There is something very summery about Miss Mustard Seed’s Tricycle milk paint.  I have now painted my 3rd oak dresser Tricycle.  The color is so vibrant! I love it.  The two pictured on the right were done last summer.  I just completed the one on the left.

They all seem to have a subtle nautical vibe but this last one is just so much more obvious due to the rope details on the dresser and pulls.  I left the two knobs unpainted and added some antiquing wax to darken the color.

And here’s the before picture.

And here’s the top drawer.  There was a great ship wheel applique but part of it was broken and beyond repair.  There is a slight shadow left where it was attached and I think that is pretty cool.

I love its shape – great for a little boys room.  Or a beach house of course.

If you come here often, you probably know how I feel about antique oak…fab!  Something about the grain of oak wood is just beautiful.  Sometimes I don’t want to paint it at all.  It just depends on the patina of the wood I suppose.  However, the color can sometimes be orangey or blah.  That doesn’t mean the beautiful grain has to be lost.  I used the milk paint as a stain on this piece because it was very raw oak meaning it would absorb the color.  I applied just one coat letting it settle unevenly in some places to give it a nice aged look and to allow the grain to show.  I topped it off with furniture wax and buffed a little bit.

By the way, there is a new Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint group page on facebook for more color inspiration.

Did you meet my friend the sailor boy?  Isn’t he a darling little paint by number?  I have had him awhile and can’t seem to part with him.  I think he needs a name – any suggestions?

This dresser is headed to West End Garage in Cape May this week so it can find a forever home, hopefully at the beach.  Don’t we all wish for that?

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