A Victorian Eastlake Washstand Gets a Makeover Using Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint in Schloss
Washstands are BY FAR my most favorite type of furniture to refinish. They have a quick turnaround time, are super handy to have around your home, offer lots of storage and are cute as a button. Plus, they’re pretty common in my area of Southeastern Pennsylvania.
This Victorian Eastlake washstand was purchased from Morgantown Market. I loved its shape and dowel joinery when I first found it.
It sat in my workshop for a few months while I worked my way through custom projects for clients. Doing back-to-back projects for other people can get a bit tedious, so I like to break up the work by doing pieces of my own creation! This Victorian Eastlake washstand gave me that creative outlet.
Deciding On A Color
Picking a color is definitely the hardest part of a furniture makeover – especially if you plan on selling it afterwards! While you may want to do a pretty mint green or shade of pink, you have to think about what the average homeowner can accommodate in their existing home decor. If you need a quick turnover, then stick with a neutral shade.
White can get pretty boring to paint with, so I like to opt for grays instead! Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint has a few beautiful shades of gray in their line.
There’s Shutter Gray, which is a French blue/gray.
Trophy, which is a mid-tone gray with warm undertones. It’s much darker and more gray than Shutter Gray.
Then there’s Schloss, which is the color I opted for on my washstand project. Schloss is pronounced with a long O sound (rhyming with low) and it’s German for “castle”. Schloss is a greige, or mix of gray and beige. It’s much warmer and taupey than Trophy is.
Here’s a comparison of the two side-by-side. Can you see how much bluer Trophy looks than Schloss?
The Reveal
My Victorian Eastlake washstand wears Schloss like a champ, don’t you think?
I refinished the top of it using General Finishes Antique Brown Water Based Wood Stain to try to stay in the warm family.
To ensure durability for the top, I applied 2 layers of High Performance Topcoat in Satin. Satin sheens are a bit more durable than Flat. You can read why here.
I kept the original hardware and spray painted it with an oil-rubbed bronze.
The drawers and interior cabinet space were hydrated with natural Hemp Oil wood finish by Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint. The wood was SO dry that it sucked the oil up like a sponge!
I also used Hemp Oil over the Milk Paint as a sealer. Hemp Oil is suitable on surfaces that will get a low amount of use. Because the body of this washstand is mostly vertical surface, Hemp Oil was an appropriate choice. I already had a durable polyurethane finish on the top, which is the surface that will get used the most heavily.
Available For Purchase
This Victorian Eastlake washstand is currently available to purchase. You can get pricing and dimensions here. Local pickup is available from my home studio in Coatesville, PA. Delivery and shipping are available for a fee. Please email me at eighthundredfurniture@gmail.com for rates.
