the haystack needle

painted staircase

I spotted this painted staircase over the weekend at the New York outpost of the uniquely curated fashion shop Opening Ceremony, where I picked up my new favorite bag in forest green. (Thanks to Dan for giving me one of my birthday wishes!) It's a bit hard to tell in my photo, but the paint color is a navy blue. I didn't mind the worn sections of the stairs either — looked distressed in a real way. Seeing this staircase once again proved my love of painted staircases. There's nothing fancy about this shop's wee staircase: then the painted runner makes it stand-out special.

milk paint + milk painting classes

 

I'm so excited to share this post today — I feel like I'm calling to order a secret meeting about something mysterious yet super cool. There's definitely an aura of mystery surrounding milk paint. You may know the answer to the first question most ask: yes, the paint is made from milk. You may have seen Martha talk about old-fashioned milk paint on her show or read about it in the New York Times (check, check), but wondered how hard it would be to paint with milk paint and does it work as well as modern paint. (Turns out, it works even better.)

I spent my Monday at the Eli Rios studio — Eli is an expert on traditional paints and a well-known furniture conservator. My friend Chris (with Eli, below) works at Eli's antique furniture restoration studio, so I've been lucky enough to meet the man who restores furniture for everyone from Martha Stewart to Ralph Lauren. Eli kindly let me come down to his studio so I could ask him a sheet full of questions about milk paint, play with the paint, and see how the paint works. (Eli's been working with milk paint since 1987 — he knows his stuff.) All I can say is wow.

Think that just because milk paint isn't at your local Home Depot that it's harder to paint with, takes longer to dry, or is more expensive? Wrong. And I have a big scoop for those of you in the New York area. You can meet Eli too, and take a class to learn all about milk paint (even paint a piece of your furniture!) at his Astoria studio. (More details below!) Here's a primer on milk paint. Oh and for those of you new here, this post is a part of an April series I created called Green Swap. It took a bit more time to produce but I hope you enjoy.

What is milk paint?
It's truly the original paint. American Colonists made their own paint, using a formula of milk paint that dated back to Ancient Egypt. The old milk paint formula was re-created in the 1970s and sold to people restoring Colonial furniture. Since then, milk paint has peaked interest since it's both non-toxic and durable. Latex paint as we know it has only been around since the 1950s — think on that.

Is milk paint an eco-friendly paint?
Milk paint is as green as can be. You could eat milk paint (not recommended but it wouldn't kill you.) Milk paint pre-dates the use of petrochemicals, toxic bases, and solvents found in modern paint. It's biodegradable, safe to flush down your drain, non-toxic, and contains zero-VOCs. It's a fantastic option for painting a nursery + children's toys, too. The only ingredients in milk paint: milk protein, lime, clay, and earth pigments — then you add water. (The lime becomes totally inert when mixed with the slightly acid milk.) Milk paint doesn't smell like paint at all. There's a slightly milky scent when you apply milk paint, and it dries odorless. That's something I noticed when I walked in Eli's studio — it doesn't smell like a workshop where painting, gilding, and applying shellac goes on all day. That's because Eli and his team use milk paint and other non-toxic materials. Since milk paint is packaged in dry powder form, there are no paint cans or heavy gallons to truck around the country. Milk paint has the smallest carbon footprint of any paint on the market.

What can you paint with milk paint?
Your walls, your kitchen cabinets, your wood furniture — anything with a porous, water-based finish, including modern latex paint. You do need to know what you're painting though. Do not apply milk paint to anything with an oil-based paint, primer, or sealant (like polyurethane or lacquer.) You'd need to sand or strip that oil-based finish first and prime before applying milk paint. You can't paint metal with milk paint either.

Are milk paints only available in earthy colors?
Yes, that's true. Milk paint is made using earth pigments, so you can't get a purple or electric green. But you can mix any of the 16 historical colors to create different hues and colors. The colors in milk paint will not fade — milk paint is the longest-lasting known paint. And the colors are simply gorgeous. I'm partial to the Buttermilk color — I would love a kitchen someday with Buttermilk-painted cabinets.

What do you need to paint with milk paint?
+ milk paint powder
+ plastic container for mixing paint
+ dollar brushes for stirring and messing around (Eli says they're the best to use)
+ room temperature bottled or filtered water
+ paint brush or roller/paint tray
Then it's as easy as making chocolate milk. You don't even need to prime raw wood surfaces. Seriously, no primer! Don't use tap water to mix milk paint, since chlorine is in regular tap water. If you're painting a large surface (like a room), you'll need a larger container for mixing and a hand-mixer helps to perfectly mix your paint. Since milk paint is completely natural, it's safe to use your kitchen mixer with the paint — just wash like normal afterwards!

How do you measure + make milk paint?
You don't need to take out a scale or measuring cup — just eye amounts through your plastic container. That's the beauty of it — it does not need to be exact. Typically you'll be measuring out equal parts powder to water. It's that simple.

