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Chair rail remodel with Martha Stewart Crafts™ Vintage Decór Paint

  This week I couldn't be more excited to share with you a project that I've been putting off forever. I've decided to finally finish an old outdated chair rail that has been begging me to be refinished.  I've teamed up with Black+Decker to inspire some of my awesome readers to finish one of their long overdue home projects. Thanks to Black+Decker's "Your Big Finish" initiative one lucky ready will win $10,000 cash & products. Plus, they'll have a chance to show their completed project on a billboard in Times Square! How cool is that!
  Today I'm going to show you how to easily update any piece of furniture, fixture or accent with a little bit of chalk paint and some sand paper. This chair rail (and matching socket) is very dated, very blue and very sponged. Definitely time for an update. So grab a paint brush and I'll show you how to get started.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

  • Chalk finish paint (not to be confused with 'Chalkboard' paint)
  • Vintage Decor Wax or Creme Wax (same thing, different manufacturers)
  • Kilz Odorless primer
  • Fine(220) and Coarse(60) Sandpaper
  • Antique Wax Brush (*optional-these brushes are very full with A LOT of bristles)
  For this project I decided to go with one of the newer chalk finish paints made by Martha Stewart Crafts called Vintage Decór Paint. This paint is one of my favorites. It's easy to apply with great coverage and it has basically no odor. Perfect for using indoors.  
  Normally you would sand off some of the old paint but since I didn't want to risk wearing down the ridges and groves I just sealed it. I used a really good primer called Kilz odorless. This stuff  covers and seals very well.  


 You may want to apply a coat of white paint after the base coat but that's optional. I chose not to use a base coat and still ended up with great results. I applied the vintage decor paint making sure to get into all of the grooves and crevices. The paint dries VERY quickly with is another great thing about it.

  For the next step we are going to 'distress' the paint by sanding the chalk paint off of the 'peaks' of the ridges. (Make sure you give the paint enough time to dry before sanding. You definitely don't want to sand wet paint.)
   I find that using two different grits of sandpaper works best to achieve the desired 'aged/worn' look. Just make sure you go lightly with the coarse sandpaper to avoid taking off too much paint. If you look at the photo you'll notice the difference in sanding. The top line is from a fine 220 grit sandpaper and the bottom is from a coarse 60 grit paper.
  After your satisfied with the look, you are going to want to seal and protect the paint with a clear coat of wax. This is especially important if you are using a light shade of paint. The wax helps to prevent marks from scuffing. An added plus is the texture of the finished piece. The wax gives it a really unique  ....um....waxy feel!
  So here is my final result...
 TO REMIND YOU AGAIN,
THE BEFORE:
AND,
THE BIG REVEAL...
That's all there is too it! 
Thanks to Black+Decker for inspiring me to finally finish
 this long overdue project 
and for sponsoring today's post. 
Let me know what you think of my new chair rail! 
And, don't forget to visit Black+Decker for a chance to win 
$10,000 plus weekly prizes!

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