Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint Meets My Kitchen Stools

I recently used Miss Mustard Seed’s milk paint to give my kitchen counter stools a makeover.  In my old kitchen the black stools contrasted nicely with the all white cabinetry.

But 12 years and 3 kids later, my stools were showing a lot of wear.  And in my new home, with the base cabinets painted black, I felt some contrast in color was needed.

Using milk paint was a new experience for me.  First, it comes as a powder which you then mix with water.  It is non-toxic and odorless so you can use it inside without the need for ventilation.  I found I needed to stir it frequently because the  color separates easily.   If you  like a chippy look and are painting over existing paint, there is no need to sand first.  On the other hand, if you want a smooth finish, then light sanding is necessary.  You can also add a bonding agent to the milk paint mix to get better adhesion.

I decided that a chippy finish would best suit my family … our youngest just turned five so we still have a few years ahead of us of lots of  wear and tear by little ones.  I chose Lucketts Green from Miss Mustard Seed’s line of milk paint.  The color is close  to that of jadite.

Here’s how the chairs looked after the first coat of paint.

After I applied the second coat, the paint naturally started to chip on its own.  I then lighted sanded the stools with a fine grit sandpaper to smooth the finish.  I applied two coats of polyacrylic to seal the finish.

I like the new color.  I also like the contrast of the chippy stools with the more formal elements in the kitchen.

I will be sharing more about our Ikea kitchen in the weeks to come.  Stay tuned!

Debra