awhile back i found this buffet on pinterest.
i think i entered “green buffet” to see what came up.
and that was that.
i was in love!
i tracked down the artist and asked her HOW did you make this look like this?
she told me she used milk paint and a dark cream and wax.
(she has lots of beautiful pieces that she has created!)
so i started looking around online for these things… i know… you probably know all about this but i didn’t.
i ended up on amazon and i came across Jodi from Back40Life and thought “hey… i know that girl!”
because i did!
i have worked with Jodi in the past over the internet so i emailed her and said “tell me the real scoop on what i need to make my buffet look like this”
She sent me all the supplies i would need to complete the project that i was dying to work on.
i had NEVER used milk paint before.
honestly i didn’t even know that milk paint was a “thing” let alone how big of a following it has.
did you know that people go to milk paint classes?!
huh?
where have i been?!.jpg)
this is the buffet i wanted to paint.
i got it from an antiques shop 9 years ago and haven’t done a thing to it in those 9 years.
it was finally time!
(disclaimer…our bedroom has really funky lighting and it is HARD to get a great photo).jpg)
very first…i rubbed all the edges of this piece with the wax puck for sanding later.
did you know milk paint comes as a powder?!
i used my blender to mix it up (because the package told me i could).
i thought “this is crazy that i am using my ninja for paint!”
but i did.
and it worked.
and the ninja survived.
BUT you can buy a little hand mixer that would be way better… i recommend that.
i decided to not use the bonding agent since i wanted the paint to be super chippy.
that was me just guessing and hoping it worked.
i figured if the paint didn’t stick then i would just start over… it’s only paint!
nothing that can’t be fixed. 🙂
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this color is called Boxwood.
i painted a few coats.
and let it dry.
it is very flat paint. i was nervous. this is not my style at all.
and then came back and saw it was CHIPPING RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!
my mood changed immediately!
i was giddy.
i used this scraper and the paint just fell off.
i wasn’t putting pressure on the scraper… just moving it over the green paint.
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before and after the scraping..jpg)
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after i scraped the chippy stuff off… i lightly sanded everything to get it even chippier!.jpg)
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i LOVED this stage!.jpg)
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i wiped it all down with a rag to remove the dust and extra dry paint.
THEN i used the hemp oil over the entire piece… put it on a clean rag and applied it..jpg)
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when it was completely dry i finished the piece by sealing it with Antiquing Wax using that great big brush.
i was nervous about this part but really it just made it look finished and not flat anymore!
i like it!
of course i can’t decide on the drawer pulls so those are still missing..jpg)
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i was so pleased with using Milk Paint!
there are so many different styles and variations you can do depending on color or the piece you painting… if you use the bonding agent or not…SO MUCH FUN!
You can get all the supplies for any milk paint project you have from Back40Life in their etsy shop.
They sell Miss Mustard Seed Paints and supplies.
they were great to work with…helpful and knowledgable!
and look at all these great colors there are to choose from?!.jpg)
have you ever used milk paint?
what do you want to paint next – or for your first project?
Which color would you pick?
i am crushing on that mustard seed yellow…. or the tricycle… or typewriter….
Anne - You did an awesome job, congratulations! I just love the color and texture.
Anne.
Flower Patch Farmgirl - This is SO dreamy, lady.
Karen - You should just email and then call Marian (Miss Mustard Seed). Im sure she’d love to talk to you…
Beth - So cute! I am now itching to milk paint something, anything. Think my neighbors will notice if I sand and paint their cat?
Megan - I love it! This is what I’ve been waiting for 😉
I wanted to see how yours turned out because I was scared to do my own. But, I did it anyway. I chose chalk paint because I need instant gratification and didn’t want to wait for shipping on the milk paint. Now I want to buy all kinds of furniture to repaint. And I’ll probably be ordering some milk paint too. I’m hooked. I need Luckett’s Green and Kitchen Scale in my life.
Here’s mine: http://thingsthatfloatmyboat.blogspot.com/2014/07/eat-my-chalk-dust.html
Southern Gal - I haven’t used milk paint yet, but my son and his fiancée painted my dining room table and chair for me in a jade. It’s chippy without meaning to be. I love it! My husband hates it. Sigh.
Jenny B. - It looks great!! I have a lone dining chair I’ve been wanting to paint Mustard Seed Yellow. We have a local shop that carries it, so I just need to go get it and get started! 🙂
Mindy - Waaay back in the ’80’s, like when Country Living was just getting their magazine feet wet, I read about milk paint but wow has it ever taken off! Your piece looks so great. I am definitely keeping the process in mind for a future project.
Lisa - OMG! I love this! I went to the Etsy shop and then to the Miss Mustard Seed’s website and watched the tutorials on how to do this. I have to chairs I got for free that I need to repaint and upholster, I am so excited to milk paint them now!!
Laurel - Looks FAB! I always wanted to try milk paint since I first heard about it years ago but never got around to it… Recently I found Annie Sloan’s milk paint and OH My Goodness. What I love about it is the lack of prep work-a plus for me!!!! I have painted two brown wood pieces so far. A table that I painted with Paris Grey milk paint and then and then a white coat over and then some sandpaper to distress and then the wax with the fancy brush just like yours. Next I painted a bookcase-from Ikea and it turned out fab. One more bookcase to go and then my new loft area will look very beachy! My husband is afraid that I found this paint as what will I paint nex….:)
Tanya H - I love this! Thank you for answering my questions on how to make furniture look like that! I sooo want to redo my old dresser in Linen for my daughter!
