Chalk & Milk Paint Tips & Techniques. Helpful How-to’s & DIYs

High Gloss Wood Ceilings Transformed into Aged, Faded Beauty with Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint

3/5/2018

Oh yes... these high-gloss ceilings were one of the first things I knew needed "fixing" when moving in to my new office. The stark, shiny white glare was an assault on my eyes.

The raked timber needed some love and kind attention.

Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint.

STAT.

Before: Stark, high-gloss raked ceilings sprayed in enamel paint

It's important to point something out about MMS Milk Paint. Imagine if I wanted to change the look of the ceiling and didn't know about Milk Paint? Imagine the sanding, the stripping...all that would have to happen to repaint them or create another look. I shudder.

Thank the heavens for our all natural, VOC-free, 5-ingredients only Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint! We were able to live in the space we were painting without awful smells or chemicals — and the house remained mess-free because we didn't have to sand!

We started with Farmhouse White and Bonding Agent. A 1-quart package was mixed with roughly the same amount of water for a 1:1 ratio before adding roughly 2/3 of a 250ml bottle of Bonding Agent.

I confess, with the ladder work and awkward neck angle this ceiling required, my husband did at least 80 of the painting and you know what? First-time Milk Painter and now...avid MMS Milk Paint fan!

Miss Mustard Seed's Bonding Agent

A$26.00 - A$36.00

Milk Paint Bonding Agent allows Milk Paint to adhere to metal, glass and painted, varnished or lacquered surfaces.

Stir well and mix one part of Bonding Agent to equal amount mixed Milk Paint. For maximum adhesion, mix Bonding Agent with all coats of paint.

May also be used as a primer for water-based paints. Apply a think layer of Bonding Agent with a brush or roller. Allow to dry 2 hours before painting.

This product contains no solvents or VOCs and is almost odourless.

This is the exact same product as Fusion's Ultra Grip with different branding. You can use them interchangeably.

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I've been using MMSMP for years and what I love most about it, is that sometimes it will behave in a way entirely unexpected. But I knew that whatever it did would be beautiful and I could work with it. I think this only comes with experience with the paint itself, you develop a confidence in the paint, you learn to trust it as well as your ability to be flexible.

I mixed the paint in a paint bucket with a stick blender allowing ample time to rest, before mixing again. I used a larger faux natural bristle brush and got to painting. Right away, I loved the change. The stark, shiny finish disappeared...

Work-in-Progress: The high gloss (top of photo) and Farmhouse White transforming the painted timber to a more subtle finish

Although I love this softened, more subtle look, I wanted a bit more personality in the finish so I experimented with other neutrals including Linen, Mora, Ironstone, Grain Sack, Layla's Mint, Schloss — I left no MMSMP stone unturned!

During this experimental/deciding phase my lovely Farmhouse White yellowed terribly...It was quite a shock (sorry, no photo!) A great example of the unexpected! I couldn't be completely surprised though as the paint we went over looks like it may be an oil-based enamel that was sprayed straight onto very orange timber. So, we have the leeching into my lovely Farmhouse White.

After much deliberation and debate, the husband and I settled on Marzipan because it worked well with the yellowing. In fact, it was warm and welcoming and layers beautifully over the now-yellowed Farmhouse White! Marzipan would still look amazing if the ceiling continued yellowing (which it has, but only slightly).

The first coat of Farmhouse White was painted on with a brush to create texture and dimension. The second coat using Marzipan with Bonding Agent we used a microfiber roller and brush to get variation to the finish. I wanted it to look like old fading paper. I think we might've nailed it?

Don't you just love the painting journey? Never knowing where it will take you. The unexpected twists and turns are always my favorite part with the end result being even better than I'd imagined!

It's all here . . . for the love . . .
Sada
***Just an aside. I can't be sure how much paint the ceiling used because we've moved on to the rest of the ceilings in the house. All I know is I was shocked with how little paint was needed! Love MMSMP!