by Annie Sloan
This dining room was designed around the colour Chalk Paint® in Athenian Black, and dressed with rustic Christmas attire for a dark twist on yuletide.
This moody yet cosy Christmas backdrop was painted by Annie’s son, Felix Sloan. Felix painted the walls using a large Chalk Paint® Brush and Chalk Paint® in Athenian Black. Once the wall was dry, Felix used a Small Flat Brush to flick Chalk Paint® in Old White in differing increments at the centre of the wall to give the suggestion of a star-studded galaxy. Felix left these walls unwaxed because they are of a porous, lime stone quality in an old house and therefore they need to breathe. If you use Chalk Paint® on a wall in a high-traffic area of your home we recommend a layer of Clear Chalk Paint® Wax or Lacquer to protect from sticky fingers and beyond!
The baubles were given a rustic, rusty feel, created using Gilding Waxes. One set was painted first with Chalk Paint® in Emperor’s Silk before being stippled roughly with Warm Gold Gilding Wax and more Emperor’s Silk over the top. The others are painted with Paris Grey and stippled in the same manner with Dark Silver Gilding Wax. These rustic decorations were then hung from a branch at different heights using twine for a dramatic, twist on a Christmas chandelier. The chandelier, you can see above, made its way to the table top instead!
These crackers have been personalised to exactly match the Christmas décor. Plain cracker making kits can be easily found at craft stores or online and filled with your own gifts. Then, pick a Chalk Paint® colour (here Annie has used Athenian Black) and apply to the what will become the outer surface of your cracker. For a luxurious, festive finish, apply metallic Gilding Wax to the inner tube of the crackers (here Annie has used Dark Silver).
The look is finished off with a matching table cloth and napkins made from Linen Union in Graphite + Old White, simply hemmed on a sewing machine. If your not confident sewing you could simply cut them with pinking shears to minimise fraying, or tear the fabric and embrace the rustic look and feel.
Reposted from https://www.anniesloan.com/inspiration/dark-christmas-dining-room
