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    Transforming a Vintage Buffet with Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint

    Furniture Painting

    Say the word “sale” and I’m like a hungry zombie on the hunt for his next meal.

    Brains!

    Bargain!

    It can be a recipe for disaster. Many times, my judgment has been clouded by a good deal. And it’s not until I’m home that I realize that treasure was really trash.

    But not this time.

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    Kitchen Scale Milk Paint Buffet Styled

    When I spotted this buffet  before its transformation, it was wedged in an old barn with lots of junk. One leg was broken  — split almost clear through — and the others were caked in mud. One door was missing and the drawers were falling apart. It smelled like tobacco.

    Oh, and the paint job, was horrible. It was a caked-on creamy color, layered over a goopy brown. To say it had been painted, though, is too generous. I’ve never seen such sloppy brush work. I’m thinking someone just dumped a can of paint over it.

    Of course, I forgot to take a before photo. I must have been afraid it would have broken my camera!

    But I saw something special in this piece, beyond the ridiculously cheap price tag. Like Mildred, the vintage secretary that transformed into a bombshell after a little milk paint makeover, I knew this piece of furniture could have a glorious second life.

    And so, I got to work – gluing, stripping, sanding, painting, distressing and waxing.

    Sanding the buffet

    You can read about that process here.

    It took months of stops and starts, maybe because I was afraid of how much work this buffet would require.

    But once I started painting, I could see the light at the end of the tunnel.

    Vintage Buffet Milk Paint Makeover in Progress

    I started with Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint in Tricycle Red first (with bonding agent added to ensure the paint would stick). Then, I followed with a layer of hemp oil, then a layer of Kitchen Scale milk paint to achieve that wonderful chippy  texture for which milk paint is famous. (You can learn more about how to use hemp oil to make milk paint chip here.)

    A little distressing with a sanding block, a top coat of hemp oil, some new knobs from Hobby Lobby, and the buffet was finally finished.

    Kitchen Scale milk paint layered over red

    We hauled it over to my booth at Golden Antiques in Summerfield, N.C., one Wednesday afternoon.

    Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint Buffet Kitchen Scale Over Tricycle

    I did a little accessorizing and fluffing of my booth.

    Vintage Soda Bottles in Kitchen Scale Buffet
    It stayed that way for a few days, long enough for the Hometalk N.C. Bloggers Meetup. Then, the very next day, I got a phone call that someone was interested in buying the buffet.

    So, now I am in search of my next bargain, the next dusty, crusty, muddy, eyesore I can make over with my paintbrush.

    Because where other people see junk, I see…

    …brains!

    Linking up to:

    Creatively Tuesday at The Rustic Pig

    Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

    Filed Under: Furniture Painting Tagged With: milk paint, painted furniture

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Katie

      May 23, 2013 at 11:57 pm

      I love the way this turned out, the colors are beautiful. It’s no wonder it sold so quickly 🙂
      ~Katie @ Upcycled Treasures

      Reply
    2. Rosi

      May 18, 2013 at 4:31 pm

      Incredibly done! I love the colors!

      Reply
      • Amy

        May 20, 2013 at 12:43 pm

        Thanks so much, Rosi.

        Reply
    3. diana miller

      May 16, 2013 at 11:21 am

      Really love the buffet, I never knew about hemp oil. Thanks for sharing!!!

      Reply
      • Amy

        May 20, 2013 at 12:45 pm

        Hemp oil is great. I really love it, both as a resist, and as a top coat. (Saves my shoulders from all that buffing required with wax.)

        Reply
    4. kirby carespodi

      May 16, 2013 at 8:08 am

      Okay…now you have inspired me! I am going to try hemp oil in beween coats and do that whole crackley thing!

      Reply
      • Amy

        May 20, 2013 at 12:47 pm

        You will love it, Kirby. I’m loving hemp oil as a top coat too. (No buffing required.) Marian, AKA, Miss Mustard Seed said she applies hers with a brush. I’d been using a rag for a top coat, but next piece, I’ll be adopting her brush method. Anything to make things easier on myself.

        Reply
    5. Suzy @ Worthing Court

      May 16, 2013 at 8:01 am

      I loved what you were doing with that piece when I saw it in your painting booth (aka garage). I just adore the color combo. Congrats on selling it so quickly.

      Reply
      • Amy

        May 20, 2013 at 12:49 pm

        Thanks, Suzy. Don’t I have a fancy painting booth/workshop? It’s the envy of all my neighbors. Or maybe it’s the bane of all my neighbors.

        Reply
    6. Holly

      May 16, 2013 at 6:26 am

      It’s gorgeous Amy! I love the color combo – you did a fantastic job!

      Reply
      • Amy

        May 20, 2013 at 12:50 pm

        Thanks. It took forever, but I do love the after!

        Thanks again for the Downton video (I think!) Things last forever on the Internet, right? 🙂

        Reply

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