Coastal Furniture Flip | DIY Thrifted Armoire
, by Mary Kate King, 7 min reading time
We took a $75 armoire and turned it into a stunning coastal themed beauty using milk paint and rattan accents. Join us on this creative journey as we showcase the step-by-step transformation, offering you the inspiration and confidence to tackle your own furniture projects. Watch the magic unfold as we demonstrate how simple techniques can breathe new life into old furniture. Plus, don't miss the chance to shop the products we used, so you can recreate this coastal masterpiece in your very own DIY adventure. Let's get started on this furniture flip!
Products Used:
- Clean Slate
- One Step Paint - Bauhaus Buff
- Toscana Milk Paint - Central Park
- Antiquing Glaze
- Cerusing Wax
- Natural Chip Brush
Additional Supplies Needed:
- Lint free rags
- Spray bottle (optional)
- Natural sea wool sponge
- Plastic containers
- Hair dryer (optional)
BEFORE
Amy and Gene found this armoire at the Haven House Thrift Store in Santa Rosa Beach, FL. It was a dated piece with good bones. We will show you the entire process of how they gave it a fresh coastal look!
Step One
To begin, take a lint free rag and pour a small amount of Clean Slate onto it. Rub the Clean Slate into your furniture piece all over. This will take off grease, old cleaners, waxes, and other unseen substances to make your surface ready to paint. Once done, allow the piece to sit for about 15 minutes so the remaining Clean Slate can evaporate, or "flash off".
Take the One Step Paint in Bauhaus Buff and shake for one minute. Use a stir stick to mix well, making sure the contents at the bottom are well incorporated. Using your preferred synthetic brush, load with paint, off load, then begin painting in long smooth strokes until fully covered. Continue to stir the One Step Paint as you work so it remains well mixed. TIP: Multiple thin coats are recommended for best coverage, especially when covering dark surfaces with a light colored paint. Use a spray bottle to mist your brush or add a tablespoon full of water to your paint container if the paint seems too thick. Don't overwork.
Once fully dry after 30 minutes to 1 hour, apply a second thin coat of paint for optimum coverage and protection.
Step Two
Take the Central Park Toscana Milk Paint and mix one part Milk Paint to one part water (ex. 1 cup powder to 1 cup water). Mix well but not vigorously so as to avoid foam. TIP: If using already mixed Milk Paint from the refrigerator, allow to sit out and come to room temperature before using. Using the Natural Chip Brush, load your brush with paint, off load, then begin painting in long strokes. Continue painting until the base of your piece is fully painted. TIP: Milk Paint is much thinner than regular paint. For the best application, you will want to work on a horizontal surface, so turn your piece each time you begin a new section if possible. If you're not able to turn your piece and work with the surface horizontally, use a hair dryer to dry the milk paint and keep it from dripping as you work. Once fully dry, lightly sand with a high grit sandpaper to smooth out any bumps or rough patches.
Step Three
Take two containers and add water to one and Antiquing Glaze to the other. Immerse the Sea Wool Sponge into the water and squeeze out the water, then immerse into the Antiquing Glaze and squeeze out the excess glaze. Lightly pounce the sponge onto the dried milk paint (if you're not able to turn your piece and work with the surface horizontally, use a hair dryer to dry the glaze and keep it from dripping as you work). Tap and dab the sponge, do not drag or pull. The Antiquing Glaze is meant to wear down the Milk Paint so the One Step Paint underneath shows through, giving a chippy look and variances in the color.
Use the Antiquing Glaze in a pouncing motion with the sponge over your whole piece or as desired. Every so often or after each section, dip your sponge into the water and clean, squeezing out any excess. Dip back into the Antiquing Glaze, squeeze out, and continue to the next section. Some Milk Paint will naturally transfer to your sponge, and this is okay. Just be sure to clean the sponge so it's not too loaded with paint and the glaze isn't coming through.
Step Four
Once the piece has fully dried from the glaze, use a Chip Brush and load it with the Cerusing Wax. Offload onto a piece of cardboard or wood. Apply to the whole piece, loading (and then always offloading) as needed. TIP: If you accidentally add too much wax and it is not drying, you can always take some off using the Clean Slate and touch up as needed.
Finally
Enjoy the Bragging Rights.
Now you have a gorgeous coastal piece for your home!
AFTER
Can you believe this transformation?! What was a $75 thrifted armoire is now a beachy classic piece for any home. You can do it too!
Watch the tutorial to see the full process from start to finish.
Want to see more stunning transformations? Join the Before and After Facebook Group to see how people just like you are flipping furniture, saving money, and Enjoying the Bragging Rights. You can also follow us on Facebook and get alerts when Amy goes live with her next project!
