Annie Sloan Colorful Living: 30 Creative Upcycling Paint Projects for Your Home

Annie Sloan is a celebrated decorative painter and the inventor of Chalk Paint(R), with over a million followers on social media. In her new book, Annie introduces 30 brand-new sustainable upcycling projects to give old furniture a second life.

The pieces in this book range from decorative items such as a bed coronet and a decoupaged bureau to large-scale undertakings including revamping a tall French armoire with a blend of Chalk Paint hues and using paint effects for a faux malachite desk. The projects are grouped by simplicity and the length of time required to complete each one, from an afternoon to a weekend. The techniques used range from painting to gilding, dyeing fabric, stamping, printing, and stencilling and each one is clearly explained in easy-to-follow step-by-step photography. As well as her love for color and paint, Annie has a passion for sustainability and reuse, and the book begins with a chapter that explains the concept of upcycling and why it matters. Every project in the book transforms an unloved second-hand item into something beautiful and unique, and Annie provides expert advice on sourcing the original pieces at flea markets and online.

Annie Sloan is one of the world’s most respected experts in decorative painting. After training as a fine artist, she embarked on a successful career as a decorative painter, often using her own home-made paint to create the effects she desired. In 1990, Annie launched her revolutionary no-prep water-based Chalk Paint(TM), which has become a global phenomenon. Annie has written more than 20 books, including the best-selling Annie Sloan Paints Everything, Quick and Easy Paint Transformations, and Color Recipes for Painted Furniture and More, all published by CICO Books. In 2023 Annie was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to interior design. She lives in Oxford with her husband David.