Even though yellow is one of my favorite colors, I have a love-hate relationship with yellow paint. Every time I paint with it, something goes wrong. In the case of this tall boy, I pushed out of my comfort zone and overshot. The first mustard color I used was WAY too bold for this vintage piece. The before pics below were taken with my iPhone and the lighting wasn’t the best, but these have NOT been altered. It really was this intense!
When I posted to FB, some of you suggested toning this down with glaze. Brilliant! And thank you for all of your suggestions. A glaze, wash, or dark wax certainly would have done the trick. But for whatever reason, I was stuck on my original vision — keeping this dresser’s finish clean and simple. So instead, I lightly sanded the first coat of bold mustard chalk paint, and started over with milk paint. Miss Mustard Seed’s Mustard Seed Yellow to the rescue!
I used Miss Mustard Seed’s Bonding Agent on the first coat so the milk paint wouldn’t chip. It didn’t. What it did do (because milk paint loves to surprise and do it’s own thing) was crack beautifully in a few areas. The cracking adds to the modern/yester-year appeal of this dresser. The body has been waxed with Annie Sloan clear wax and buffed to a beautiful sheen.
The top of this dresser has been sanded down and stained with Varathane’s Kona Gel Stain and protected with 3 coats of Varathane’s Satin Poly. If you’re ever looking for a dark-rich-not-too-red/yellow-stain, Varathane’s Kona and Expresso are amazing! I only applied one coat of stain on this dresser’s top.
I left the drawers unlined. They are clean and in good shape.
What do you think of these knobs? I think they’re perfect for the piece and really tie everything together!
I’ve been painting furniture for a few years now. I’m still amazed at how each piece of furniture feels unique and often teaches me something new.
Here are My Take-A-Ways For This Restyle:
- Milk Paint can be painted over Chalk Style Paint and still look amazing.
- Stepping out of my comfort zone always leads to good things… even though it may not look like it at first glance.
- And lastly, if I ever paint the outside of my house yellow (which I’ve been wanting to do for years because I have a ‘thing’ for cheery yellow homes) I better be SUPER careful what shade of yellow I choose. π
Feel free to pin this project and if you have any questions, ask away. π
Are you a fan of yellow? Chime in with your thoughts, questions or just to say ‘hi’ because I always love hearing from you! π
Happy Painting and have a bright sunny day!
Denise x
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Natalie says
Such a pretty dresser makeover!
Denise says
Thanks Natalie! XO
Andrea says
Hi Denise, I have a china cabinet that is dark colored making the room dark too; this yellow milk paint is the perfect color! Do you suggest sanding the piece before painting with the milk paint? Thanks for sharing!
Denise says
Hi Andrea! Yes, if you don’t want a chippy look, you could give the piece a light sanding OR add Bonding Agent into the milk paint which makes it adhere nicely.
Bernadine Irvin says
I love your destressed techniques and after finished products. Thanks for posting your ideas and finished furniture. Bernadine
Denise says
Thanks so much Bernadine…thanks for visiting! π
Christine says
I do like yellow & that dresser turned out perfect from top to bottom. May I ask, though, why you chose to use the milk paint over top instead of another chalk paint? Was it simply because you had it on hand? I’ve never tried milk paint but I’ve heard that it has a “harder” feel to it–like it’s more stable than chalk paint. In your opinion, is this true? I’m just getting started painting furniture and I still struggle with chalk paint at times.
Denise says
Thanks Christine π … and exactly! It’s the softer yellow I had on hand, so that’s what I used. Once milk paint is applied, sanded and top coated, the finish feels just as smooth as chalk paint.
chris from midwest cottage and finds says
Hi Denise–LOVE MMSMP!! Did you spray this piece? It looks so smooth…..PERFECTION!!
Denise says
Thanks Chris… and I love this MMS color too! This piece was brushed not sprayed. I have actually never sprayed milk paint before, but that may be something fun to try in the future. π
Naomi says
That is a GORGEOUS yellow!!! I love a 70’s mustard yellow, tan enough so one doesn’t have to squint… That is beautiful and I’ll have to try milk paint now! I’m so glad I found your website.
Denise says
Thanks Naomi… and welcome to the SI Blog! Hope you drop back again soon. π
Zovesta says
That’s definitely a mellow yellow! Gorgeous job as always, Denise. =D I admit, I’m not the biggest fan of yellow, but you made it look elegant! Good call on leaving the drawers unlined, too – and those knobs are killer! Where did you get them at?
Denise says
thanks Zovesta… I really like these knobs too. π Purchased at Hobby Lobby – and the best part was 50% off. π
Kathy Nielsen says
I’m not a real big fan of yellow, but this color is so charming. Love it. There isn’t much that you do that I’m not absolutely crazy about. Love your style.
