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Sunday, May 13, 2012

Milk Paint Dresser

When I was visiting my local Woodcraft store about a month ago, I thought I'd pick up some milk paint.  I didn't have any specific piece of furniture I wanted to paint with it, but I've always wanted to try it and bought it on a whim...


After deliberating for a while on all the color options, I picked up the "Sea Green" color, which is more of a dark, slate-blue to me...
After what seems like finding nothing but armoires and wardrobes lately, I've been on a hunt for affordable dressers for Luckett's since I didn't have a single one!  I got lucky and found this beauty on Craig's List and knew I was going to try that milk paint on this piece.  Although I don't have a before picture (big regret), envision about 5 layers of stain that were applied so horribly that there were huge discolored, raised areas on the surface.  This top took me quite a while to strip down, but it was worth it to get down to the natural wood...
I sealed and buffed with a couple layers of Myland's wax and then set about on my first milk paint experiment.  Since it comes in powder form, there is lots of mixing and to be honest, this was the most challenging part of the process.  I seriously felt like I could never get the lumps out even after mixing it slowly and following all the directions.  I would still use this paint, but I'm eager to try out Miss Mustard Seed's new milk paint line to see if it's a tad easier to mix.  Even though there were some small lumps that still went onto the dresser, it was pretty easy to gently sand them out.  On another note, this paint doesn't smell like any other paint out there.  I was reminiscing the entire time painting this dresser because it smelled so much like this...
One of my main chores growing up on a dairy farm was mixing up and feeding powdered milk replacer to the sweet little baby calves...kind of like baby formula for calves!  Ah, I miss those days.  Anyway, I digress...  Milk paint is so unpredictable and you never know where it's going to crackle up or even peel in places, but after panicking a bit, I just went with it...

After drying, I simply sealed with a coat of wax, buffed to a nice sheen, and added some new knobs and painted over some of the existing knobs with ASCP Old White....
I just love these secret little compartments built into the mirror...so unique.  Overall, I'm really lovin' milk paint and I can't wait to try out all the different brands and colors.  This dresser will be on it's way to Luckett's Spring Market in less than a week and I'm off to go finish all those last minute projects!


36 comments:

  1. Wow, I've never used milk paint, but your dresser turned out fantastic!
    Well worth all the work!
    dee dee

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  2. Gorgeous color, Kristen! I love that you left the top unpainted.

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  3. Gorgeous dresser! Good luck with Lucketts.

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  4. Beautiful color on the dresser... looks like it will
    fly out of the shop ! Sure wishing I was close to
    Luckett's store for any of the sales.
    Sounds like a wonderful store and looking online-
    I am SURE it is..

    Diana

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  5. I haven't tried milk paint yet, but this turned out so great! I love the color you chose!

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  6. Kristen...I love the dresser! You did a fantasic job on it....just beautiful! Two months ago we had 3bum lambs to bottle feed at all hours of the day and night...so I know exactly what you mean about the smell of milk paint! I'm hoping to meet up with my sister-in-law at Lucketts next year...wish I could go this time! I'd love to meet you! Maybe next year!

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  7. This piece turned out really well. Good luck with your show -- I wish I could be there.

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  8. Love the cotton!! My sister picked some for me...from NC..should be here soon.

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  9. The color and finish is sooo beautiful! I love milk paint! You did a wonderful job. BTW, I'm an Oregon gal ;)

    Shari

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  10. What a beautiful dresser. I love everything about it. The shape, the color ... it's gorgeous!

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  11. You achieved a perfect time worn patina! I love the cottage color too. So pretty. Thank you so much for joining the Cowgirl Up party!
    ♥Linsey

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  12. Love the color. Your dresser turned out beautiful.
    Mary Alice

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  13. What a beautiful piece! Did you like the milk paint? I'm intereted in trying but haven't seen any around my area...

    Visiting from Tuesday's Treasures...
    Rhonda

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  14. Stunning and just gorgeous love the color! thanks for linking up.
    XO
    Kristin

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  15. The color. The finish. The smell (LOL). Just lovely ...

    :)

    Linda

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  16. Love this dresser the dresser itself it beautiful. I love the color you chose very much just beautiful. I saw you at Cowgirl up party.

    Cynthia

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  17. it's gorgeous, love the color! xo

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  18. What a gorgeous piece! Looks great in your home. Angie

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  19. I just found your blog through Under the Table and Dreaming... this dresser is ADORABLE!!! I'm still needing to try milk paint! :) My dresser was featured along with your table on the site last month. Love your blog! Check ours out at www.littleyellowbarn.blogspot.com

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  20. Found your blog through Southern Savvy. I have never tried milk paint, even though I'm dying to! I love the color! You did a great job!!

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  21. What a gorgeous dresser you have created. The colour is beautiful! Dropping in from Tuesday Treasures

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  22. What a gorgeous dresser you have created - I just love the colour! You have inspired me to go and paint something now! :-)

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  23. That is a beautiful color. One of these days I will try milk paint.

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  24. Hi Kristen - I just found you via Primitive & Proper, and I'm so glad I did! Your work is beautiful, I wish I was in the US to visit Lucketts to see it in person! I'm following!

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  25. Love this dresser! Found you though a picture you took at Lucketts on Facebook. You are now added to my pages "likes"....love your stuff! and I totally get you about hauling around kids and it being a vacation to do "work" without them! I have 2 little ones and I feel the same way sometimes! :)

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  26. I love the look. My question is why did you use milkpaint. I painted my kitchen cabinets and they look very similar but I used water base paint. I am trying to learn why would one use milk paint instead. I want to paint my bedroom furniture a rust color.Congratulations on a job well done.

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  27. This is my first time to your site! I am enamored by your work! I stumbled upon your site after googling 'milk paint'. I have a small window project I'm trying to complete with my mom. After reading some of your posts on milk paint I have one question...could you tell me where you picked up your Sea Foam Milk Paint?

    The funny part is that I had no idea you were local! I live in Durham but too am from the Pacific NW. I grew up in Richland, Washington. My husband and I are transplants here!! Seems like a small world to be reading about furniture, paint, etc., and learn that you've made a similar move. I just graduated from grad. school so I'm very out of the crafting scene but I'm inspired to begin again. Is there any chance that you'd provide furniture painting, refinishing lessons??

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  28. I LOVE HOW YOUR DRESSER TURNED OUT ITS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL AND I WOULD LOVE TO FEATURE IT, PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THIS WOULD BE OK
    LAUREN

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