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Today, I get to show you what may now be my favorite piece of furniture in our house. period. Say hello to my vintage card catalog. 

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Jeremy & I went on an antique hunt last August when Jeremy surprised me with a weekend trip to St. Louis. One of our favorite things to do in new cities is to find an antique store and look for a unique piece to remind us of that trip. Armed with some birthday money, I came home with an old, beat up metal filing cabinet/card catalog that I absolutely fell in love with for only $75. When I went next door and found another metal filing cabinet for over $400, I felt good about the purchase. I saw the potential, but I knew that painting it would be quite a project, so in the midst of so many things, I have put it off for nearly 6 months.

My mom has been raving lately about Annie Sloan chalk paint and the way that it adheres to everything. I’ve heard about it for years, and I thought maybe this metal cabinet was my chance to give it a shot…

I’m not usually an early adopter. It is just not my style. I am still boasting an iPhone 4. I didn’t start Harry Potter until long after all the books had been released. I wore flare jeans for way too long and rolled my eyes at the silly new “skinny jean” trend until I finally caved and threw out the flare. That being said, it took me a long time to get on the Annie Sloan chalk paint train. I kept hearing about this magic paint that didn’t require sanding or priming, but I was determined that I didn’t need any of that voodoo paint.

The idea of not sanding and priming every nook and cranny of this metal cabinet, however, made the new paint just too tempting. So, I took the plunge, and I’m so glad I did.

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The piece looked fine from a distance, but when you looked up close, it told a different story. I feel like this thing was in an old high school and kids scratched into it with their keys while waiting for the principals office. There were strange marks and some graffiti.

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I removed all the drawers so I could paint more easily and went to town.

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I used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Graphite with a coat of clear wax on top. After two coats and a few touch ups, I decided to add some gold paint to the handles for a pop of contrast. I just used small little paint brushes and painstakingly painted the gold on 28 drawers. Phew.

Finally, I added a coat of Annie Sloan Clear Soft Wax for added protection and a little bit of sheen.

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I love the vintage look with the modern touch of the dark color and the contrast of the gold.
So here are my final thoughts after using ASCP for the first time on both metal and wood (I also painted our new king sized platform bed…more pictures to come)

Con:
– It is pricey! $36/quart plus and $26 for the wax. Keep in mind, however, that you a little goes a long way!
– It has a very distinctive look with a lot of texture. This paint is made for texture and a vintage feel. Although the Graphite color has a hint of modern in it, if you’re looking for sleek, smooth, modern furniture, it isn’t the right paint.
– Waxing. I didn’t think waxing was terrible, but it’s also an extra step that takes some time to get used to it.

Pro:
– A little goes a long way! I painted a king sized bed frame and this entire piece, and I still have at least 1/3 of a quart of paint left.
– The textured look makes the paint look custom.
– It adheres SO WELL to anything. From wood to metal, it really stays put.
– Easy, easy, easy. I just love how easy it is and how difficult it is to mess it up. I just used a regular old brush and went to town. No prep. Any mistakes were easy to fix.

I can’t wait to use it some more!

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