Restyling an Ugly $5 White Laminate File Cabinet into a Vintage Beauty

I digress....
So Monday morning, tax deadline looming, 
 I cannot put it off any longer, I need to unpack my files 
but I need that file cabinet—and white laminate isn't going to cut it.


I get started with a coat of Miss Mustard Seed's 
Milk Paint in Curio to fake a wood grain, 
To make it stick to the laminate surface, I added
a 1:1 ratio of Bonding Agent to Milk Paint.

I call this my "Oh #$!%* the accountant called" project.

I have the best accountant ever. 
He never speaks down to me, he takes the time 
to explain what I need to know and the best (and also the worst) thing— 
he chases me for paperwork so I make deadlines.
Based in Adelaide, David Maher, the man behind Beam Accounting has clients 
throughout Australia and internationally. Give him a call. He's awesome.

I had two calls from him last week. And another two last month.
I think there was another before that.
And a couple emails.
Sooooo yes...I'm a bit behind.

I blame the home office renovation, but I can only use that
as an excuse for so long. 
And frankly, he doesn't care. Nor should he.
This in mind, I jumped onto Gumtree this weekend
and found myself a $5 file cabinet.

Laminate file cabinet BEFORE getting some LOVE...

This isn't it. 
The one I bought was in much worse shape.
Honestly...hardly worth the $5.
And I forgot to take a before photo?!
(Have you had that Gumtree experience? You see something online and think, "that'll work" 
you go to pick it up and it's much worse than what you expect, but you buy it anyway
so as not to put the person out? Or am I just a sucker?)

Starting with MMSMP in Curio to create a faux wood grain

An unseasonably warm day helped the paint 
dry quickly and knowing it would be layered, 
I didn't mind if some areas and patches were still wet
when adding the next colour... Apron Strings.

This goes against what I tell my clients and teach at Workshops, 
I recommend giving furniture time! 
It's an important step in using natural paints.
However, I was on a mission.
So I kept on painting like a madwoman.

This deliciousness is MMS Milk Paint in Apron Strings

Doesn't look like much yet, does it?
This is often the case with Milk Paint. 
There can be a number of boring or even ugly stages along the way.
I find it important to enjoy the journey.
But not today....Today I needed to:
 Get. It. Done.


This means I hardly waited until this layer dried before sanding.

It's all here...for the love...
Sada

I wanted a rich, deep red final layer
 and mixed up a gorgeous brick red using MMSMP in Tricycle and Curio. 
Kinda love this custom colour.

Not bad for a $5 Gumtree find!
Hope you enjoyed this post as much as 
I enjoyed working on it...and avoiding the paperwork!


For a quote on custom painting, just pop me an email.
Or to learn how to do it yourself, sign up for a MMSMP Workshop.

Creating a vintage look with layers of Milk Paint

Loving the layers

Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint in Apron Strings going over Curio

Custom mixed MMSMP red over Apron Strings with Curio peeking through

Wanting each of the layers to show though
I varied the use of sandpaper from 80 grit through to 240
exposing the Curio and Apron Strings and pulling through 
some of the original colour.

Antique gold and carved bone handles, find them online, $10.95 each

Taking Tricylcle to this beautiful deep red by adding Curio

Waiting for the paint to "mostly" dry before sanding

The perfect handles make a big difference

Once the perfect amount of variation and depth was achieved,
 a quick coat of Miss Mustard Seed Furniture Wax, 
 I waited about five minutes then used 240 sandpaper to sand 
the Wax in before polishing to the silkiest, smooth finish you can imagine!

From white laminate to vintage style with Miss Mustard Seed

All finished and ready to move in to my new home office!