Today we have a reader-submitted before and after! This project is from Amber H – a Stylish Patina fan and paint class graduate. Take it away, Amber!

“I’m a Midwest farm girl and moved to Fairfax 5 years ago. My mom and grandmother had a paint/wallpaper/wood-refinishing business for many years and I helped them during summers in college. There’s something about the smell of paint and wood stain that just seems comforting.”

Here’s the before of Amber’s project – a neglected desk.

“I took the Annie Sloan Basic Paint Class in January and loved it! This desk is my very first chalk paint project – found it on Craigslist for $20. I used Annie Sloan French Linen, clear wax and a tiny bit of dark wax on the detailed carvings. The top of the desk is a mahogany veneer that I lightly sanded and then used Howard’s Restore-A-Finish, followed by Howard’s Feed-N-Wax. I also used a bit of the Feed-N-Wax on the insides of the drawers to give the old, dry wood a “drink”. I’m happy with the end result and am on to my next project!”

And here is the final result of Amber’s Annie Sloan transformation.

A few more details, you can see how Amber used the dark wax to highlight the details.

Amber – we love this piece & we love your story! There is something comforting about getting totally messy and creative with an old piece of furniture.

Learn your own chalk paint skills at one of our hands on & creative paint classes! Lucky you, this month’s class is September 12th & it’s on sale for only $59. Click here to register!

Submit your DIY project here.