Well, way back when in the middle ages, I decided to make over Ava’s room.
This was BEFORE we took her crib down, and the plan was to transition straight into a big-girl room.
I’ve found with both kids this gets them all excited about being in their own big beds–which coincides nicely during the time they start experience I-Can’t-Be-Without-Mommy-Even-For-A-Second Syndrome.
It’s real, people.
The big beds help.
So, basically, we set up the big bed, mismatched bedding and all. We left the rocker in…well, we left everything in but the crib.
And the room sat.
And sat.
And sat.
Until I snapped and we decided we couldn’t take the pink abyss any longer. We pulled everything out of the room, pulled down the beautiful curtains my mom made (that are staying), and Matt pulled down the shelf he built for the room 6 years ago when a baby named Gray made our duo a trio.
Little did I know, after we painted the room 2 coats of Chalk Paint™ in Pure White, Matt and our good buddy, John, ripped up the (gross) carpet and pad. I walked into a blank slate Friday morning.
This is where I digress.
When I say, “we,” I mean me, Matt, & John with guest appearances by Natalie and Anna Lauson. Matt truly wanted to finish this project over the weekend, and while that was what we all wanted…it was a little taxing.
Why, you say?
Well, Matt and I decided we hate bending over to work–like rolling paint on the white pine floors we were laying. Plus, we’d be on our knees cutting in. Plus…there was the issue of the stripe, so we would have had to paint it all white, then tape off, then paint the gray stripes.
We (brightly) thought we’d save so much time by painting all the boards beforehand.
And maybe we did.
All I know is I’m now conditioned to shed tears when I look at a 6 inch foam roller.
150 + boards later, (well, Matt started working as we painted), Matt began laying the floor. We chose to lay our unfinished white pine (about $1 per square foot) directly on the concrete.
You’ll need to test your concrete for moisture with one of these, and from what we understand, anything that averages out to around 6% will be just fine. If your concrete foundation has more moisture than that, you’ll either have to lay a plywood sub-flooring or stick with laminate. Ours averaged out between 6-8%, and after talking to the guys at Lumber Liquidators, we chose to live on the wild side and go for it.
Here’s a little video we did for ya…
Things got a little tense later on.
This is John.
John doesn’t know much about my blog. In fact, he probably never reads it.
He does, however, always seem to know that I never mention him.
So here ya go.
Hi, John.
All joking aside, he and Matt worked like dogs on this room.
When it all was said and done, and Sunday night rolled around, here’s how the floor turned out.
We used Chalk Paint again…why not? I was really curious to see how it would hold up, and I loved the idea of the soft finish it would lend. We used Pure White and a mix of French Linen (3 parts Pure White to 1 part French Linen). I looove the way the gray turned out. It is exactly what I pictured in my mind.
While painting, I also sealed the floor with a coat of Annie Sloan’s lacquer. I’ve never used this product before, and let me just say, I LOVE it. It reminds me so much of the varathane I used to use before my love affair with Chalk Paint began.
The boards are perfectly rustic, and I absolutely love the way they turned out!
P.S. We bought New England White Pine Flooring from Lumber Liquidators, at $1.09 per square foot, bringing our total to $330. There is a lot left to finish before the big reveal, but we are so happy with such a budget-friendly choice and LOVE our new flooring!
And I’ve got a little girl who just might agree.
Love those, Shaunna! I love seeing this because I am contemplating painting the wood floors in one of my boys’ rooms. I love painted wood.
good job!
Do it, Traci! I really LOVE how they turned out. I’m sure they would look beautiful in your dreamy cottage!
🙂
shaunna
what a transformation! So bright, crisp and contemporary. I love it.
I love it Shaunna! Especially the price. Holy smokes that is fabulous 🙂 Cracking me up with all the boards in the middle of your house! haha
Thanks, Jessica! I know, right? And yes, boards (among other things) were covering the house for days. It was quite the hoarders experience.
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shaunna
It’s incredible, my friend!!! I. love. it. Can’t wait to see it all finished!
Thanks, girlie! I’m pretty mad about it, too.
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shaunna
Fabulous floor! Can’t wait to see the rest!
Thanks, Cyndi!!
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shaunna
I JUST painted our hallway and kids’ room floor (both hardwood) with the chalkpaint and LOVE it. I didn’t purchase the lacquer…decided just to put a coat of polyurethane on it. So far no yellowing and it is wearing GREAT! It’s been a few weeks and I’ve mopped it a ton already. I love your stripes!!! My hallway is a grey and white diamond pattern….totally changes the look of your home!
Awesome, Rachel! What’s the link or send me a pic?? I know it’s beautiful!
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shaunna
http://vanhookandco.blogspot.com/2012/08/annie-sloans-chalk-painted-floor.html
Here you go!
They look gorgeous!!! I can’t wait to rip the carpet out of my girl’s room!!!
Thanks, girl! Do it, NOW. You won’t regret it, for sure!
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shaunna
I used chalk paint to paint my (gross) Mexican tile in my laundry room. It came out great and is holding up to the abuse.. Your floor came out amazing!
Great, Anna-Ruth! And thanks!
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shaunna
Wow, absolutely gorgeous!
Thanks, Erin!
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shaunna
Love the way your floors turned out. We love and use Chalk Paint ALOT! I’m just curious why you would choose to use it on the walls? Were you looking for the chalky texture for the walls? We really like acrylic latex paints for walls. Just curious. Thanks.
