Let's get straight to addressing the post title.
Exhibit A:
DIY Chalky Paint Finish Recipe
Formula #2
- 5T Plaster of Paris
- 2T H2O (I added more)
- 2 cups paint
2. Stir in paint.
This particular recipe thickened up sooooo much, so quickly! I had to keep adding water and by the time I got to the drawer fronts and touch ups there were little chunks of plaster forming up and spraying all over the place. While I loved how the paint turned out on the finished piece and it distressed well it was a VERY messy recipe with A LOT of wasted paint (the paint becomes unusable)! This recipe was made from Clark and Kensington Paint in Benjamin Moore Old Pickup Blue. Love the color, love the paint, love how it looked after being distressed, DID NOT love the paint recipe!
Exhibit B:
The power of wood filler and a sanding sponge. One half of this leg was missing when we purchased it. A previous dresser owner obviously slammed the front casters into a wall when moving leaving 1 cracked leg and one 1/2 amputated leg. My husband used wood filler to build out the leg, sanded it down to shape, and it's good as new! p.s. Our wood filler was a bit on the dried out side so hubby decided to add some water to see if it would revive it. It did!
Exhibit C:
My little goofball in action! This is what I'm up against every time I try to take pictures of a piece!
I did manage to snag a few without my little model.
As you can see I left the mirror unpainted and picked up 2 (new) wood knobs and stained them to match. The new knobs replaced 2 ceramic floral knobs that came on the dresser. They didn't match so off they came. I love the subtle 2 tone action which breaks up the brightness of the piece. No sense painting a perfectly good mirror! Now it hangs above the dresser and almost feels like a separate piece! I absolutely adore everything about this piece. The color, the wood accents, the style. The plan is to sell it but I just don't know if I'll be able to part with it.
What do you think? Is Old Pickup Blue for you? Have you tried this paint recipe? Did you have the same problems? Let me know!
Shared with:
That is GORGEOUS! I would love to try the recipe...have you found another you like better? It's on my to-do list :o)
ReplyDeleteStacey
The first recipe I used was the one Cassie (P&P) uses but I found it to be way to runny and I needed a ton of coats...if it was still wet it picked right back up with the brush. This one started out a nice thick consistency and orked great but then it started getting chunky despite adding more water and stirring. At that point I still used it because I needed to finish but there were bits of plaster going everywhere and sticking to the piece. Since I was distressing it I wasn't too worried and I think the little beads of plaster helped achieve the speckley distressed areas (which I think look really great! I would possibly use this recipe again but would definitely make a half or third batch so there wasn't wasted paint!
DeleteWe also started another piece last night with another different recipe and after the first coat it looks great. It remains to be seen with distressing (if we decide to) and finishing if it will be a keeper! I don't remember the exact measurements (I will look it up and post it when the piece is finished)but it uses paint and baking soda!
DeleteKeeper!! WOW, that is gorgeous!!! Great job. I have yet to try chalk paint...but I haven't painted anything in a long while (well, unless you could spray painting everything in sight).
ReplyDeleteLove this! Love the color too!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jessica! I loved the color too! Ace hardware was giving away sample quarts of Clark and Kensington paint but they have Benjamin Moore colors in their store (at least my local one) and as soon as I saw it...and the name....I knew it was the one!
DeleteHave you seen the chalk paint recipe that involves mixing paint with unsanded grout (the stuff that goes between the tiles of a tile floor)? I haven't tried it yet, but it's on my list. I do love how the distressed finish turned out, and I love the color of this dresser!
ReplyDeleteI did the grout and paint today on a bookcase and it turned out really lumpy on the wood....then tried to sand and it was spotting ...the wood coming back thru...so I then mixed up some paint and water and literally white washed the whole thing! Looks much better...and I started buffing with Johnson clear paste wax and it is starting to look much better!
DeleteGreat color! I tend to buy pieces that take A LOT of wood filler, too. I use unsanded grout for my homemade chalk paint, and I don't measure anything out. I make a little at a time (probably about a half a cup) and just put in what I think is a good amount of grout. It is a little grainy, and I add some water, but the motion of painting (I use a brush) smooths out the grains. I have also noticed the better quality the paint, the better the recipe turns out (using Ben Moore or Sherwin Williams is best). I am going to pin this so I can try this color at some point!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tips!
DeleteI LOVE the wood mirror and matching knobs! I've also used the unsanded grout and like it. It definitely adheres to the wood great the little lumps do even out with the stroke of the brush also. It still doesn't distress as nice as ASCP! But better than the regular latex which tends to peel.
ReplyDeleteTried a baking soda version last night and so far I think it might be a winner!
DeleteHey lady!! I just found your cute blog via the hop, and I'm your newest follower! I'd also love to have you check out a fabulous Triple Giveaway I'm having right now!!
ReplyDeleteHope to see you there! And thanks so much!
xo
http://emilymmeyers.blogspot.com/2012/08/triple-winner-giveaway.html
I love the color! Just curious, why do you use the chalkboard paint? Is it for texture? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteChalk paint, which I think can also be used as chalkboard paint is used so that you do not need to prep the surface (besides making sure it is clean) before painting. This means no sanding and/or priming!
Deleteso pretty! i love the name of the color, too- it's perfect! and i don't know if i could part with it either.
ReplyDeleteThe dresser is lovely and I truly love the two tone effect..have you tried the chalk paint recipe with the calcium carbonate or the plaster of Paris? I am aching to try something out soon, I got a few Benjamin Moore colors samples at my local hardware store. Now I just need something to paint....
