- Frenchic is the world's fastest growing 'brand in demand' Lazy Range wax infused chalk paint and Al Fresco a long wearing and tough outdoor chalk paint.
- Frenchic Paint Brushes are handcrafted in Italy using centuries old traditions. We have a selection of over 11-brush types, including Oval, Flat, Blending, Detailing, Wax and Stencil. Our Oval brushes are made with a careful ratio of natural bristle to synthetic fibre ratio, constructed particularly for superior chalk.
Frenchic Furniture Paint is a chalk and mineral range of paints which are low VOC and solvent free. There are several different types, depending on your project or what you’ll be painting. The Al Fresco range seems to be the most popular as it is durable, waterproof, can be used on a huge variety of different surfaces, requires very little prep work and doesn’t need any kind of finishing coat. For composite or UPVC doors (and windows if you fancy!) you’ll definitely want to choose a colour from the Al Fresco range, and believe it or not if you’re just doing one side you’ll just need a tester size pot of paint. This paint can also be used on wood, laminate, composite, metal and even children’s toys as well
The Frenchic paint used was gifted to me as part of Frenchic’s affiliate programme. If you’d like to use my personalised link to purchase Frenchic paint I will receive a small percentage of whatever you spend.
Frenchic Detailing Brushes - a set of 4 smaller brushes for the decorative painter to reach the parts that other brushes cannot reach! Handcrafted in Italy, these fine brushes are ideal for using on ornate carving and finer detail when Frenchic'ing your furniture. Made of quality, soft synthetic fiber producing a smoot. Frenchic - Paint Brushes are handcrafted in Italy using centuries old traditions. Frenchic - FrenSheen’ is a natural mineral powder which adds a 'pizzazz' to your painted furniture.
Last summer I took on the task of giving my old battered UPVC front door a make over after discovering Frenchic furniture paint. After sharing about it on Instagram I promised a blog post detailing how it could be done for just £6.95 (and how easy it was!) but haven’t got round to it yet. Truthfully I was waiting to have an ‘after’ photo, and I still haven’t actually got new hardware for the door so there is no after photo yet (I’m a starter and not a finisher unfortunately..), but I recently painted the inside of my door to match the outside as part of the stairway makeover, and I thought I’d how you how I got on with using the Frenchic paint.
When I first read that I would be able to transform my UPVC door with just a tester pot of Frenchic furniture paint (150ml for £6.95) I was pretty sceptical, but after seeing so many people get such good results in the Frenchic Facebook group I figured it was worth a go, and I was kind of shocked when I managed it. The colour I chose is Frenchic Al Fresco Dusky Pink, and one tester sized pot is the perfect amount for one side of a front door.
Prep Work
Firstly you need to choose the right time to paint your front door. It’s a job for the warmer months, ideally you want a few dry days with the temperature staying above 10 degrees (even at night) to allow the paint to cure properly. To prep your UPVC door you need to wash with sugar soap and then give it a gentle sand (just by hand with a little sand paper is fine) to give it a key, which basically means to make the door feel slightly rough instead of smooth to help the paint stick to the surface.
Frenchic recommend using their oval brushes, but I do think that other brushes would be fine to use too. If you’re painting a door you can either remove the hardware (letter box, door knocker, handle etc) completely or use duct tape to protect it as well as any glass panels in your door.
Painting With Frenchic Furniture Paint
Painting with Frenchic is not like painting with normal emulsion. The self levelling paint needs to be applied in very very thin coats, so it goes on with a dry brush and looks kind of awful at first. The general consensus seems to be that if the first coat leaves you thinking “oh no, what have I done??” then you’re probably on the right track. By the second coat you will see it taking shape, and by the third coat your creation should be perfect. You should leave at least two hours between coats.
After a few days the paint will be fully cured and should be hard wearing and weather proof. My front door was painted about 7 months ago now, and it is still in great condition. I did notice a scratch recently which is probably to be expected in such a high traffic area, but it was easy to touch up just by giving it a light sand and then painting over. It’s also easy to clean, and overall I’ve been really happy with the way it’s turned out.
