Last weekend, we started painting the kitchen cabinets. As I mentioned before, we're using SafePaint, which is a variety of milk paint made by The Old Fashioned Milk Paint Company. Milk Paint is formulated from three, non-toxic ingredients: milk protein, lime and natural pigments. Regular milk paint tends to give a thinner, streakier finish, which would work in a room with a more "old fashioned" style. But since ours is a more modern kitchen (with Shaker influences), we went with SafePaint, which goes on thicker for more even coverage.
Milk paint can be a bit tricky, as we learned, because it comes as a powder that you mix with water. Our first batch was a little lumpy, possibly because we didn't use the right utensils to stir it. To smooth out the lumps, Dakota added more water. This didn't change the color at all, but the paint went on a little thin, as you can see on the cabinet doors above. Happily, that was just the first of two coats--after a coat of Dunn-Edwards Eco-Shield Primer--so it didn't matter too much.
He's Nigel helping Dakota paint the pantry.
Eventually, we found that mixing the paint using a whisk works well. The second batch of paint was thicker, had fewer blobs and went on in a more uniform manner. In addition, we found that SafePaint goes on much better with a brush than with a foam roller. I don't mind using a brush on the cabinets, but painting the walls or ceiling that way will be rough. So, I think we're going to try a different roller--perhaps a fluffier one--on the walls and see how that goes.
SafePaint has absolutely no odor, and drips wipe up easily with a wet rag. And I suspect that if your overly-curious dog should happen to accidentally lick some of it up, he'd be fine. So far, despite the minor lumpiness issue, we're pretty happy with the product.
After two coats, I think the cabinets look really great. As Dakota pointed out, we picked a very "masculine" green--like something you'd see on the wall of a British pub. (The color itself is called Lexington Green, which fits.) I am having a hard time imagining how things will look once the cabinet doors are on and everything else is installed and painted. But right now, the painted cabinets go nicely with the oak floors, so that's a good start.
I have been following your renovation for a little while and it is looking fabulous.. well worth the extra time spent on the details and reclaimed floor boards and finishes.. just a lovely job. You should both be very proud of the results.
Thanks Victor! That's really nice to hear.