This dresser came out way differently that I originally planned. I wanted a pretty blue and was open to some light chipping. Definitely not how it turned out, but I’m learning to love it. I think there’s a lot a person like me can learn from milk paint. I like control and more cleanly paint pieces, so working on this one stressed me out!
I found this dresser for free on craigslist and had to have it. My mom wanted to keep the mirror to hang on the wall, so I did not paint it to match, but I’m happy about that because I despise painting mirrors. I have a bunch in the garage because I never paint them and sell them with the piece. It’s just not worth it to me.
To start I sanded the whole dresser. The before picture looks pretty good, but there were gouges and dings galore! I couldn’t get them out, but I like that those are part of the story and history of the piece and add to the overall charm. Once it was sanded I vacuumed it off and wiped it down. For a paint color I mixed together MMS Flow Blue and MMS Eulalie’s Sky and then lightened it with some OFMP Oyster White I had. The whole piece got 2 coats of paint and the chipping really started when the second coat was drying. It started cracking it lines which is a different type of resist/chipping than I’ve gotten before. I thought it was done chipping once it had been dry for 2 hours, but as it cured the paint chipped a little more. I just used a spackle knife to scrape off the chipping areas, vacuumed it off and then sanded wit high grit sandpaper to smooth it out. For a sealer I had to go with poly. Poly is the only sealer that stops milk paint from chipping more, and that’s what I needed for this. I used General Finishes high performance poly all over the piece. While poly does seal it, each time the milk paint gets wet (before it’s been sealed) it chips more, so as the poly dried, a bit more of the paint that was semi-attached came off. I sanded once more and then sealed with a coat of clear wax for durability and evenness in the finish, then added some chunky glass knobs to finish it off.
Beautiful! I love the color — I think it turned out great!
Beautifully done, as always!
Hi Reeves! I confess, I've been stalking your blog for a while, but don't comment. So first I'll say that I think you do beautiful work. Second, I'm a painter who loves milk paint and all the chippy fabulousness that it can bring. I rarely branch out into mid-century stuff, or clean, smooth surfaces but I really admire what you do with that look. So, I'm really here to say that this chippy empire dresser is fantastic and I am sure that some buyer out there will totally love it even though it isn't quite your thing 😉 Also … as for the mirrors, I know what you mean. I take them off as well, and have a big pile of them in my garage. I don't mind painting the mirror frame itself so much as the arms that hold them on. So time consuming! And really, a dresser is just so much more versatile without its mirror anyway, right?
Wow, look at all the chippy goodness! The lack of control kind of freaks me out, but I love the rustic milk paint look!
It's beautiful! And I can't believe you got it for free 🙂 Yes, milk paint can be kind of frustrating and you have to learn to go with it, but it can do some really cool things that other paint just can't. And I agree, I never paint mirrors 🙂
WOW! I can't believe you got this for free!!! It turned out so pretty, well done!!
Smiles!
Terry
Gorgeous! Love the color and all the choppiness. I don't think you can have too much chippiness! I
This came out SO beautifully! The glass knobs are perfect. I also love the gallery wall + the vintage fan. 🙂
I absolutely love it. The color is gorgeous and the chippy finish is perfect!
Free on Craigslist, what a score!
I love this piece and i was once like you and painted very clean lines but i learned to love the chippi-ness because people love that farmhouse look and it will sell. Great job!