Annie Sloan Colourful Living

Annie Sloan is a celebrated decorative painter and the inventor of Chalk Paint?, 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 colour and paint, Annie has a passion for sustainability and reuse, and the book includes 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.