Then I found this beaut. I couldn't decide if it was just old and ugly or if it could be vintage and cool.
I took a chance. For $75 I figured I didn't have much to loose if it turned out awful. I got the table, 4 chairs, a leaf, and the pad.
For two weeks or so I went back and forth between milk paint and chalk paint. I read blog after blog, and found some beautiful examples of both. I was inspired by Miss Mustard Seed. Could my weird, old table look good?!
I happened upon some milk paint when I went to our local Woodcraft store to get some stain for my kitchen cabinets. I couldn't walk away from it. It was made by Old Fashioned Milk Paint. I chose buttermilk.
I had NO IDEA what to expect. I had watched tutorials online, but until I opened that package, I didn't know a thing about milk paint! It comes in powder form that you mix equal parts with warm water. It's strange. It's different. But the finish it produces is ah-mazing! It was EXACTLY what I was going for.
To start, you'll need:
1 package of milk paint in your color of choice
A cup to mix it in (I started with a red solo cup and eventually upgraded to something from Lowe's)
Stick to stir it with
Chip brush or other brush with natural bristles
Warm water
Sanding block
Degreaser
Putty knife *optional
1. The first step is to make sure your wood is clean and free of any oils and dirt. At the very least you should clean it with soap and water. At the most, a good degreaser.
2. Sand lightly. My pieces had the finish worn almost completely off. I had very little sanding to do. If you are intending to get a more even look, you should use a bonding agent and add it to your paint. That was not the look I was going for. I wanted the crackly, chippy finish. I didn't use a bonding agent, just simply painted it on over my old finish.
3. Do a light wash over your wood with water on your brush. It will help the paint adhere a little easier and it will raise the grain of the wood.
4. Start your first coat. It will look awful. Don't be scared. It's supposed to look this way. The first coat soaks into the wood. That's part of the beauty of milk paint. It soaks in almost like a stain would, but as a result it looks blotchy. Don't overwork the paint. Brush it on, and let it go. It's almost better to use a dryer brush than to much paint. Your brush should not be saturated. If there are lumps after mixing, don't fret. As you brush on the milk paint, they work themselves out too.
At this point, if you haven't used a bonding agent, you'll notice that your paint will start to crackle as it dries. If you want it more chippy, feel free to use a putty knife to chip away some of those cracks. I didn't want mine to be overly chippy, so I sanded it lightly in between coats.
5. Let that dry for an hour or so.
6. Now you're ready for your second coat. This is the coat that will start to cover. I was still going for the blotchy, streaky look, so I only put two coats on. It gave my pieces a very authentic aged look. If you want it to be more opaque, go ahead and put on a third coat. As the second oat dried, my finish became crackled and started o chip further. As it dried longer, it crackled more. I, apparently, have a strange fascination with watching my paint crackle.
7. When you're all finished with your paint, sand lightly. For my chairs, I finished them with three coats of spray Polycrylic. It's water based and less likely to yellow over my light paint. You can also use Polyurethane if you'd like, but that will yellow over time. Some people like the rub on stuff or the brush on stuff, but for me, a busy mom with two kids that is refinishing her furniture during nap time, the spray stuff was it! The table base was finished with SC Johnson Paste Wax. I looked around and around and finally settled on this because it was easily available and cheap. If you use wax, rub on in a circular motion and then buff off. You can put a few coats on, but it takes a few weeks to cure fully. It dries to the touch in a few hours. The water should bead up on it. Caution: this smells strong, so be sure to use in a well ventilated area.
The SC Johnsons's Paste Wax really gives it an amazing finishing touch. The key is definitely to put it on in very thin coats. Less is more. If the coat is on to thick, it will streak, and you'll have a really hard time getting them out. If you're new to furniture refinishing, I can't rave about paste wax enough. There are several types on the market, but this was my first try so I chose this brand. The way it changes the look and feel of the furniture is amazing. I'm not sure I'll ever use anything else again!
So there you go. Milk paint. Don't be afraid to try it. I'm so glad I did!
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