Amy Woods - I’m trying to get brave enough to do this. I bought a vintage sewing machine in it’s original cabinet. That’s what I want to try it out on. I think I might go for it in tricycle. Only I wouldn’t do chippy since it is a sewing machine cabinet…at least not on top. Love how your buffet turned out!
Aimee - I have a piece in my garage that my hubby and I were talking about ….. SO happy to see this! Tricycle is going to be perfect!! And then we have the kitchen table to do and then the hutch in the dining room, oh, and the table in the office….
Kimberlee Jost - You know that built in that’s in my living room.
That needs this paint.
And I’m happy to have you on speed dial for when I get stuck!
Emily - Thank you so much for sharing this! I LOVE this! 🙂 Beautiful!
Meredith - Looks amazebeans Meg!! Milk paint for the win:)
Jeri - Typewriter is my fav. Been wanting to paint something gray…
Michelle Whitlow - One of these days I’m going to try the milk paint. I’ve only used chalk paint & distressed it by sanding. Looks awesome!!!
Katie - Ohhhh I love it! I’ve been itching to try out milk paint. I have a coffee table that desperately needs to be repainted, and that Mustard Seed Yellow would be perfect. I love the striped curtains paired with the buffet, too. Can’t wait to see more progress of how you’re making your new house a home.
Terri - I love how your buffet turned out. I knew you would love Miss Mustard Seed Paints! They are great. You should check out the Miss Mustard seed website. Every Friday she has a linky party and people send in pictures of projects they have done using the Miss Mustard Seed milk paint. You should put your buffet on there. It turned out really nice. Miss Mustard Seed’s dining room is featured on the cover of the new Romantic Country Homes magazine. You can see her dining room furniture that she painted. Also, she has a great picture of a cow above her buffet.
erin - Meg!!! GREAT post. And I love how it turned out *without* the bonding agent. The chippier, the better, in my book.
For the record, I do believe Kitchen Scale is my favorite.
xo
Denise Sandberg - I painted my first piece with chalk paint about a year ago – it was super fun – I skipped the hemp oil step and went straight to the wax – but it turned out great. Now I have an antique piece that has been sanded down to it’s bare wood and I’m fearful to paint it with chalk paint – I think I probably should use the bonding agent or it will just soak into the wood…..I can’t wait to get it done – now I need TIME! 🙂 Your piece looks amazing! can’t wait to see the finished project!
Wendy - love this! Where did you get your striped drapes? I love those! So pretty and just the right amount of chippy. Also, looks so authentic not sanded to look old!!
-Wendy
Mandy - …I have a very similar buffet that I nabbed for free with the matching table and I’ve been wanting to re-do them with milk paint. I’m loving that mustard seed yellow!
Gina - Apparently you haven’t been reading Marian’s blog. 😉 I love the look of milk paint but over the past five years I have painted several pieces in my house but don’t really have anything left. :/ I’m still thinking about painting some of my beroom pieces though!! Your piece is gorgeous!! 🙂
Jennifer - Wow! That looks amazing, Meg! Great job…I’ve never heard of milk paint–thanks for sharing your “how-to” on this…I’m going to have to give this a try.
Lorri - Love this! I just used chalk paint for the first time on living room end tables and now you’ve convinced me to broaden my reach with milk paint as well. So glad to see “the classics” like this get a new life – it looks terrific.
Barbie - Love your buffet!! I am really liking the Flow Blue color!!!
Jenn - Um….LOVE IT! Its turned out fabulous!
heidi e. - These would be cute in white:
http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/product/home-hardware-knobs/073183.jsp#/
Or any anthro knobs.. especially the on sale ones! 😉
Alex - Thanks for sharing your heart.
I have been inspired to share my journey with Huntingtons Disease.
http://Www.livingwithpassion90.blogspot.com
Heather S. - Love the result! I struggle to do these projects. I’ve completed an end table and a decorative garden gate (for over the mantle), but I wish I’d have been more chippy with my paint. Still looks too “freshly painted.” KWIM?
Anyway, lovely work here, Meg! I really like the tricycle, the mustard seed yellow, and the kitchen scale! What fun colors!
ALicia @ Investing Love - I have never used it, but you just convinced me…first chance I get I’m doing it!!!
Carol S. - Where’ve ya been Meg? Ha ha, can’t believe you haven’t seen this around for awhile. Probably busy in your chicken coop. 🙂 Yes, been wanting to do same thing to a couple of pieces in my guest room…dresser and desk…each time I host guests, I think “I must do that before the next guest.” Maybe this time I will. A consignment store near me has a big display of these type products and offers classes. Loved the pics and descriptions and your buffet looks fab.
jamie - just went to the {miss mustard seed} website. my questions can be answered there. i think i’m in love.
jamie - silly question: why is it called milk paint? would this look good on bathroom or kitchen cupboards?
Angela - Looks great! I love the idea of using it for your tv too! I’ve never used it but I love the colors it comes in!
Lizelle - Wow – it looks great! I need to find something to paint in the “typewriter” colour!! 😉