HUE Oxford: Way Better Than Watching Paint Dry

How to use milk and chalk paints at HUE Oxford.

Have an end table in need of a facelift? What about that ottoman? Or the old kitchen chair? HUE Oxford has just what you’re looking for: paint that covers literally everything.

Located in the Oxford Galleria Shopping Center on West Jackson Ave., HUE Oxford specializes in two paint mediums that offer unique finishes, colors, and endless possibilities. Annie Sloan’s Chalk Paints and Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paints are the trendiest DIY tool in any crafter’s tool belt. The era of latex paint is out and new, creative paint options are all the rage.

“We have the freedom to paint literally anything,” store manager Kelly Crossen said. “The hardest part is picking which color to use.”

Annie Sloan is a UK-based designer and company that specialize in chalk paints, brushes, finishes, and more. But, what is chalk paint?

Chalk paint is a no-fume, no-priming or sanding option for updating the look of absolutely any piece, on any surface. It comes in 31 pre-mixed colors that can be combined into endless hues.

Annie Sloan’s Chalk Paints come in 31 colors.

Chalk paint is water-based, so it is easy and quick to clean up, a must for any indoor craft project. Special brushes, which can be tossed in the washing machine for easy clean up, help push the paint into crevices and contours of any piece of furniture, even fabric (cover, don’t recover).

“No Fuss. Just Dip and Brush” reads a sign explaining just how easy it is to use their chalk paint products. Only two coats can evenly cover any surface. Once the surface is painted, crafty individuals seal the color with either clear or dark versions of a furniture wax, depending on the desired look.

Milk paints by Miss Mustard Seed are equally versatile, but the end result is very different. Milk paint comes in powered form, is all-natural, and includes the milk protein, casein. This feature makes it safe for serving pieces, cutting bards and other surfaces that food touches.

While chalk paint allows for even coverage on any service, milk paints provide a more primitive look. After the paint dries, it starts to chip off and achieves an antiqued look. Once the chipping is complete, the piece is sealed and the paint is set in place.

Milk paint acts more like a stain than most paints do. It absorbs into raw woods and takes a few more coats to achieve full coverage.

“If you get into milk paint, you’ve got to be flexible,” Crossen said. “It’s in control, you’re not. It starts to peel up and you chip off the rest, but there is no reason to be afraid of using milk paint.”

HUE Oxford offers workshops every week!

In fact, HUE Oxford offers a full schedule of classes to help crafty folks start using both types of paint to achieve that special look to pull the room together. Bring Your Own Piece classes are in session regularly over the holiday season and more classes are slated to begin this spring

Painting kitchen cabinets is becoming an increasingly popular trend and a relatively inexpensive way to update any kitchen. One quart of paint covers about 150 square feet and costs less than $40.

“Our classes are for those who need that extra help and want someone to lead,” Crossen said. “Even though you’re doing the work, there is someone there to guide and help you.”

So, if you’re looking for the perfect Christmas gift for that creative member of your family, HUE Oxford offers books about their products and gift certificates to any of their classes and workshops. There may be a little bit of watching paint dry, but the end result is well worth it.