Château Grey Annie Sloan Chalk Paint®

Château Grey in Your Space

There is a particular colour that appears again and again in old French châteaux and manor houses — on the boiserie, the shutters, the painted armoires that have stood in the same rooms for two hundred years. It is not quite grey and not quite green. It is the colour that happened when decorative painters mixed their leftover paints together at the end of a job, creating something entirely unplanned and entirely beautiful. Château Grey is that colour.

It has an earthy, organic quality that no colour mixed to a formula could ever quite replicate — the sense that it arrived by accident and stayed because it was exactly right. Elegant without being precious, traditional without being stiff, it brings a quiet sophistication to any piece it touches. This is the colour for people who find plain greys too cold and plain greens too committed. Château Grey sits perfectly in between.

Colour Companions

Soft & Considered

• Paloma — lilac-toned and quietly complex, alongside Château Grey it creates a pairing of soft, considered neutrals that feels completely resolved and full of gentle sophistication
• Old Ochre — faded and warmly earthy, it brings a beautiful warmth to Château Grey that feels deeply traditional and full of quiet French character

Romantic & Warm

• Antoinette — dusty and softly pink, alongside Château Grey it creates a pairing that feels quietly romantic and full of faded French provincial charm
• Scandinavian Pink — earthy and terracotta-warm, it finds a beautiful harmony alongside Château Grey that feels considered, warm, and completely resolved

Deep & Grounding

• Graphite — dark and full of conviction, alongside Château Grey it creates a palette of quiet drama and considered depth that feels sophisticated and completely intentional

Finishing Touches

• Clear Wax — the natural finish for Château Grey, it protects while preserving the full earthy grey-green quality of the colour
• Dark Wax — worked into details and edges, it deepens the traditional quality of Château Grey and adds a beautiful aged patina that feels completely authentic and earned

How to Apply

Château Grey covers beautifully in two coats, each layer building the earthy, sophisticated depth that makes this colour so distinctive. Its complex grey-green quality deepens as it dries — always let each coat dry fully before assessing coverage or applying wax.

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.