The Cottager: September 2014

I was so happy to find this dresser at an antique store... definitely my favorite style! I love the size and shape of this piece. The little turned legs at the bottom are my favorite detail.

My husband loved this one as well. As I was prepping her for paint he was trying to negotiate buying her from me. He just wanted to refinish her but I was already set on paint. Either way she is a beauty!

I've been wanting to try Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint for awhile now. She has a great color selection to choose from. (Take a look here if you want to see her colors.) I stuck with what I love. I chose "Grain Sack" which I would describe as an off-white that hints towards a very soft gray. I loved the subtleness of this color. It was just what I needed for this piece.

You have to mix MMS Milk Paint as it comes in a powder form, so I watched several tutorials that she has posted on her paint. They're really helpful because I wasn't sure what to expect from milk paint. If you're interested in those tutorials you can find them here. I did use the mixer and bonding agent for my mixture. The mixer helps you achieve a smoother finish because there is a grittiness to it... just part of the look and the paint.

I decided to prime the dresser first. You can start right in with the painting, but since the wood tones were so dark and I was going with such a light color... I primed. I did not want to see any of the wood except along the edges where I would sand and distress. Here's the order of events: I primed, painted 3 coats of "Grain Sack" and then for a protective finish, I used soft wax. Here's how she turned out...

The old hardware was replaced with these pretty knobs I found at World Market... love the look of these.

I finished by adding some pink and white striped wallpaper to the drawers.

I love how this dresser turned out. The milk paint was perfect for this piece. It offered an authentic look... as though it had been painted years ago. There are even a few crackles here and there to add to the charm. I particularly love how this milk paint sands and the variation in color. The mixing is not something I enjoyed... that's just a personal preference. When I have my little bit of free time... I just want to pop open my paint and go. I will definitely try some more of MMS's Milk Paint. The color "Shutter Gray" has caught my eye and will probably be my next pick. For now, I'm just enjoying "Grain Sack".

Did you notice my new sign... isn't it great? Sarah Losee at Soulshine Living did this custom sign for me and I just love it. I plan to use it at future markets. Check out her Etsy page here to see more of her fabulous pallet signs.