Antoinette Annie Sloan Chalk Paint®

Antoinette in Your Space

I'll be honest with you — Antoinette is my favourite colour in the entire Annie Sloan palette. It has been since the first time I used it, and nothing has come close to changing my mind.

It is a dusty, hushed pink inspired by the decorative interiors of 18th century France — the kind of colour that came from mixing the finest red earths with white to create a pale pastel for grand walls and painted furniture. That heritage shows. Antoinette has an accumulated softness to it, a quality of age and consideration that no bright or sugary pink could ever achieve. It speaks of old plaster walls, worn silk, and the kind of quiet beauty that only arrives slowly and without any effort at all.

It never competes, never overwhelms, never demands. It simply makes everything around it feel more completely itself.

Antoinette in Our Studio

The piece I keep coming back to is a demi-lune vanity table I painted in Antoinette and finished with gold leaf along the curved top edge and turned legs. The drawer front is dressed with a Redesign with Prima transfer — Floral Court — a delicate tangle of roses and botanical detail that sits against the dusty pink like it was always meant to be there. Styled with a Hollywood mirror and quiet morning light, it sold quickly. I wasn't surprised. Antoinette has a way of making people feel something the moment they see it.

Colour Companions

Timeless & French

• Old White — chalky and quietly classic, alongside Antoinette it creates a pairing of open softness and considered harmony that feels completely French provincial
• Country Grey — warm and unhurried, alongside Antoinette it creates something soft and completely resolved

Depth & Character

• Honfleur — deep and richly dark, it provides a striking contrast to Antoinette that feels deeply considered and full of traditional French character
• Paloma — cool and gently greyed, alongside Antoinette it builds into a palette of quiet sophistication that never tries too hard

Finishing Touches

• Clear Wax — maintains the soft, chalky finish and lets the full beauty of Antoinette speak for itself
• Dark Wax — builds warm aged depth in mouldings and details, adding a beautiful sense of history
• Gold Leaf — applied to edges and turned details, it adds a quality of restrained richness that gives Antoinette pieces a presence that feels genuinely period rather than costume

How to Apply

Antoinette covers beautifully in two coats, each layer building the hushed, dusty softness that makes this colour so distinctive. It adheres beautifully to timber, laminate, and previously painted furniture with minimal preparation. Always let each coat dry completely before continuing.

The Chalk Paint® Difference

Annie Sloan invented Chalk Paint® in 1990 and it changed furniture painting forever. The formula is water-based, ultra-low VOC (2.2g/l), and virtually odour-free — and it bonds to almost any surface without the stripping, sanding, or priming that traditional paints demand. One tin, one brush, and you're ready to go.

It works on timber, metal, concrete, brick, laminate, and plastic. Indoors or out. Smooth and matte or heavily textured. The finish is entirely yours to decide.

Before You Begin

Give your tin a good stir — no shaking needed. Load your brush and work in smooth, even strokes. One coat often surprises you with how much it covers; a second coat gives you full, solid opacity. Always let each coat dry completely before continuing.

Making It Your Own

• Build up thick layers for a sculptural, impasto effect, then seal with wax
• Sand back lightly once dry to reveal what's underneath and create genuine, earned wear
• Add a little water to thin the paint into a translucent wash that lets the wood grain breathe through
• Blend colours directly on the piece — Chalk Paint® mixes beautifully for completely custom results

Sealing & Protection

Annie Sloan Clear Wax is the classic finish — it protects and adds a subtle, natural sheen. Dark Wax settles into mouldings and edges for depth and shadow. For outdoor pieces or high-traffic surfaces, Annie Sloan Lacquer gives a harder, weather-resistant finish.

A Few Questions We Hear Often

Will it work outside?
Yes — seal it with Annie Sloan Lacquer and it will handle the elements beautifully.

Does it have to be sealed?
Not always. Decorative pieces that won't see daily wear can be left as they are. For anything that gets touched, wiped, or sat on regularly, wax or lacquer will protect your work.

Can I mix my own colours?
Absolutely — it's one of the great joys of Chalk Paint®. Mix directly in the tin or on the piece itself.

Which brush should I use?
Annie Sloan's Flat Brush gives a smooth, even finish. Her Round Brush is ideal for working paint into carved details and creating texture.

How much do I need?
One litre covers approximately 13 square metres. The 120ml size is perfect for smaller pieces, testing colours, and mixing experiments.