When we think of Lavender, images of bright and airy herb fields swaying in the countryside sun come to mind. That moment of calming peace and fields of lavender buds is exactly the shade we wanted to capture with this beautiful soothing colour. For this project, we wanted to highlight a small oak chest that had gorgeous hardware but needed the right colour to compliment it. 

Here is a before look at the piece:

Below is a list of supplies you’ll need to complete a similar project. 

• Fusion TSP Alternative + Wiping Cloths
• Homestead House Milk Paint Lavande
• Clear Furniture Wax
• Electric Sander and Sanding Pads/Paper
• Mixing Jar
• 2-inch Fusion Synthetic Bristle Brush
• Staalmeester Natural Bristle Brush

Prepping wood for Milk Paint

Prep is always the most important part of any furniture project. Poor prep almost always equals a poor finish. It’s important to take the time to properly clean your piece which includes removing loose dust and debris with a vacuum and removing oils and residue from the surface. Our Fusion TSP Alternative is a non-toxic degreaser that is perfect for breaking down any grease or stains on the finish. Simply mix a solution in a bottle with water, spray, and scrub/wipe down with a microfiber cloth. 

We wanted to take down the old orange finish from the top to leave a natural bare wood look, so we used our orbital sander with 80-grit paper to strip the finish. After that, we smoothed it out with 220 and cleaned up the dust with a damp cloth. 

Since this piece was pretty dry and had an open grain, we gave it a light scuff sanding to allow for a good bond between the milk paint and the piece. 

Mixing Lavande

When mixing Lavande you’ll notice the colour may be a cooler tone and appear more blue than purple. Don’t worry, as the paint dries it transforms into the perfect cool lavender shade. Make sure the pigments are all broken down and properly stirred both while mixing and painting to bring out some of the more mauvey and purpley tones. Our first coat gave us great coverage, and truly only needed two coats for full coverage. 

After our paint dried, we noticed there was no chipping or crazing, so we used our electric sander to add some light distressing to bring out some contrasting tones. This also helped to smooth the surface and knock down any fibers or pigments remaining in the finish. 

The last step in our finishing process was to seal it with Furniture Wax. This wax is smooth, silky and buttery and buffs to a pretty satin lustre. We like to use the Staalmeester Round Natural Bristle brush to apply the wax as it gives us a full and thick application. Simply brush on and buff with a lint-free cloth. 

A Lovely Lavender

Lavande turned out to be the perfect shade for this piece. Once the hardware was back on we knew the gold was going to pop beautifully against the cool, lavender shade. It’s especially gorgeous paired with the light oak tones of the wood complementing décor. 

The subtle distressing and original hardware were the perfect accents to bring back some warmth and character to this cool shade. It also brings a level of elegance and sophistication as we see more purple and lavender shades trending this year. This shade specifically pairs well with warm, airy and neutral tones.

Removing the original finish from the oak top was the right choice for this piece. The wax added a lovely layer of sheen to the white oak while also adding some water resistance protection. 

We can’t wait to see all the beautiful pieces painted with Lavande in your homes and in your feeds. Be sure to share your projects with us featuring this colour or any of the new Homestead House colours on the milk paint line!