Chippy Antique Towel Rack
As a long-time user and lover of MMS MilkPaint™, I’ve become quite familiar with its properties and characteristics. While it’s not entirely predicable, I know enough about it to go through a MilkPaint™ makeover without thinking twice.
Now that the new formula is out, I’m taking the opportunity to get to know MilkPaint™ all over again. It’s kind of like seeing an old friend for the first time in years. You have a rich history together, and you know a lot about one another. When you reconnect, you spend time catching up and hearing what’s new.
I’ve played around with the new products while doing photography, but I haven’t actually refinished anything with them yet. When it came time to take on a proper MilkPaint™ project, I wanted to start small. This antique towel rack was perfect for my first official, start to finish, full-fledged NEW MilkPaint™ makeover!
The existing finish on the towel rack was one that would typically produce a chippy look if I were using the old MMS Milk Paint formula. I wanted to experiment with the new formula and see what it would do. Would it chip to perfection, or would it grip like a champ?
I’m quite pleased to report that it chipped to perfection!
Preparing To Paint The Towel Rack
Mixing Grain Sack MilkPaint™
To get started on my project, I mixed up my batch of MilkPaint™ first. This way, it would have a chance to rest while I prepped the towel rack.
I chose the color Grain Sack, which is a gorgeous faded gray-white. I scooped out 2 tablespoons of MilkPaint™ powder and added roughly the same amount of water.
After a quick whisk, I squeezed in 2 drops of MilkMix-EZ™ to reduce the foam that was appearing. You can see it on the end of my mini whisk below. Those little drops took care of the foam immediately!
Prepping The Towel Rack
The towel rack had the prettiest original glass. It was desilvering in places, giving it that well-loved charm.
I didn’t want to get paint on the glass, so I used a pair of pliers to carefully loosen the original tacks on the back.
Once the glass was safely stored away, I used a slightly damp shop towel to wipe off the dust and dirt that had collected over the years. Since I wanted to create a chippy look, I did not scuff sand the existing finish. I was really curious to see what new MilkPaint™ would do!
Painting Grain Sack MilkPaint™ On My Antique Towel Rack
Within the first brushstroke, things felt familiar and different all at the same time.
What felt familiar was the way the paint was laying down. MilkPaint™ is thinner than modern paints (like chalk, clay, latex, mineral, etc.) so it looks a bit different on the first coat. We lovingly call it “the ugly coat” here at MMSMP.
The consistency and texture, however, was much smoother compared to the old formula. There weren’t any large chunks in my cup or on my brush. I wasn’t getting streaks of pigment across my towel rack. Everything was laying down so evenly!
I applied 2 full coats of Grain Sack and touched up some spots here and there that were looking a little translucent. This is normal when you’re trying to cover over a darker shade of wood with a lighter shade of paint.
The towel rack was set aside to dry for about an hour. I wanted to make sure it was ready for the next exciting step - distressing!
Distressing The Towel Rack For A Chippy Finish
Sometimes, you won’t know if you will get a chippy finish until you pick up a piece of sandpaper and start distressing. Using an old piece of 150 grit sandpaper (not brand new), I crossed my fingers and rubbed away at the edges, carved details and flat parts.
As I worked, it became clear that a chippy finish was well on its way! I gently ran the sandpaper over the entire piece, causing paint to randomly flake off here and there. Even the edges got chippy!
Once I had distressed to my liking, I used my shop vac and sucked up all of the dust.
Applying MilkCoat™ To My Chippy MilkPaint™ Finish
To seal in this perfectly flakey finish, I opened a jar of MilkCoat - Matte™ and got to work sealing everything in place.
To get the low down on MilkCoat™, click the image below. It’ll tell you “all the things”!
I started by scooping out a little bit of MilkCoat™ into a small bowl using a popsicle stick. It’s best not to work out of the jar directly. This will help prevent contaminating your main stash.
This little artist’s brush was the perfect size for reaching around all of the curves and ledges on the towel rack. I dipped it into water, dabbed the excess onto my drop cloth, then swirled it into the MilkCoat™. Because this topcoat dries quickly, it’s best to use a dampened applicator (brush, foam applicator, sponge, etc.).
I worked fairly quickly, making sure to smooth out drips along the way.
After one light coat, I set my towel rack aside to dry for about an hour or so. It’s not going to receive heavy use, so one light coat is really all that was needed. I was mostly concerned with sealing in the chippy MilkPaint™.
Didn’t the Grain Sack chip so beautifully? It’s so good to know that I can still get that authentically aged finish I know and love with the new formula!
A Characteristically Chippy Antique Towel Bar!
Once everything was dry, I carefully put the glass back in place and hammered sawtooth brackets on the back. An antique windowpane French towel was the finishing touch to round out my official first project using NEW MilkPaint™!
It was pretty comical to try and wiggle my camera and tripod into the corner of the bathroom, even with a 35mm lens. There wasn’t a place for me to put the camera where it would stay out of range of the mirror, so say hello to my Canon, everyone!
I truly am tickled pink with how well this piece chipped. Now I have a flakey finish under my belt, and a better understanding of how the new formula behaves.
The new MilkCoat™ is also pretty fun to work with on a small project like this. I’ll have to try out my technique with a larger piece next time! It’s perfect for locking in those little flakey patches.
Hello again, little Canon!
Plus, it’s a great finish to hold up to wet towels, splashes from the sink, soap bubbles and the occasional hair spray cloud!
The next time you’re out antiquing, pick up a tiny project like this and give the new MMS MilkPaint™ products a try. Starting small is a great way to familiarize yourself with this wonderful new array of refinishing goodies!
