Create A Faux Patina Using Chalk And Milk Paint
I really love the layered look of paint. I’m sure that you’ve stumbled onto those pieces of furniture at a flea market that show the wear of time. It’s chippy, crackled and perfectly worn. I decided to experiment with my mantle and see if I could recreate a faux patina using chalk and milk paint. I know architecturally it does not look old . But with a little paint I thought I could give it an aged, distressed patina. So what inspired me to do this? Well it wasn’t just the old chippy, distressed pieces that I love it was also something I saw in a movie. Do you ever really look at movie sets? I can’t remember the movie now, but I was watching a movie and noticed the mantel was old and chippy looking but the mantel itself didn’t look old. I knew that I could figure out a way to create a faux patina using chalk and milk paint.
The idea to create faux patina using chalk and milk paint came with the thought of using these two paint mediums but not mixing them together. These paints will give you a completely different look depending on how they are used. Before I started to give this an aged and distressed look and creating a faux patina using chalk and milk paint, I first had to give this white mantle a base coat. I used Annie Sloan Coco which is a beautiful brown. I created this look several years ago and now my favorite brown is from Heirloom Traditions it’s called Mocha. You may have seen me use it on many recent projects including my weathered and distressed technique that I shared.
The reason that you need to apply a dark base paint color first is because the top layer will have a chippy worn look. You’ll want to see that dark paint peaking through. Next I decided to apply a coat of milk paint.
The fun part about using milk paint is that you never know what it will do. Sometimes it will separate from the surface that you are applying it too. This creates an authentic chippy look because it happens organically. But sometimes it will only crackle or nothing will happen. Yeah that’s the gamble with using milk paint. I decided to go for it. As I was applying the milk paint on top of the chalk paint it started to crackle but not totally separate.
Since this milk paint did not chip as much organically as I’d hoped that it would I had to go in with a plastic drywall spatula to scrap some of the paint off. I didn’t want to use a sanding block because wanted it to look chippy not just worn down. This is an easy way to cheat a faux patina using chalk and milk paint.
Never be afraid to experiment and try new techniques for creating a chippy and distressed patina. If don’t want to try a new technique on your mantel or a piece of furniture get a scrap piece of wood and experiment. I really had no idea how this was going to turn out but I’m always willing to try something new.
What do you think of this technique? Is this something that you’d like to try? Do you experiment with different ways to create an aged and distressed patina?
Very pretty! Waiting for MMS milk paint in hopes of doing my mantle. Visiting from Transformation Tuesday, hope you will stop by and see me.
Beautiful job Anne! You definitely created a piece that looks old and worn over time. Love it!
What a beautiful mantel Anne. You are so talented with a paintbrush. I’m going to have to keep my eye out for milk paint. Love this look, and love your fireplace screen, too. 🙂
Very nice indeed. Luv the layering of paint.
I will be working on f=getting some Fall things out today. Was going to wait until the weekend, but I am too eager.
Have a wonderful day. Good luck to your daughter on her matches next week…
Cheers, Gee
You did a great job:your mantle looks amazing. it’s really surprising what paint and creativity can do.
I also like your mantle decor – so simple and yet chic.
glad to have popped over today.
rita
I love the effect you got, Anne. It’s beautifully weathered.
I love your mantle!! The color looks fabulous.I want to do that to my mantle, but my hubby will start barking, if you know what i mean. Kathy
This is absolutely gorgeous! So after you painted and waxed it, you went over it with the milk paint? I really need to get some milk paint!
Tammy,
Yes I painted it with chalk paint,sanded,waxed it and I was not happy with the results for the look I was going for.So I painted milk paint right on top of it.
xx
Anne
The silver and white is so elegant. Always love me some chippy paint! Beautiful, Anne!
Looks fantastic Anne I love the worn look. It looks like its been around for a long time.
Cynthia
It looks just beautiful. How I would love to paint my fireplace. Yours is great .
O’Anne, you just inspired me…I just ordered some milk paint! Your mantel is gorgeous!!
I love this–I hadn’t thought of using the milk paint over the chalk paint but I think it is an fantastic idea! Your mantle looks great.
I really like the weathered look you created on your mantel with the combination of paints. I’d like to try milk paint on one of my pieces that needs an update. Love the chippy look!
It looks great, Anne. I’ve never used milk paint. What a beautiful finish!
love this look, anne! i, too, hadn’t thought to do milk paint over chalk, but, it’s a gorgeous look! beautiful mantel!
When I took the Annie Sloan workshop they said to sand and then wax. You could scrape it back with a paint scraper to knock back some of the paint. I think it turned out great either way.
Great job. It truly looks like an old one.
Love it!!
did the milk paint make some of the other paint come off???
blessings
barb
Barb,
No the milk paint did not take the chalk paint off.The milk paint separated a bit.That is why it looks chippy and a bit crackled.
xx
Anne
Lovely…just lovely!
That is very pretty. Love that it looks aged.
Gorgeous!
Thank you for sharing your gorgeous mantel at Potpourri Friday!
Love the beautiful aged finish you achieved! So pretty!
I love how your mantle and that screen look, Anne!
Hi,
I wanted to do something similar to my fireplace, the lady selling the ASCP told me not to wax but to use a fire retardent varnish as the heat may melt the wax, have you come across this before ?
Hi Louise,I have not had a problem with mine but the the surround on mine is not very close to the heat or flame.If you are concerned then I would listen to what she told you.But I personally have not had any issues with that.
Hi Ann… love your fireplace! Did you have to wait for the wax to cure before using the Milk Paint or did you sand it to scruff it up at all? Thank you!!
Maureen to answer your question,I don’t know if the wax was cured it was dry when I applied the milk paint.When you add milk paint to a non-porous piece the paint will start to chip and flake.It depends on which surface you paint on as far as results.I love experimenting so I was not afraid to try this on my mantle.I did not sand the milk paint, but I used a white plastic plaster scraper to scrap the excess paint off.