Hey Dana! This room gets a TON of western light…meaning it’s quite reflective after lunchtime. It also casts a yellow glow, and therefore any sheen on the finish really isn’t flattering. Plus, we have a whole garage-full of chalk paint! 🙂
shaunna
Really Shaunna (and Matt, John et al), I am just AWESTRUCK! That floor is the best thing I have seen since I fell in love with my gym lockers 2 years ago. I must try Annie Sloan paint. MUST! Lisa~
Thank you, my friend! We LOVE ’em, too. And yes, you totally should!
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shaunna
You have one very lucky little girl to be growing up in such a gorgeous bedroom!! I absolutely love it, really. It is so cute!
Thank you, Kirsten!
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shaunna
Absolutely gorgeous!! I was in Lowe’s over the weekend and found white washed wood flooring that I fell in love with but at $8.99 a square foot it was way out of my budget and I wasn’t sure if we could adhere it to our cement pad. I should have known you would save the day for me 🙂
PS. if John wants to come over and help us, I’ll blast his name and pic all over the blog 🙂
LOL, Leen, I’ll absolutely tell him. He’d be thrilled.
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shaunna
So beautiful! I’ve painted all of my furniture white or grey 🙂
Does the lacquer completely seal it? Are dirt stains, shoe prints etc easy to clean up once its sealed?
It should, Meg. I really haven’t used it on floors yet, but I’ve heard wonderful things about it. Holding up well so far, and the kids have already been abusing it.
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shaunna
Wonderful, oh so wonderful!! And Affordable…..very sweet!
Nancy
Thanks, Nancy!!
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shaunna
i think your husband and his buddy JOHN are great sports!!!
Me too, Elaine!! LOVE that you mentioned him!!
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shaunna
This is just GORGEOUS!!! Can’t wait to see more :o)
Ummmmm, that floor is AMAZiNG! And, we are on a slab and I keep wondering what route we should take – subfloor or glue!?!?! Glad you mentioned the acceptable moisture percentage. Didn’t know that!? Thanks for sharing and glad I’m following your blog!
Oh, I love it. I wish it was my bedroom! :). You have such a great team that works with you and willing to help you out on these projects. I can’t wait to see the big reveal.
Looks amazing! You are so lucky to have so many helpers. I need your drive to complete some projects. I finally hung my son’s blind up and felt like that was a major accomplishment lol.
LOL, Jamie!!! I know what you mean..that’s how we roll, too. Thank you!!
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shaunna
one word
AMAZING:)
xo
Thanks, girl!!!
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shaunna
Love love love! Is this something that can be done over wooden subfloors??
Definitely, Carloline!
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shaunna
Ava’s floors look amazing! I just recently painted my hardwood floors in my foyer with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Pure White and love the way it turned out and it seems to be very durable with the coat of Varathane I used over it.
I love the floors!!! can you tell me how many coats of chalk paint and how many coats of the laquer? also, how many quarts of each did it take to do these floors? I so want to paint my bedroom and bath floors and was debating between annie sloan and MMS milk paint. Love your blog…
Hey darlene! We did 2 coats of each…Let me go back and count how many. Glad you like them!
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shaunna
Amazing, love these floors. Love when people do something different and especially when it is affordable. Great job.
Hey i do read this blog and this is proof, haha!!
I love, love, love your daughter’s floor! My girls are not to keen on the idea of my ripping up their carpet since they still play a lot on their floor but once they’re a little older, I’d love to do this! I linked up to your post on my blog today to share it with my readers!
http://www.drivenbydecor.com/2013/01/using-annie-sloan-chalk-paint-on-floors.html
I’m curious what type of floor this meets at the doorway. My daughter has (ugly) carpet in her pink and black Paris room and I would love to do something similar, but I’m not sure how it would look running into the rest of wood we have in the hallway.
I’m new to your blog and am really enjoying it!!
Hi there, I LOVE this room so much! I made my girls coral floral duvet covers and now working on implementing some light pink and white touches. I found your blog in my search for ideas and fell in love:) Question – where did you get your blinds? Those are pretty much exactly the type I’m looking for for their room.
Thanks,
Christa
You may have said, but I didn’t see it. Where did you purchase the boards for your floors? Loving the transformation. 🙂
just curious how the floors are holding up after a few years? also v curious about the lacquer and how it’s holding up. yellowing at all?
yea I would love to know how it looks after a few years. I am thinking of painting the downstains of my house. The only thing stopping me ,apart from my husband, is it says not to be used in high moisture areas & I was goin to do the kitchen. Can you mop it with out takin the paint off. Thanks Una
Hi! I’m thinking of going this route in my son’s room. How are the floors holding up. Trying to decide what kind of paint to go with.
Hi! I’m thinking of going this route in my son’s room. How are the floors holding up. Trying to decide what kind of paint to go with.
I know you posted this years ago, but I’m so glad I found this. I have been contemplating doing this for years now and your blog pushed me over the edge. I’m so doing it! Thanks for sharing.
Hey, I’m just now reading this post and wondering….how is it holding up? Does that type of pine you used dent easily? I’ve been looking at using pine plywood cut into planks. The “trick” to any floor holding up well is the sealant, I think. So how’s yours doing? Thanks in advance. 🙂