Back in June of 2013 I painted the bar stools at my kitchen counter…well, two of them, anyway. I don’t recall why I didn’t get to the third one, but I’m sure I just got busy with other things and the idea of painting one bar stool seemed a bit boring. You can see the stools peeking up over the bar in this picture…
I was getting the itch to paint some furniture and finish projects that have been abandoned, so I finally got the chair done. I wanted it to match the other two, obviously, so I painted it in French Enamel.
In my photo shoots, I use vintage brushes, ironstone mugs, silver spoons and grain sack fabric as drop cloths, but in reality, I use plastic cups and wooden stir sticks and real drop cloths.
A nice thing about milk paint is that you can use it inside during the winter months (or super hot months) and, since it’s 100% natural, ventilation isn’t a concern.
For the other two bar stools, I sanded them and then painted with straight milk paint. For this one, I didn’t sand and added bonding agent to the milk paint just to try something different. These stools are a few years old from Target, so they have a pretty glossy finish.
I hadn’t used French Enamel in a while and I sort of fell in love with it again.
Even with the bonding agent, the paint resisted in a few spots where there were splatters and spills, so I sanded those areas and added a little more paint and then it adhered beautifully.
I gave the stool a good distressing and finished it off with some Antique Wax to soften the color and finish off the paint.
It’s nice to finally have it done. And while I had the paint out, I decided to work on another project that’s been in the queue…
…but that’s for another blog post.
35 Responses
Dear Miss Mustard Seed,
I have been a huge silent fan of yours for years. You are a very inspiring person, so relatable, so industrious, so creative! I always keep tabs on you because I know you will stretch me, I will learn something and be inspired! I know that was the reason why you started this blog, you have been incredibly generous with your experiences and knowledge. I, for some reason, am missing that personal touch from your blog lately, I hate to say! I miss you here, know what I mean? I know you have grown it into a business, but I miss the friend next door who couldn’t wait to relate her next discovery. You will always be my favorite, but I’ve noticed a change. I wish you so much success and growth, I hope you can retain that approachable, live in the moment girl I fell in love with! The girl who posted constantly, who videoed darkly lit how to’s in her office, who kept us wanting more! As you grow, I hope you can maintain that core person that started it all, she’s the one who connected with me!
Blessings and love!
Kristin
Thanks so much for your comment! Yes, that’s always a struggle as my business grows. I want to do things more professionally and take my business seriously, but I want to retain that painting-in-my-raggedy-clothes-and-you’re-invited-to-join-me vibe. Tough balance! Thanks for letting me know how you’re receiving what I’m writing and I hope I can use that feedback to make my blog even better. – Marian
Marian, yours was one of the first blogs I started reading back in 2009 when I started my own blog. I loved it the and still do (and my blog reading list has gone way down since then, as I don’t have the time or inclination to read them as much – I miss google reader!) Anyway, I don’t get any different vibe from your blog now than I did back in the early days, yes you have had massive success (and that’s awesome) but I don’t think it has changed your relatability at all. Love the bar stools…I painted half my kitchen cupboards last May when my Mum came to visit, she helped me. I am waiting till she comes back again this May to get them finished…lol! A furniture painter’s home is never finished haha
xx Karen
Yes, you’ve been with me a long time, Karen! 🙂 Thanks for sharing your perspective and encouragement. I love it when people can talk about stuff like this in a kind way.
I am a long time fan as well and just want you to know I read you daily and am always excited when I see a new post and can see a little more of your inspirational world. I don’t comment often enough (sorry!), but I am in awe of all you do and the grace with which you so generously give of your time and talent to communicate with the readers of you blog. I don’t know how you do all that you do, but I am feeling the need to reach out and just say thank you for all that you have taught your readers in general and me in particular. Marie
Marian, I think you are doing an amazing job of balancing what must be an insanely busy schedule! I haven’t followed you as long as others have, but your sincerity and love for “creating a beautiful home” shine through in everything you do! I also can sense your love for others and your true desire to share your God-given talents. I admire you so much and just hope you know that your blog brings so much joy and inspiration to so many women out there! Keep doing what you do and know that you are reaping the success of all those Mustard Seeds that you have planted! 😉 God Bless you always and I wish you even more success in the future! You truly deserve it!
-Alicia Quiles 😉
Hi Marian! The chair looks wonderful, but…..that sneak peek project, can you share the brushes you use to achieve the more bulbous look the the leaves? Thanks!
I always read your blog and am inspired by your creativity, but have not yet taken the plunge into milk paint. I love how it looks, but I always feel like the projects are somehow for other people. These chairs though could be my house. I have the same type of bar chairs in my kitchen, with the same type of wear! I love your end result and will definitely be trying this as my first project when the weather improves! Thanks so much for the inspiration.
Marian,
Would your sneak peek be your German painting on a bed? Sara
Thanks for sharing again. You are an inspiration for me.
Annie <3 <3 <3
Good morning! Love the color…I have 3 bar stools as well…need to start painting. Thank you…have a great weekend!
Love the blue! Doesn’t it feel good when you finally very around to finishing those projects!
Love the chair, adore the colour!
I love, love, love the blue. I have two gifted stools that I want to paint that very color. Thank you so much for sharing your creative genius.
That is one beautiful blue! Looking forward to seeing the newest project too. Thanks for all the continued inspiration and continued success in your creative and business ventures!
I love the color of those stools. They look perfect in the space! As always, you work is amazing!
