look who’s chalking

From Habitat magazine - issue 31, chalk finishes

Check out these exciting new chalk finishes and waxes.

Love the look of rustic and antique furniture? Then keep an eye out for Karen Walker Paints Chalk Colour and Wax range, new to the Resene collection of speciality finishes. Karen Walker Chalk Colour paints create a beautiful, velvety matte finish when applied to furniture and other surfaces. The new range is an extension of the already popular Karen Walker Paints colour palette. It’s available in colours from that collection and a selection of Resene colours.

Hallway table and frame in wax finish with pastel walls and floors

Coffee table: Perfect for upcycling old furniture, this coffee table gets a beachy makeover using Karen Walker Chalk Colour in Resene Ecru White, finished in Karen Walker Soft Wax. The wall is painted Resene Half Duck Egg Blue and the pots are in Resene Albescent White (left) and Resene Sandspit Brown. Stockists: Hamilton sofa and Malibu floor rug from Freedom Furniture; Warranbrooke Distant Waters Print from Father Rabbit; Samba Macrame Tray, Shell Cluster, Zoe Cushion in Brass and Milford Moss Stitch Cushion in Black/Charcoal from Indie Home Collective. All other props are stylist’s own.

Hallway table: Dusky pastels add soft elegance to this hallway. The table is in Karen Walker Paints Chalk Colour tinted to Resene Grain Brown, the chair is in Resene Albescent White and the picture frame is in Resene Blanched Pink. The table and frame are finished in Karen Walker Vintage Wax and the chair is finished in Karen Walker Soft Wax. The wall is painted in Resene Half Washed Green, the tall vase is in Resene Shadowy Blue and the floor is in Resene Powder Blue. Stockists: Abstract Hydrangeas Art Print by Jenni Stringleman from Endemic World; Cylinder Candle Vase in Peach; Bud Candle in Sage and Rose and Hibiscus Scented Soy Candle from Città Design; Cross Deco Statue, Rosetta Vase and Plause Vase from Freedom Furniture; Jacinto Rose Gold with Pink Sunglasses and Saddle Bag from Karen Walker. All other props are stylist’s own.

In addition to the new chalk finish, this new range includes two waxes to give furniture extra depth, interest and lustre. For an instantly aged look – think French Provincial-inspired – use a cloth to buff the Karen Walker Vintage Wax all over the furniture, concentrating on the grooves.

Or, simply use Karen Walker Soft Wax to keep the soft look of the Karen Walker Chalk Colour paint finish, with an extra protective layer.