Chicago Grey Annie Sloan Chalk Paint®

Chicago Grey in Your Space

Chicago Grey is a grey that means business. Cool, fresh, and unmistakably modern, it carries just enough blue to feel alive without ever tipping into colour — a grey that references architecture rather than nature, structure rather than softness. It is named for a city built on ambition and steel, and that quality comes through in every application.

It works beautifully in industrial interiors, where its cool clarity feels entirely at home alongside raw metal, exposed brick, and unfinished timber. It works equally well in a muted Scandinavian scheme, where its restraint and precision feel completely resolved. Chicago Grey is the grey for spaces and pieces that want to feel considered and contemporary rather than warm and traditional.

And yet it is more versatile than it first appears. Alongside warmer colours it creates a tension that feels intentional and alive — the cool of the grey making the warmth of everything beside it feel more vivid and more present.

Colour Companions

Warm & Earthy

• Old Ochre — faded and warmly earthy, it creates a pairing with Chicago Grey that feels considered and full of quiet, industrial character
• Antoinette — delicate and softly pink, alongside Chicago Grey it creates an unexpected contrast that feels fresh, modern, and full of gentle tension

Deep & Dramatic

• Graphite — dark and full of conviction, alongside Chicago Grey it creates a tonal pairing that feels architectural, bold, and completely resolved
• Emperor's Silk — vivid and deeply red, it creates a striking contrast with Chicago Grey that feels confident, graphic, and full of energy

Rich & Saturated

• Aubusson Blue — deep and richly saturated, alongside Chicago Grey it creates a pairing that feels considered, contemporary, and full of quiet depth

Finishing Touches

• Clear Wax — the natural finish for Chicago Grey, it protects while preserving the cool, fresh quality of the colour completely
• Dark Wax — worked into details and edges, it adds depth and shadow that enhances the architectural quality of Chicago Grey beautifully

When You Want to Mix

Chicago Grey cools and sharpens any colour it is added to — use it when you want a shade that feels more contemporary and precise without losing its original character.

How to Apply

Chicago Grey builds beautifully in two coats, each layer deepening the cool, blue-tinged quality that makes this colour so distinctively modern. It works equally well as a smooth, precise finish or layered for a more textured, industrial result.

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.