That thing of leaving the 3rd stool unpainted instead of just doing it at the time is deeply psychological, my kids tell me! LOL I have been doing that type of thing for years with sewing and embroidery projects, and somehow it seems to work for me!! You just go on doing what you’re doing, because we all love it!!
Hi Marian,
Is your kitchen flooring marble tiles or the ceramic marble look? It’s gorgeous! Just wondering if it is marble, is it slippery? I would like to use cararra marble in my bathroom, but I’m worried if I don’t get honed it might be unsafe.
I have a question about durability. I’ve been using milk paint for a little while and love it but I have a teenage son who uses my stools and I wonder if the milk paint on stools (or any chair) will stand up to daily use? What else would you use on it to seal it besides wax? I have not had a good experience with the waxes.
Thanks!
~Tracy
Dear Marian,
I have thought of you and your son sooo often! I am the Certified School Nurse that wrote to you when your son was diagnosed with Diabetes. I had a little friend of mine at school come in to my office with a low and I remembered you had mentioned your son had a low.
I have gone to many Diabetic conferences and wanted to pass this tip along to you…..speaking of diabetic lows. The child needs a fast acting carb to bring up his sugar. The one that we use at school, and was recommended at conferences, is a small juice box of “Juicy-Juice”. It’s exactly 15gm of carbs and works fast! Easy to suck up fast and so easy to keep in your glove compartment, backpack, in your purse….small and convenient! When the kids go to the park for recess I just send on with the teacher, same for field trips. Of course his glucometer should go on field trips too. If he should be real low (50″s-60″s) I would give him 2″Juicy-Juices”. The child feels better fast. Check his sugar in 15 min. to make sure it is coming up.
I hope you don’t think I am medaling in your business. I really wish I was the nurse at your son’s school! !:( I have prayed for your family and will continue to think and pray for you and your family on this new journey. I can tell your little boy is so lucky to have you and his dad for parents. I totally LOVE your blog and your style!!!
Love,
Mary Jane Sapko
Marian,
Your project with the stenciling is your stairs leading up to the bedrooms. It appears that you are “aging” them with wax. Love it and can not wait to see what the wax does to them!
Blessings
Marian,
Contratulations on completing the last bar stool. I admire your work and how you are so organized to start and complete so many projects in your home and balance that with your family/personal life.
I enjoy reading the tutorials.
Thank you and Jeff!
Hello Marian,
I’m new to your blog and am so enjoying it! I agree with Sue (above); I also love the look of milk paint, but have yet to ‘take the plunge’. The painting part looks easy, but the sanding seems daunting. How do you know what to use for sanding and where to apply it to get that ‘look’? I’ll snoop around your blog and will hopefully find a post. 🙂
I have a question in regards to your bonding agent. I have 6 panel doors throughout my house that have a shiny clear seal on them so the natural wood shows thru. We have been thinking on painting the doors, but don’t want to have to strip off he seal. Can this bonding agent be added to oil paint? We were thinking on painting them with oil so that they are more durable than the chalk paint. Also, didn’t you paint your kitchen cabinets in an oil paint? We also have the 1990’s look of natural wood in the kitchen and was wondering if your bonding agent should be added in the oil paint for the kitchen. My Mom had painted her kitchen cabinets over the shiny clear seal and the paint started peeling after a couple of years. Just wondering if you have ever experienced the bonding not bonding on furniture like your bar stools? Sorry to ramble! I love your blog and your businesses~ and thank you so much for putting your Mustard Seed Pages on here for your followers to sell their wares! You are too kind to be starting that – thanks! 🙂
Love that blue! It looks even more amazing when it is distressed!!….okay doesn’t everything??! haha! Random question…where did you get the curtains in your master bedroom?
I had someone tell me last week end that I had project ADD, I thought it was a good diagnosis for me so its nice to see that I’m not the only one who gets bored with something and attacks it at a later date!
I’m in love with the blue! You are always an inspiration to me!!
I too, along with several above have not taken the plunge with milk paint yet. I really don’t think I would have chosen that blue from all your colors but once it was done and distressed and waxed – I just love it!!!! Great color choice. 🙂
Well that blue is just too beautiful – will need to get some of that.
Nicely done!
Love he chair and can’t wait to see the bed all done up! It is going to look amazing!!! By the way how is your veggo diet going? it’s been a while since I have popped on here 🙂
It’s going good! I’m still a vegetarian and eat mostly whole foods. I need to tighten up on the calorie counting, though, so I can reach my goals.
Those barstools look fabulous! I have two from Pier One that would look great in a new color…..thanks, as always, for the inspiration!
I love the way you graciously respond to criticisms…though Kristin was not at all critical…just observant and caring enough to let you know what she likes to see! As our businesses grow, it is soooo important to take those heartfelt comments, analyze them, reflect on where we started, and adjust as necessary. Nice to see some intelligent and honest feedback from a reader that isn’t harsh mean! Thanks for responding as such…more lessons for us fans!
The stool looks fabulous, I love the colour. Can I ask you please what brushes you use for your decorative painting, such as in the last image, not the big brush for wax but the smaller brushes you use for painting petals and leaves etc? I am an artist but work with oils and familiar with the brushes I use for my large canvases but smaller work like this and a different type of paint I struggled when I painted a decorative olive branch on a wooden tray recently. Different paint requires different brushes.
Lee
Hi,
These are beautiful stools and with the magic of finishing over decoration, you makes them complete. Very attractive I love it.
Thanks