Denise says
That’s very sweet of you to say Kathy…thank you SO much! x
Julie says
Great creamy yellow. I have an old kitchen cupboard (freestanding) that I plan to paint yellow. I hope it turns out this well. Nice job. Thanks for sharing.
Denise says
Pleasure… and without you guys, sharing would be no fun. Best of luck on your free standing kitchen cupboard. I LOVE yellow in kitchens! π
Marcia says
While I am a huge fan of yellow (happiness factor), I have to confess that I’m an even huger fan of that chest! That is absolutely gorgeous. I am so doing that. Thank you, as always, for the awesome inspiration!
Denise says
Thanks Marcia! You’re very sweet. And if/when you get around to using yellow, I’d LOVE to see what you create! π
Marcia says
P.S. I think the knobs are perfection…
Annie says
It turned out lovely Denise π Like you I love yellow, it’s such a happy colour but you’re correct in that it’s a hard colour to get the right shade. Thanks for always sharing what you’ve learned. Happy Painting!
Denise says
Thanks Annie! π π And ya, it CAN be a challenge finding the ‘perfect’ yellow. I’ve even mixed yellows to get the perfect shade. To get the soft butter shade on this milk painted dresser, I used a 50/50 custom mix: Miss Mustard Seedβs Mustard Yellow and Old Fashioned Milk Paintβs Buttermilk. Sometimes it just takes a little experimenting. π
Christine says
2015 was before I found your blog. I love that color (the 50/50 mix)! I’m going to have to try to reproduce it. Thanks for sharing, Denise.
Anita Richmond says
Hi! You say you used a βcustom mixβ, can you explain how you did that? Iβm new to this whole painting furniture and Iβd love to get this exact color for an old wardrobe Iβm re-doing!
Thank you
Anita R.
DiB says
Beautiful finished piece. I love yellow also. I just painted a small china cabinet in a pale yellow.
I am not partial to Annie Sloan’s yellows…..I only find them good for mixing to create another color.
Just an fyi: General Finishes has a pretty yellow in their Milk Paint line.
Denise says
Thank you Dib! π I’ve never used any Annie Sloan yellows, but I do have General Finishes Buttermilk Yellow waiting for the perfect project. I’ve also seen a few beautiful examples of furniture painted in GF Apricot which is an more vibrant orangey-yellow.
Phyllisa says
Hi Denise. When I was first married in the late 60’s, I was in LOVE with the color yellow and everything in my home was yellow: walls, carpeting, drapes all through the house. I must have overdone it because I became sick of yellow anything and I have never used it since. But there is one particular color of pale creamy yellow which I now think is very pretty, especially with a Traditional/Romantic decor like I aspire to. I don’t have a particular color or paint brand. But someday I would like to search out that color and paint a dresser or side table with it. Your dresser turned out great. Well done!
Phyllisa
Denise says
Too much of a good thing Phyllisa…lol! I remember I went crazy for purple. I had a lot of purple clothes and accessories (this was the late 80’s!) and even a pair of purple suede high heeled boots. LOVED those boots! Anyway, I just can’t wear purple anymore. I get it. π
Carol says
Yellow is close to the bottom of colors I favor, but I must say you chest is gorgeous.
Denise says
Huge compliment then… thanks Carol! π
Merilees Teresa says
I love this! It makes me happy!
Denise says
Your comment makes me happy…thanks Teresa! x
Ginene Nagel says
Denise, I really like this, too. I painted a china cabinet with “In a Pickle” green milk paint and it was just as intense as the first coat of yellow you used. I waxed it with the dark wax and it saved it. It sold the second weekend I had it in the shop. I love yellow, too, but it has to be soft like this MMS or pale, pale, pale. Then it becomes a neutral that goes with everything. Interestingly, I’ve been studying historic colors and that first vivid yellow was popular in George Washington’s time. We have a house in town painted that color and some people are aghast at the owner’s choice. They don’t realize that it is an old color, actually though, that color wouldn’t have been used in the Victorian era even though the colors were brighter than we normally believe. I once saw a Victorian sleigh robe (horse hide lined with painted wool felt) and the lining was absolutely psychedelic. The glass kobs are very elegant. This chest of drawers is really beautiful.
Denise says
Very interesting Ginene! I wouldn’t think Victorian colors were so saturated but now that I think of it, whenever I tour a castle or old victorian home, their colors (and patterns) were really bold! As for the pickle green – I LOVE greens. Sausha at Sweet Pickins’ has a ‘Pickle’ milk paint I’ve been wanting to try. It doesn’t surprise me that your piece sold so quickly either. Sometimes, its the more unique painted furniture that gets nabbed up the fastest. π
Karen Daniels says
Gorgeous, as usual! Such a soft and pretty yellow. Tell me, Denise, does milk paint have the same feel to it as chalk paint once it is waxed?