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Heather! I used Plaster of Paris and I really love how the finish turned out but I think next time a bit less plaster might help it keep a thinner consistency. I also suggest making a small batch and then making another if you run out!
DeleteLoops, you did write plaster of Paris, I better pay closer attention....I was blinded by the beauty of the dresser:)
ReplyDelete:)
DeleteI have used a plaster of Paris recipe but I used much less p of P and more water and I also mixed in relatively small batches. Mine worked beautifully. I actually liked my version in white better than I like the ASCP!
ReplyDeleteAnything where there's no prep involved is my kind of project! The fact that it is absolutely gorgeous is the icing on the cake!
ReplyDeleteKelly
This is beautiful! I love the stuff you have ON your dresser just as much =)
ReplyDeletei love the colour i have just made my own chalk paint to but i made mine with wall compound, i would love it if you could come ad link up at my party at http://www.twiggstudios.com/2012/08/sunday-show-off-linky-party_18.html
ReplyDeleteParting would be sweet sorrow though, because I bet you'd make a bundle on this little lovely. it's so beautiful and such an exceptional piece of furniture. Someone would probably snap it up instantly. Never tried making chalk paint. Glad to hear your review of that recipe. Good to know.
ReplyDeleteLiz
L*O*V*E this old pickup blue dresser! And every other post I read so far. :)
ReplyDeleteNewest follower!
~Dori
Thanks Dori! Happy to have you following. :)
DeleteThe dresser turned out very nice and I like the two-toned effect. Great job.
ReplyDeletePlaster of Paris seems to thicken pretty fast, so use small amounts. I prefer unsanded grout and make small batches by mixing the grout, a small amount of water and stir until smooth ... then add the paint. Good luck with all your projects. Joined you and will be back for more inspiration.
Blessings,
Audrey Z. http://audreyzumwalt.blogspot.com/
Oh how pretty! And cottage style dressers are just my very favorite pieces of furniture! I've had really good luck with homemade chalk paint. But I do mix it in very small batches and try to use it all up pretty quickly. Some brands of paint definitely seem to do better than others.
ReplyDeleteI love the dresser and the distressed color. I had the same issue with the plaster of paris painting method. I ended up sanding mine completely down and starting over. I'm glad yours came out the way it did.
ReplyDeleteI love the scale and blue jar too!
I found you via DIY Project Parade and am looking forward to following you.
Have a great day.
Pam
Looks great! I have tried homemade chalk paint and although it did work ok, in the long run I would say it doesn't compare to the real deal. :)
ReplyDeleteI'd have to agree! I'm a science nerd so I enjoy the trial and error process but none of the DIY batches even compare to the real deal in how they feel/distress but I do think you can still end up with a quality distressed or non distressed piece using a DIY version!
ReplyDeleteOld pickup blue IS for me!!! Someday I want a similar color as the accent color in our kitchen.I love the Ball jar too! Your little model, such a ham!!! Stopped in from Embracing Change.
ReplyDeleteI simply love everything about it.
ReplyDeleteSigh.
I want it in my home.
Guess I'll just keep admiring it in yours :o)
Thanks for sharing!
Stacey of Embracing Change
beautiful texture. hop on over when you have a chance!
ReplyDeletemichele
The two tone looks lovely. Thanks for sharing at Shabbilicious Friday.
ReplyDeleteComing over from Primp... I LOVE your dresser.. The color is Beautiful!!!!
ReplyDeleteAngelina
This is absolutely gorgeous!! I want it for my house. And, your goofball is gorgeous too :)
ReplyDeleteI've pinned this!
:) Thanks so much Emily. I really want to keep the piece but we don't have a good space for it. I am going to be SO SO sad to see it go. I think it might be my favorite piece I've refinished to date.
DeleteThis is so perfect. Everything you turn out is perfect! How do you get this all done???? How many kids do you have and how old. I am starting to feel like I am lazy here, and I work every spare second I have!
ReplyDeleteI love how your dresser turned out! Even though you had your share of hurdles along the way, the finished piece is absolutely gorgeous! Well done!
ReplyDeleteAllison
Thanks Allison! :)
DeleteI love everything about this and the staging is BEAUTIFUL!
ReplyDeleteBEAUTIFUL, I love the contrast between the mirror and the dresser.Cute goofball too.
ReplyDeleteLove it, love the color. I can see why you don't want to sell it. Did you? End up selling it? How do you arrive at your selling price? I tried the chalk paint recipe with unsanded grout and while it worked it quickly became a clump of colored hard grout. I'm trying Plaster of Paris today but only two TBSP. The dealer in the same store I sell at gave me her "secret" recipe!!! Check out my site.
ReplyDeleteBless, Lisa
I think it looks awesome! I read your other post on the other recipe using baking soda, and I'm excited to try it! Thanks for sharing!! Hope you enjoy my site too! Hugs! <3
ReplyDeleteI think I have pinned this before, but it's worth a repin! I am in love with everything about this dresser makeover!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, saw this over at 36th Ave. today. SO STINKIN' PRETTY!!!! I love, love, love it. Goin' on the Pinterest board for future inspiration.
ReplyDeleteThis is gorgeous, I love this blue!
ReplyDeleteThis is absolutely gorgeous! What is this color called? Found you through The 36th Ave. link up! Newest follower! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks April it is Old Pickup Blue by Benjamin Moore
Deletehttp://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/oldpickupblue