Boxwood, with a Twist

I was feeling inspired by November’s color of the month, Boxwood, but also wondered about using Typewriter on this three-drawer dresser. 

After hemming and hawing, I decided, why not do both?!

This dark and moody green is brought to you by a custom mix of Boxwood and Typewriter. Let’s take a look at how exactly I created this two-tone look and how you might do the same!

If you have been painting furniture for a while, you know that every once in a while, you come across something you just have to have. This beautiful Eastlake dresser was left on the side of the road, and I just knew I needed to rescue it.

Three-drawer dressers are my favorite piece of furniture to paint (they’re so versatile!), and I knew it would just be a matter of time before this one would have a brand-new look.

Love the look of this forest-green cabinet? Today we’ll walk through the steps needed to replicate this look using Miss Mustard Seeds Milk Paint in the colors Boxwood and Typewriter and also discuss what I used to seal the final look, giving it that deep, rich finish.

Materials Needed to Replicate this Look:

Krud Kutter

Spray bottle of water

Boxwood

Typewriter

MilkMix-EZ™

Chip brush

Shop towels (or lint-free rags)

MilkOil™ Hemp Seed Oil

180 grit sandpaper

Prepping to Paint

As with every painting project, cleaning is a vital step in prepping well!  For years, Krud Kutter has been my go-to product for this, as it does a great job of cutting grease and removing grime! After cleaning with Krud Kutter, be sure to rinse well with water to remove any residual chemicals. I like to use blue shop towels when cleaning as they don’t leave behind the lint you’ll find when cleaning with traditional paper towels. I cleaned the top with this same method even though I did not paint it.

Mixing Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint

Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint comes in a powder form, making it easy to store and helping to preserve the product. Simply measure out how much paint you’ll need, mix with water in a 1:1 ratio and add a few drops of MilkMix-EZ. For this cabinet, I used 2/3 cup of Boxwood, ⅓ cup of Typewriter, a cup of water, and 4 drops of MilkMix-EZ. Once you have it all together, go ahead and whisk to stir! After it’s stirred well, let it sit for about 10 mins, stir again, and you should be good to go! 

Stick with It

Inevitably, there will be a point in your project where you think, “Oh, no.” Likely, this will come after you’ve painted your first coat! I always say, “First coat, worst coat!” As you can see here, the first coat can be quite unsightly and uneven. It can leave you wondering if you’ve ruined your piece of furniture but don’t start doubting yourself here! Instead, stick with it and KEEP GOING!! I promise it will get better. 

When the first coat is complete, allow about an hour or so for it to dry. I live at 8,000ft in the Rockies, and we have little to no humidity here. If you live in a humid climate, it may take longer, but either way, MMSMP dries relatively quickly.

Applying the Second Coat

Once dry, go ahead and apply the second coat in the same way you applied the first. I typically stop at two coats, but I wanted this color to be really deep, so I decided to do three coats! Again, not necessary, but There’s no “messing up” milk paint! It’s organic in nature, leans itself towards chipping and distressing, and is quite forgiving. Have fun, and enjoy the process! 

Hemp Oil to the Rescue

I decided to go for a two-tone look with this cabinet, leaving the top in its natural finish. To accomplish this look, I recommend using Krud Kutter to clean the top really well, rinse with water, and then apply Hemp Oil! This user-friendly product does a wonderful job of revitalizing dry wood. 

Once I finished distressing this cabinet and removing any paint dust, I decided to seal it with Hemp Oil. I find Hemp Oil always creates such a deep, rich finish, and that’s exactly what I was hoping for with this dramatic color. 

The Final Look

Looking to add a statement piece to your home? This cabinet is now available for purchase and can be shipped nationwide! It would look beautiful in an entryway with a mirror hung above it or could easily work as a console table in the family room.

What do you think? Will you try this custom mix?! If so, we’d love to see your projects so be sure to tag us on social media when you’re done!

Happy painting!

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