One of my favorite looks and finishes is a wall that has been painted and waxed. I have this finish on my dining room wall in the same rich red and I have created the look in Graphite in my house in France, too. I’ve also seen it done in Old White and polished with an electric buffer to within an inch of its life. Stunning! I’m sure, given the right context, that any color would look good on a wall with this treatment. My walls have been done with a cloth to achieve a soft sheen, but I can certainly see the appeal of the highly polished look. It’s a matter of style. The rich sheen of the wax on the very absorbent Chalk Paint® has such a soft and mellow look. The very shiny look is ultra modern and sleek.
This idea is very simple to do; although it is not the quickest of looks to achieve, the end result is so rewarding. The initial layer of paint needs to be applied well, so that there is a good mixture of evenly and unevenly applied brushstrokes. These should not be too apparent, although a few give the wall a gentle texture that’s very appealing.
YOU WILL NEED
• Chalk Paint® in Emperor’s Silk
• Large oval bristle brush
• Clear wax
• Large wax brush
• Clean, dry, lint-free cloths
• Electric buffer (optional)
1Paint the wall with Emperor’s Silk using the large oval bristle brush, feathering out the paint. Bear in mind that any texture will show up when you wax, so apply the paint quite smoothly—although a little texture is quite acceptable and, in fact, desirable to give the wall some character. Allow the wall to dry completely. Apply a generous amount of clear wax in stages using the wax brush, wiping off the excess as you go along.
2The next day, polish the wall with a clean cloth to give a sheen. If you want a super sheen, then you can use an electric buffer.