1
Myrah @ Coupon Mamacita says
I love that look. I have some older outdoor furniture that I think could benefit from this. Thanks for sharing!
Cathi says
You’re very welcome, Myrah. You’ll no doubt love what Dixie Belle paint will do for your outdoor furniture. And they’ll look like new again!
Claudia Krusch says
That chalk paint look is so great.I haven’t tried it yet, but I’ll probably give it a try! Your SPA is on my wish list!
Cathi says
Thank you, Claudia. You’re sure to love Dixie Belle paint when you try it. And you’ll love your spa too, when you check it off your wish list!
Kim @ What's That Smell? says
Oh wow that turned out great. I really love the look and versatility of chalk paint. I have quite a few outdoor things this would be a good fit for.
Cathi says
We love it also, Kim, for all the same reasons. You’re sure to be pleased with the new look your outdoor items will have, too.
Diana Rambles says
I didn’t know you could use chalk paint on furnature. I must get some of this.
Cathi says
I didn’t know either, Diana. But you can you use Dixie Belle’s chalk paint on almost every type of surface.
Ann Bacciaglia says
I love the look of this paint. It would be great for the table on my back deck.
Cathi says
We love it too, Ann. Bet you and your deck table will love it also.
Lisa Bristol says
I have been looking for a easy project I can do with chalk paint. This looks fun and easy I will have to give it a try.
Cathi says
It’s so easy, Lisa. And it was a fun project. You’ll be surprised with just how easy and fun it is to use when you give it a try.
Amy Desrosiers says
I just read about this brand yesterday! I am so interested in the coverage it provides!
Cathi says
A great band and great coverage, Amy. I’m really happy with how easy it is to use. And love the finished look!
Reesa Lewandowski says
I have a friend who is doing this with all of these random pieces in her house and it looks amazing! I love the shine of this paint!
Cathi says
Love the finish too, Ressa. Thanks!
Amanda West says
Your project turned out so cute! And I’m jealous of your spa 😉 I’d love this paint for a project I’m about to start
Cathi says
Thank you , Amanda. Hope you have as much fun with your project as I had with mine.
Kathy says
I have always wanted to get chalk paint. I love what you did with it. It looks really neat! You did a great job.
Cathi says
Ever since I saw a friend’s chalk paint projects, I wanted to try it, too, Kathy. I’m really pleased with the outcome. Thanks so much!
Toni | BoulderLocavore.com says
I love how this project turned out! I would love to use this chalk paint to some of my DIY projects. Thank you for sharing!
Cathi says
Thanks, Toni. And you’re very welcome. Glad to share. Really love how it turned out also. Hope you enjoy your DYI projects as much as I did mine.
Jenni says
This looks so cool! I can’t wait to use it for my projects! Love how yours turned out!
Cathi says
Thanks a lot, Jenni! Best wishes with your upcoming projects.
Brianne says
Wow, the table turned out amazing!! We are huge fans of chalk paint in our home!
Cathi says
We’re also huge fans of chalk paint now, Brianne. Thank you!
Melissa says
Thanks for the introduction to this innovative brand! We need to do some painting around the house and I am definitely going to check into using chalk paint thanks in large part to your post!
Cathi says
Many thanks, Melissa. Loved using Dixie Belle and think you’d love it, too.
Liz Mays says
That looks incredible! I’m so inspired to get outside and do something similar!
Cathi says
Thank you, Liz! I’m ready for more projects, too. Have fun with yours.
Teri Ronk says
Beautiful!!!! Turned out so great, thank you so much for trying Dixie Belle Paint! We really love how you showed everyone how easy it is to use too. XOXO from Dixie Belle Paint Company!
Cathi says
Thanks, Teri! A pleasure! Loved using Dixie Belle Paint. And love the ease of use and great finish. Appreciate so much the opportunity of giving it a try and sharing the experience.
Suzanne says
Great Job Cathi! It really updated the side table and gave the area a fresh, clean look! So glad you enjoyed Dixie Belle Paint! It really is fun to use and another great thing is, if you change your mind about the color, you can just paint right over it! Easy Peasy!