Does milk paint only have a matte finish?
Not true. Milk paint will produce an antique-looking matte finish. But you can create a semi-gloss finish if you use Clear Coat with the paint. You can also easily create a distressed, crackled look — without the chemicals — by running a hair dryer over a surface just painted with milk paint. (And it turns out looking authentic, unlike the synthetic crackle finish solutions you can buy at the hardware store.) And if you're worried about fingerprints and stains on your walls, you can seal milk paint with a Clear Coat sealer.

How quick does it dry?
I watched the milk paint dry within minutes! When milk paint is dry, you can see and feel that it's dry. Depending on the weather and space where you're painting, drying time can range from 10 minutes to under an hour. It's fast! Eli and Chris painted a board with three different colors in under an hour.

How much does milk paint cost?
Milk paint is actually cheaper than the better lines of low-VOC modern paint. A pint is $12 and a gallon is $36. You can buy milk paint online through Green Spirit Products. As usual, the U.S. is slow to adopt something great + green. European countries, like Holland, widely use milk paint. Eli sees a lot of furniture from Europe that's painted with their version of milk paint. Wherever there are cows, there's milk paint available. 

What's the cleanup involved with milk paint?
Since it's a powder paint, cleanup is easy. Mix up only as much paint as you need for your project. Milk paint powder will last indefinitely if you keep it sealed and dry in an airtight container. If you have any extra mixed paint, you can seal it in a container and store for a few weeks in the refrigerator. Clean out your brushes with water — super simple. 

PAINTING CLASSES

Eli Rios is now offering two classes about painting. If you're in the New York area, I highly recommend signing up — and fast as they're sure to fill up. Here are the details:

5/23 introductory class on milk paint: In this class, Eli teaches you the basics of working with milk paint. Runs from 9am - 1pm (with lunch break). Just $25, what a deal!

6/13 + 6/14 paint workshop: This two-day weekend workshop teaches you about milk paint and other traditional paints. You can bring your own piece of furniture to paint, and you'll walk away with a solid foundation on the best methods for painting. This is the class to take if you want to be a painting rockstar and create some of the amazing DIY projects that have been floating around the blogosphere. (I'll also be at this workshop, so come say hi!)
Cost: $275

Contact Eli's studio to sign up for either class. Hope to get to meet some of you in person! And if you're not in New York, don't fret. I'll be documenting the workshop and will report back — and I'll share what I wind up painting at Eli's class.

what's green swap? find out more here

green swap: eco-friendly paint

I pick the most eco-friendly paints I can find, since New York apartments have enough bad things already in the air — and because I don't want to inhale a bunch of chemicals. The paint's smaller footprint to the environment is just a nice, sugary bonus in my book. I've never understood choosing paints based on price. A gallon of paint will cost you anywhere from $25 to $45 in most stores. I'd say indoor air quality and not having to gag from the smell is worth an extra twenty bucks — and with paint, you do get what you pay for. The cheaper the paint = the cheaper ingredients used in the paint.

When we move into our new rental, if we're allowed to paint (here's hoping), I know for sure I'll be using Benjamin Moore's new Natura paint. It's a no-brainer for me. I love Benjamin Moore's color palette + I want a paint with absolutely no VOCs (the best you can get.)

I talked to Lou Manfredini about the greening of paints and the difference between low and zero VOC paints. It's super confusing with some paint labels — some say zero-VOC but VOCs are added in the color tinting process. Lou is many things: Ace Hardware spokesman + owner of a Chicago Ace store, Today Show contributor, the fix-it guy behind HouseSmarts, and a homebuilder. I know him as the guy I ask hard home questions because he's honest, super knowledgeable — and always right (Lou tipped me off to Fresh Wave a year ago.)

Here's the scoop from Lou:
+ With interior paints, most paints have a low level of VOCs (volatile organic compounds.) The VOCs in paint are most potent when you're applying paint and as it dries. Once paint has dried and cured, the paint won’t off-gas as much.

{photograph by massdistraction}

+ There’s a difference between being green in chemical makeup and the carbon footprint of the paint. In the chemical makeup of the paint: not only the base is no VOC but the tint is also zero-VOC. Natura is a new line that is a zero-VOC paint by Benjamin Moore. Natura can be tinted to just about any color, and the tint does not add any VOCs. The harmful chemicals that are in traditional paints are not in this paint. [Lou's super familiar with Natura, since Benjamin Moore paints are sold at Ace Hardware stores now, too.] Another manufacturer to check out is Yolo paint, which is also zero-VOC. Their paints are all pre-mixed colors — since their paints come pre-mixed, Yolo can control the tinting without adding VOCs to the formula. 

It's not just the chemicals in the bucket, but how does the company power its plant and truck the paint. Yolo's manufacturing is based in Texas— so if you’re in New York, there's a lot of energy used to truck up that paint. Benjamin Moore has manufacturing companies around the country to reach different areas, so there's less of a carbon footprint.  

