Please note...
This article relates to the original Bunty's Paints, which sadly ceased trading in August 2023.
Calling all furniture paint lovers! I have popped on here today to tell you all about Bunty’s Paints, from how it all began to the gorgeous paint range you see today.
In this blog, I will highlight their flagship product, Bunty’s Mineral Paint, a furniture paint known for its exceptional quality, durability, and eco-friendly credentials. I will also share some lovely reviews and testimonials from my happy customers.
So, whether you have heard of Bunty’s Mineral Paint and not yet had the chance to try it but are interested to know more, or Bunty’s is a brand that hasn’t quite hit your radar, you are in for a treat. So, grab a cuppa and have a jolly good old read: here we go!
Introducing Bunty’s Paints
Bunty’s Paints make Bunty’s Mineral Paint, a UK-made paint brand. It’s the creation of Ken Dunn, a lovable straight-talking hands-on entrepreneur with a love of all things nostalgic and vintage. Perhaps that’s why we get on so well 😊.
Ken has a wealth of knowledge and experience when it comes to painting: in fact, it’s in his blood. He often fondly talks about his uncle Jim, who was a painter and decorator less ordinary. Ken describes his uncle’s exquisite work and tells how his skills took him to exotic shores where he worked in the grand residences of the middle eastern gentry. Needless to say, his skills in creating faux paint effects and gilding were second to none.
About Ken Dunn, owner and founder of Bunty’s Paints
Ken is an experienced antique dealer, with a passion for craftsmanship and fine materials. In addition to selling antique furniture, Ken is also an experienced furniture restorer and upholsterer.
Of course, being the owner and purveyor of Bunty’s Paints, Ken is also a skilled furniture painter, his order book is constantly full, with high demand from the locals for his work. I think it’s safe to say that Ken is certainly a busy Bunty!
Ken lives in Suffolk. Back in 2016 he and his lovely wife Lesley opened The Shed, a vintage and antiques emporium based in the quintessentially English village of Sproughton.
The Shed soon grew with the addition of The Potting Shed, which showcases outdoor vintage items, an in-house florist, and Nora’s Vintage Tearoom with its classic 1940s wartime theme. You could just imagine Captain Mainwaring and his troops from the popular 1960s TV sitcom Dad’s Army popping in for a cup of tea and a toasted teacake.
Both Ken and Lesley are big animal lovers. They have a very large collection of chickens and ducks, and despite their vast numbers, they all have names. In fact, Ken loves his birds so much (sorry Lesley, I do mean the feathered variety😊) that he has recently added another business, Brownies Bespoke Averies, to his portfolio.
They also have three dogs, Wilma, Betty, and Joseph, who work at the Shed every day. Their roles are to meet and greet the customers and, of course, to keep a close eye on the till while at the same time looking out for any possible treats that might find their way from the tearoom.
Ken can be seen popping up in videos from time to time on social media, where he showcases his products. These little clips are quite entertaining and informative and well worth watching to the very end to hear Ken’s signature closing impression of Tommy Cooper (a comedian and magician popular in the 1970s).
Where did the name for Bunty’s Paints come from?
Ken decided to name his paint after Bunty, the popular long-running British girls’ comic that was first published in 1958 and survived into this century. This name was perfectly fitting for a paint that had been born from Ken’s love of all things vintage and that was created to enhance vintage furniture made in those days for today’s lifestyles.
The late 1950s were a time of austerity when post-war Britain was just starting to see a brighter future, food rationing had recently ended, but still, with little money, “Make Do and Mend” was an ingrained habit that many people continued to stick to, well after the war was over. It was, perhaps, a time we can increasingly relate to in view of today’s economic climate.
Bunty’s Mineral Paint
Bunty’s Mineral Paint has quickly gained a loyal following among many professional furniture artists, DIY enthusiasts, upcyclers and crafters, due to its excellent coverage and durable, smooth and waterproof satin finish.
Ken has named many of Bunty’s paints after the much-needed comfort foods of the post-war days, giving us colours such as Treacle Toffee, Crumble, and Clotted Cream, and after familiar sights of that era such as Granny’s Doorstep and Battleship. Of course, Ken being Ken, he had to include Legbar, named after a breed of chicken that lays pale blue eggs.
