items to paint...

I have a lot of sensitivities, so I need a non-toxic no-VOC paint...it looks like the chalk paint is really nice but it is still a traditional paint. I'd either go with something from AFM or BioShield, or try one of the milk paints. Leaning towards the milk paints since I've never tried them before. I like the idea of not having all the whites exactly the same...I'm thinking I could get the bright white and the linen white and vary how I mix them. Some items can be all one or the other, and other items can be a combo. Since it comes as a powder it would be simple to combine.

There was a new Houzz article come out the other day , about the US paint companies putting out their colours of the year for 2016 and they are off-white.

I combine whites with abandon, but others don't like aspects of their rooms when whites are combined. Try to keep the base note the same, either cool or warm.

So, if I were to use the linen white (from here: http://www.missmustardseedsmilkpaint.com/) as my base, and add a little bit of the lighter white to change the shade a bit but not take it all the way out of warm? So it wouldn't be completely identical, but just slight variations on the same theme?

That's your choice, just make sure, after you test it you mix enough at one time for the whole job.

i looked for the Houzz article but the search bar was useless.

Hi Melynda! I'm posting so I can follow this thread...

Clever as usual, Brandi!

Years ago I saw a great magazine ad for paint, with a woman explaining to her painter that she wanted the walls to be white, only it was about all the types of white and he had a look of confusion and horror...it was so perfect, if I ever find it again I will post it!

You are completely correct how2girl! Which is why I am going to treat myself to a paint sprayer to use with the milk paint (found a blog that did that, and even reviewed the sprayer). Otherwise, I'd get an hour into the project and give up in frustration. I could get away with traditional spray paint for smaller projects that I am not going to sleep on or put my clothes in (like painting mirror frames gold or other glittery colors)...if I leave them outside until completely cured. But no way I could manage major furniture with it. Too bad, it would be so nice and easy if I could!

Good idea.

Melynda, you might want to re-think painting an iron bed with milk paint. I don't think it would stick very well. Plus, if it did stick, you would have a problem with rusting.

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=Painting+an+iron+bed+with+milk+paint&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&client=safari

That is amazing, Chook! I guess the information is out there for anything!

Yes, Nancy, it's working out which info is correct that's tricky, that's why I get my kids to use books in their assignments as well as the Internet.

Yep, I did my homework beforehand! Need to add a bonding agent to the first coat for anything other than raw wood, but then multiple coats of plain. And the internet is wonderful as a resource, but you really do have to exercise common sense as well. A natural paint is probably less likely to stick as well as something with super-duper chemical bonding agents, but for my kind of use (and at the minimal price I'm willing to pay for the furniture) it seems worth the risk. And if it isn't perfect I'll just call it shabby chic! ;-)

Yes!

What perfect timing - I saw this just after putting together the bedframe today (and hanging the curtains against the walls last night). With the white fabric behind the dark metal I am thinking that I could happily skip painting the bed. Have two ikea pine mini-dressers waiting to be painted and assembled for bedside tables/storage; and the big desk/armoire I scored for $40 is awaiting its paint job as well. First night in the cottage tomorrow or Wednesday...

You are off to a great start, melynda!

Hey Melynda. Remember me...the one who is still grieving over my dream house after 20 years? Anyway, I've gotten interested in Rub n Buff, which is a metallic oil based paint that seems to be really hot with DIYers lately, including me. It comes in several different metallic colors and it goes a long way. I just bought a sample kit from Amazon of eight different colors. And, i just bought a tube at Michael's for @ $4.00 in silver. I was thinking maybe that would look great on your bed. Or maybe a pewter color. You can mix some of the colors too. I learned about it on Pinterest. There's a woman on there who has dozens of tutorials and it's amazing. It's a totally different look than spray paint metallic. Check it out.

Thanks Classysass - I'll check out Rub n Buff. But since I have so many chemical sensitivities, something like that would have to wait until I was able to finish and leave the bed to cure for a while without me around, so it probably will need to wait until spring (when things can stay outside again...we are actually FINALLY getting rain here in California!).

Just scored two giant mirrors for $40 (my magic amount, it seems) that I pick up tomorrow. One will just get to lean against a wall, and the other will cover most of the funky newly-fixed wall behind the dining area.

I'm not rushing into some artwork, 'cause one of my treats to myself this winter is going to be tapestry weaving classes up in Berkeley - so I hope to be making my own pretties to hang on the wall. This is pretty big for someone who always thought of herself as non-artistic!

I've done that, and taught it, it's very rewarding, and stress reducing.

chookchook2 - that is so cool! Tapestry weavers are few and far between...I'm so excited to get lessons as there is only so far I've been able to go on my own. I'm looking for a new spinning wheel as well; I find that very meditative and relaxing (and stress reduction is the name of the game right now).

(any pictures of your tapestries to share, for inspiration?)

If you message me i will say what my qualification is.

My work is packed away, during our renovating.

we own a spinning wheel but haven't had lessons yet.

Oh dear, I hope I didn't sound like I was questioning your weaving qualifications! I was just excited and interested...not the least bit dubious of your abilities!!

I learned to spin almost by accident - a friend wanted to take a class but didn't want to go alone. I protested that I was likely to be completely unable to spin, no matter how good the teacher was, but went anyways just to try something new. I was pleasantly shocked to discover I actually COULD learn to spin! I am not terribly talented at spinning or weaving, but they make me happy so I do them anyways.

Of course not, just wanted to tell you something, off the public thread. It's hard to spin.

Love the bed! It would be a shame to paint it white, really--it is striking as is in its boldness. If I didn't love wood so much, I would want a frame like that for my bedroom.

Oh, good! (To not painting the bed frame, that is.) Looking forward to seeing photos.