Denise says
Thank you Karen… and great question! I sand all my pieces in between each coat and a final sanding before waxing, so yes, both chalk paint and milk paint feel silky smooth once waxed. π
KK Daniels says
Thanks, Denise, for that info. I’ve wanted to try milk paint, but I wanted to be sure also that it doesn’t chip or crack on the piece I’m thinking about using it on. Actually, your work is so beautiful always, I would love to get your opinion on what paint you would use on my piece and also how you would incorporate two colors in the piece. I have the two colors picked out, I think – well, at least the color family. I want to ask someone who I would trust, and that would be you. I don’t know anyone locally who paints. Only if you give ideas, that is. I would send you a pic. It’s a half foyer table, very detailed and beautiful. Thanks, Denise. As always, you rock. And I love the hardware on your piece too!
Denise says
Bonding Agent stops any chipping or crackling with milk paint. π And I’m super flattered you would like my 2 cents but I don’t usually give ideas on color etc. Color is such a personal choice. As you can see, I sometimes don’t even get it right the first time on my pieces..lol. Having said that, I do love seeing what all of you are working on so feel free to send them via FB or email. I love before and afters as much as you all do! π
KK Daniels says
Oh, I actually just meant your 2 cents on whether milk or chalk paint, either one, would work equally well, and then your 2 cents on where you might highlight a second color on the piece. But I totally understand. Thanks. π
Denise says
I think milk paint and/or chalk paint can work equally well on any given piece Karen. Both types of paint are very versatile and you can achieve beautiful results with either or! Having said this, if your foyer table has sentimental value or is going to be showcased front and center, my 2 cents would be to use a paint you like and feel comfortable with. Milk paint mixes and applies slightly different than a chalk or latex does. Often the first time trying a milk paint feels (and can sometimes look) a little experimental. Hope this helps. π
Julie McDowell says
Denise
This is stunning! I am about to use milk paint for the first time.
Julie
Denise says
Thanks Julie and have fun with your milk paint project. I’d love to hear how it turns out for you.
Janet Huey says
I don’t like yellow at all and this is stunning!
Denise says
Awww thanks Janet! xxx
Vassi says
It looks fantastic!!!! I’ve never tried MMS Milk Paint. I would love to though!!
Denise says
Thank you Vassi! And if you ever decide to give it a go, here are a few tips on mixing milk paints. And thanks again for sharing your beautiful waterfall dresser. π
Jeanie says
I’m not a yellow fan…however, you may have changed thinking. My living room color is blue..sort of teal to a marine blue hue. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what color would add a nice contrast… by george..I think it may be yellow! I also have an old chest that may be the perfect addition to the room …painted yellow that is… Thanks for your ideas and all you hard work! Your piece is lovely!
Denise says
Hi Jeanie! Blues and yellows work together beautifully! My sister’s bedroom had a blue and yellow theme and it was gorgeous! And thank you for the kind words. x
Pam says
I am NOT a fan of yellow for the same reason you first stated, yellow paint drives me crazy. Baby yellow is not enough ‘ump’ and bright mustard screams at me, too much blue or red on the color wheel. HOWEVER, I am now a convert. This is a yummy, smooth, fun yellow. I love the stained top, too. Well done and thanks for sharing!!!
Denise says
haha…it drives me crazy too because it often takes me one or two tries to get it right. But once I find that “yummy, smooth, fun yellow” (love your description Pam!)… I think it’s well worth the effort. π π π
Patricia @ http://TheBlackSheeppShoppe.blogspot.com says
I’m a big fan of yellow! I think the first yellow would look great on a modern piece, but the second yellow works so beautifully with the vintage dresser. Simply fabulous!
Denise says
I agree Patricia. π I REALLY didn’t like the first yellow on this vintage dresser but for a MCM piece, it could/would look stunning!
Laura says
Another Brilliant job, well done!
Denise says
Thank you Laura <3
Bev says
I love this MMS colors. This was a perfect choice.
Denise says
I had 2 packs of this MMS Mustard Seed Yellow sitting in my inventory forever… and I was hesitant to use it. So glad I tried because I love it too!
JosieJosie says
Gorgeous!!!!!!!!
Denise says
Thanks Josie! x
Monique says
Hi Denise! I am also a huge fan of yellow. You are so right when saying you have to be careful of which yellow you choose!!! The Miss Mustard Seed yellow you used on this beautiful dresser is perfect. Looks great with the stained wood top and whimsical handles. Glad you didn’t give up on this project. Wonderful outcome:)
Denise says
Thanks so much Monique! Hugz π