Then, of course, there are the colours Mr GE says remind him of me: Grumpy and Natterjack (as in Toad)! Charming!
Why I love Bunty’s Mineral Paint
The reason I love Bunty’s mineral paint so much is that not only is it made in the UK, it’s made by a small family-run business (and we all know how important it is to support small businesses).
The 38 colours in the Bunty’s Mineral Paint range are exquisite, the coverage of Bunty’s paint is exceptional and the finish once cured (fully dried) is waterproof and scratchproof.
Furthermore, a little Bunty’s paint goes a long way. You can easily paint a small table or bedside cabinet using a 100ml “try it” pot, which means you can transform a piece of furniture for as little as £5.95.
I had heard great reviews about Bunty’s and so wanted to try it for myself, so I ordered a pot of Crumble and of Bewitched. I purposefully chose light and dark paint colours to compare the coverage of each. I was immediately impressed with how easy the paint was to use. I loved the colours, the consistency and the coverage.
The rest they say is history: I immediately applied to become a stockist and I have never looked back.
Why is Bunty’s Mineral Paint cheaper than other brands of mineral paint on the market?
Bunty’s is a high-quality, artisan-made Mineral Paint, so what is their secret to this great price point?
This is the question I am asked the most and the answer to this is simple.
Bunty’s Mineral Paint is made in the UK. This factor alone means there are no international transport costs that need to be levied onto the price.
Bunty’s paints are made in small batch quantities by a three-generation family-run business, so the overheads are far lower, cutting out the need to outsource the production to large and expensive manufacturing sites. Bunty’s also pays careful consideration to the packing and labelling costs.
What is Bunty’s Mineral Paint?
Bunty’s Mineral Paint is a durable premium quality furniture paint, a water-based acrylic paint with natural-colour pigments.
Bunty’s Mineral Paint is an all-in-one furniture paint, so it is self-priming, self-levelling and self-sealing. Self-priming means that Bunty’s Mineral Paint does not need a primer on most well-prepared surfaces; self-levelling means that it leaves a smooth finish without leaving ugly brush marks; it is self-sealing because it has a built-in top coat, so no need to varnish it for extra protection.
Bunty’s Mineral Paint is waterproof, and contains a UV filter to prevent fading both in the home and outside.
It is all these properties which make Bunty’s paint ideal for painting both indoor and outdoor projects such as garden furniture, garden décor, fences, and summer houses.
Be sure to give Bunty’s paint a stir before you start. The natural pigment content is heavier than the carrier solution and so you may find the pigments have migrated to the bottom of the pot giving a jelly-like consistency. This is completely normal and the paint will easily mix to a super smooth consistency.
Bunty’s Mineral Paint colours
There are currently 38 colours of Bunty’s Mineral Paint, ranging from the whitest-of-white Tickety Boo to the blackest-of-black Total Eclipse. The colour range meanders through a wonderful palette of pale and deep neutrals in tones of creams, greys, blues, reds and greens. You are then hit with the fiery, fun and funky colour punches of Peacock, Kingfisher, Lazy Daisy, Clementine, Hot Lips and Hanky Panky.
What other products are available in the Bunty’s Paints range?
Ken has introduced a selection of complementary products to perfectly align with his mineral paint range.
Before you start, get your furniture squeaky clean with Bunty’s highly effective and affordable sugar soap.
Apply an adhesion primer to those pesky slippery surfaces when scuff sanding is not an option.
Matt and satin lacquers add that little extra protection for pieces that will sustain more traffic such as table tops and kitchen cabinets.
Get creative with metallic gilding pastes, and dark waxes, or apply a beautiful decoupage paper with Bunty’s super easy-to-use decoupage glue. Then of course there is a paintbrush for every task from painting, to waxing to varnishing.
Bunty’s Paints reviews
Bunty’s ethos is based on customer satisfaction and word of mouth, which, believe me, is spreading fast. The public vote is a strong validation of the popularity of this paint brand.
By now you will have a good idea of how great Bunty’s paints really are. Here are just some of the fantastic verified reviews from my lovely customers over on Etsy.
If you would like to know more about Bunty’s paints, please feel free to contact me. I’m always happy to help!
