Transformative Checkout Counter
How we created our checkout counter with Chalk Paint® by Annie Sloan.
I'll start with the end result!
A LOT has happened in our land. We've opened up shop! And you know what the means... the shop is never complete without a central checkout point. We decided to create ours in style. I had seen a photo on Pinterest (go figure) a few months back that inspired this. All I had to do was find a roughed up cabinet and buy some faux metal ceiling tile, and voila.
I had to first start at the top and peel off all the nasty veneer that was cracking. It's not super difficult, but there is a process. To do this at home you just need a damp rag and an iron that can reach a high steam setting. First you place your damp rag over the peeling veneer, then you set the hot iron on top, rotating in sections for about 10-15 seconds each. This top was stubborn so I needed to go around for a second time, but essentially what happens is that the hot moisture loosens the glue and then you can peel off the veneer in strips with a scraper!
Once all the real dirty work was done, I cut my faux tin tile to size and affixed it into the inset areas of the cabinet. I made sure that for the central section, the designs matched from top to bottom.
I added some Antibes Chalk Paint® over select areas. This will make sense later by imitating a metallic patina.
Super hot-mess status! I added some Barcelona Orange in select areas as well, to mimic rust. But, every project has a moment like this where it looks really scary and feels like you messed it up. Not to worry, like I said, carry on because it will all make sense later.
Looking a little bit more put together. A layer of Graphite helped complete the look.
Now for the icing layer! I distressed with corse steel wool and sandpaper to bring up the under tones.
I applied clear wax over the whole cabinet first, mainly to prevent the top surface from being vulnerable. After all, it will get lots of traffic! Then I took some dark wax to the high and low tile areas to further patina the surface.
And there you have it! I did it over two days, to let the paint fully dry over the faux tin tile. Since that part was plastic, it was a bit slick to paint over (same goes with metal or glass). But if you let the paint fully dry between coats it'll stick just fine!
Come check it out in person at our studio at 2700 W. Anderson Ln, Suite 228, Austin!