Sorry, left out the paint recipe: I use latex paint in Satin (one was Valspar, one was Sherwin Williams). Both look lighter in the pics than in real life, they're dark cream colors. I mix hot water with Plaster of Paris to make a smooth and creamy consistency, then mix it with the paint. It goes on very nice, and has a wonderful feel after waxing. I don't like my pieces to get too flat or chalky, so waxing is important, as is sanding between coats. I lightly distressed both pieces. I use less Plaster of Paris than most people. I used too much on a practice piece once, and it was like pure plaster, a total nightmare. I did not prime either piece, just cleaned them first. I want to say, I used to cringe in horror at painting old wood, but I'm really liking this chalk paint recipe, and how it turns out. And I only paint if the wood is too damaged for us DIYers to restore. My partner did strip and restore both tops here, the wood grain came out beautiful. We're currently working on a sofa table.....harlequin pattern on the table top. I'll post pics when it's done. :-)

Hi ireneo, I just finished milk painting our kitchen island this weekend. It looks amazing but it was not an easy process. I used the old fashioned milk paint co. paint. It goes on very differently than regular paint. Sort of dry and chalky not smooth like regular paint. You need to do at least 2 coats then "sand" with fine steel wool then sand with fine sand paper (if you want distressed look) then go over wiht steel wool again. Then buff with danish oil. Let that dry for 3-4 days and do 2 coats of varnish (oil based). The wood needs to be completely bare no previous finish at all otherwise you need to add a binder. Hope this helps.

I recently looked into chalk paint, and I used it to refinish two bedside tables. I love working with it. First, no priming or sanding is required. Second, you can paint over anything - wood, metal, and poly finishes. Third, the finished look is beautiful, especially when used with the waxes. The chalk paint dries fast, and the paint does tend to thicken when exposed to air. So, I only poured a bit in a container and added water if it started to thicken. A little goes a long way. Brush strokes show a little when the paint is wet, but they disappear as the paint dries. The finish is even. No mixing of powders is required. I used Annie Sloan's chalk paint and waxes, and while it's expensive, it's worth the price IMO. I love her selection of colors, and the quality of the paint is excellent. Here is a picture of the bedside tables BEFORE repainting: Here is the AFTER (painted in Duck Egg Blue and waxed clear and dark):

Bought a brand new dresser which has been spray painted by the manufacturer in a professional paint booth, and I would like to paint it another color. I've been told that I can't paint over on this smooth sprayed finish. Any advice? Thanks!