Future Frenchic Projects
Overall I found Frenchic furniture paint really easy to use – minimal prep really appeals to me and the finish seems to be really great. A quick browse of the Frenchic Facebook group shows the huge versatility this paint has – you’ll see people painting everything from doors and window trim, upcycled furniture, flooring, tiles, outside projects, leather sofas and much more. Next Frenchic projects on the list for me are my staircase, and kitchen cupboards – so stay tuned for that!
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Frenchic paint has been a staple paint within my home and garden projects. I’ve painted anything from internal pine doors, MDF laminated wardrobes, outdoor plant pots even my front door!
The list truly does continue, the paint is so versatile and what better time to upcycle your furniture than during a lockdown, eh?
Where can I buy?
- Local stockists
My advice would always be to shop directly on the Frenchic website. That way, if you have any issues with your order you totally cut out the middle man.
How much does Frenchic Paint cost?
Well there are several different ranges and the price is variable from £6.95 to £19.95.
How far does it spread?
A little goes a long way with Frenchic paint and it takes a couple of strokes to get used to product overload! I’m yet to get through an entire tin of anything.
Are Frenchic brushes worth it?
I have tried the Frenchic Large Oval Brush (which was very kindly sent to me with no obligation to post!) It is £16.95 and honestly I’m on the fence about if it’s worth the dosh… Personally I would say it’s not life changing with the way it applies product and I KNOW that I can purchase similar brushes for cheaper from my local DIY stores, I’ve also linked one here which is only a fiver from amazon.
That being said, it did wash really, really well and dried almost immediately. In that sense, yes the quality is superior to DIY stores own brushes. plus, you really look the part with the actual brush so I guess it’s a 50/50 from me. Purchase at your peril my darlings!
What exactly can I paint with the Frenchic then?
Anything. Yes, I am being serious. The Al Fresco Inside / Outside range is weatherproof, UV resistant, self priming, self sealing *takes deep breath*, low in VOC and is perfect for (but not limited to) the following projects:
- Exterior doors and window frames (wood, metal and UPVC)
- Plant pots
- Composites
- Outdoor play equipment (it’s certified safe for children’s toys)
- Furniture
- Kitchen cabinets
- Flooring
Frenchic Paint Brush Or Roller
Pretty much anything you can think of, you can paint. Which brings me onto;
Do I need to prep and prime before I paint?
Now this massively depends on your project. I would always recommend you give your project a thorough clean and wipe down before starting any application of paint. You can use sugar soap and a cloth to rid your project of sticky debris, grease and grime!
Most of the paints come with a self prime and self seal, just take a read in the description before clicking purchase!
How long does it last?
Well I painted my internal doors with Blackjack some months back and I must say it’s faired extremely well. Not a single chip or crack and the finish is just gorgeous! It’s lived through renovation hell and for that I’ll give it 10/10
I also painted a few vases in the Lazy Range and they look brilliant, like they were bought that way! And the plus side is, you don’t have to touch it up!
So, we know you love Frenchic Paint but are there any negatives Chlo?
Yes. Yes there are! please see below my list of “cons” for this paint.
- The tin lid is near impossible to put back on once opened
- It dries incredibly fast and so your brush build up gets crumbly and crusty in no time
- Advertises as two coat however I would say three is perfect
- Frenchic does smell funny however it’s not disgustingly overpowering
- They don’t sell in the likes of Homebase, B&Q, Wickes and so it’s mostly online order.
My negatives for this paint are far outweighed by the positives.
Frenchic Uk
If you’re interested to give it a whirl yourself please consider using my link here to make your purchase as it is linked to me and means I earn a little commission off of your purchase! It doesn’t change the price for you but it does help support me and my blog and enables me to continue creating content!
FAQ
- Can I paint my kitchen cabinets with this?
- Yes you can!
- Did you sand down your surfaces before painting?
- No, my surfaces were already smooth and free of lumps and bumps. The paint is self priming so I didn’t need to prep!
- How long do you have to wait between coats?
- About 1 hour. Drying time is insane, like no other product I’ve ever tried.
- Does the colour “go off” when using on your front door?
- No, the ingredients have UV protection to stop this.
Frenchic Paint Usa
For any more questions, please leave a comment below and I’ll get right back to you! I hope you found this post useful.