+ It's easy to find low-VOC paint now. Many low-VOC paints are zero-VOC in their base, but once you add the tint, it adds a low level of VOCs. No-VOC paints have been around for awhile, but they were terrible paints before — didn't go on well. They've figured out the technology to make it work.

 
{photograph by maya the bee}

+ green paint supplies: look for biodegradable drop cloths (made with corn plastic) in your paint store — Perf Go Green is one brand. Otherwise standard plastic drop cloths take many, many years to break down in the landfill. Another tip from Lou: invest in good paintbrushes and take good care of them — your brushes will last for 20 years.

 
{photograph by mark strozier}

+ greenest way to dispose of paint: there are programs to recycle your unused paint — many Ace stores participate in paint disposal. Use a little dish soap for cleaning the paintbrush and roller in the sink, to help break it down. Also check out Danny Seo's post on eco painting tips.

After talking to Lou and researching around, these are my top three eco-friendly paints:

1. Benjamin Moore Natura

2. Yolo Colorhouse paint

3. Mythic Paint

*One big topic I haven't covered here is milk paint — which is a super green paint choice. I'm finding out more on milk paint for a separate post. One of my good friends (hi, Chris!) works with milk paints on a daily basis for furniture restoration, so she's going to be my guide into the world of powdered paint. I'll fill you in after my milk paint lesson! 

{green swap photograph by charlotte jenks lewis}
{top photograph via yolo colorhouse}

what's green swap? find out more here

decorate a staircase

spell out a warm welcome with your stairs

One reason I'd love to have a house someday: a lovely little staircase. I dream of a staircase to run up and down, be my seat in the morning as I throw on shoes, and become a ritual ending to my day as I walk up to the bedroom each night. And, of course, I'd want the staircase to have my own personal stamp – a little something special. I think my favorite way to decorate a staircase is to stencil a few stair risers. The stenciled staircase above was photographed by Alexandra Rowley, an amazing photographer, surfer, and overall super sweet gal. (Alexandra's site is being revamped so you can check out her portfolio on Faucher Artists.) We shot this story together at a location house outside the city— I had so much fun producing a bunch of instant home makeovers for the feature. The location's staircase was already painted turquoise, and then Jen Everett, the stylist, did a great job of stenciling the risers. The stairs were instantly transformed.

how to get this look: The key with spelling out a phrase on your stairs is to keep it playful. Skip a step and stagger the words to add a little drama and movement to the design. I picked out 3-inch Original Alphabet stencils. You need large letters so that they boldly stand out on stairs. For the paint, I chose Benjamin Moore 2011-30 latex paint. To prep the stencil, first tape the letter stencils together to form a word, so that your letters don't look crooked. Stick the stencils to the stair risers with blue painter's tape. Then stencil away using a stippling brush to paint (be sure to use a jabbing motion when you're stenciling.) Let the paint dry and then repeat for a second coat.

Check out more amazing ways to make over a staircase.

create a rainbow running up your stairs

This is one of my favorite DIY ideas from the dearly departed Domino. The color choice here is key.

how to get this look
paints used: Benjamin Moore Mocha Brown #2107-20, Peach Cobbler #2169-40, Olive Moss #2147-20, and Seaside Blue #2054-50.
Domino makes a good point that a rainbow staircase works best in a space that's modern or beachy — you might edge toward the circus look if your interior space is already packed with color and pattern. White or dark walls would be the best backdrop. You'll need to lightly sand stairs that are already painted (then vacuum, damp-mop and let dry.) Next step: prime stairs. Let dry and then move on to the color. You'll need two coats of a semi-gloss latex paint (let paint dry between coats.) Since we're talking floors here, you'll want to seal the paint job from scuffs with 3 to 4 coats of clear polyurethane. The stairs need to dry and cure completely (a day or two) before walking on them, so you can paint every other tread. Let dry and then paint remaining treads.
{via domino.com}

why buy a runner when you can paint one?

I spotted this painted stair runner on Apartment Therapy Boston. You'd use the same painting steps as the Domino stairs above, but before painting, you'd need to measure and use blue tape to mark off the section you're painting.

wallpaper the risers of a staircase

Wowzer, this is so fantastic — as if I wasn't already head over heels for ways to decorate with wallpaper. The wallpaper used above and below are both from favorite Ferm Living. I spotted the gorgeous stairs above on Door Sixteen — and found my way to Clever Spaces where I found Christiana's stunning staircase below. 

Check out Ferm Living's blog for how to wallpaper stair risers.

count your way up the stairs

I love this stencil idea, too. I wouldn't do black, though. I'd probably choose a color like a moss green or turquoise blue so the numbers are more subtle.
{photo found on pink wallpaper via the happy haven}

And this is just a little eye candy (kids, don't try this tape project at home) — a photo from a MoMA exhibit on color. {photograph by jodi mckee}