The Desk…Finally!

Oh Happy Day! The desk is finally finished!

BEFORE AFTER

It was a proud and happy day when I dragged this desk home with me from Goodwill several weeks ago.

I removed the dated hardware, scrubbed it up and gave it a spray painted coat of primer. I let it dry in the sun for several hours. A few days later, I gave it a coat of latex white satin finish paint…with a paint brush. And let it dry for many more days. I wanted it to “cure”. I only sanded it in the areas I wanted it to look “distressed”.

Then I wiped on some Minwax “Provincial” wood stain and quickly wiped it off. I tried to work it into any nicks or crevices along the way. And I let it dry for several more days. My plan was to take furniture wax and rub it into the entire desk and then buff it off just like I saw it done on a blog post by Cindy over at My Romantic Home. This girl knows what she is doing! Anyway, I started to apply the paste wax to the desk and I saw that it was removing the wood stain I had applied over the white paint! So I immediately stopped, touch up the stained spot with the old stain rag that I used and let it dry for several more days. I was gun shy after that so instead of going the paste wax route, I applied a coat of clear poly. Because, I was tired of waiting and it was time to get it done!! The poly coat dried in a day. :)

Next I added the new hardware that my daughter picked out.

It was starting to look like a real piece of furniture now!

See all the distressed marks?

Oakley supervises all home improvement activities at our house.

So much fresher and cleaner.

I lined the drawers with some decorative papers that we tacked down with a little bit of tape.

BEFORE AFTER

This desk is leaving for Chapel Hill later this week. I’ll be sure to take a picture of it in it’s final destination in my daughter’s new apartment. And my husband is delighted because he thinks he is getting his garage back. Ha! That’s what he thinks. I have a few more projects to tackle before that happens. :)

I am linking up to Nifty Thrifty Tuesday over at Coastal Charm. Amazing bargains were had this past week! Stop by to see them all.

I am also linking up with Maryann's Power of Paint Party over at Domestically Speaking. Impressive makeovers to be seen here!!

Goodwill Desk Re-do Before

Look what I dragged home from the Goodwill with me the other day!!  My husband is so happy.  He loves it when the garage is crammed with furniture projects.:)  I initially bought this desk for our daughter who is moving into an apartment this summer and I thought this might work for her.  We will see if she likes it.  I have a feeling it might be too small for her but then again maybe not.  I have not seen the size of her new bedroom yet in the apartment and I think that is what will decide if she is going to take it or not.  Anyway, I am going to proceed with painting it and it will either end up with her or stay here with me.  I’ll probably use it as a sewing table.  Not sure exactly where we’ll put it but I’ll worry about that later. :)

And did I mention that I only paid $20.00 for it????  BARGAIN!

 

First step was to wipe it down with a damp wash cloth after removing the hardware.  I am going to replace all the drawer pulls with something new. See the scribble marks from the former owners?  The primer will help cover that up.  The top of this desk is a laminate.  I am hoping that the primer will allow me to paint that surface and not have the paint chip off.  My back up plan is to decoupage the top if the primer does not prevent any chipping. 

  

One coat of primer gave me the coverage I needed.  (One can gave me one full coat.)

It’s a work in progess.  But I am on my way. Just waiting for the primer to dry which gives me some time to think about what color to paint it.

Any ideas?