Thursday, April 8, 2010

Antique Desk Revamp

This is my first furniture post, although you can certainly expect MANY to come. This is due to what I am sure my husband would call a "problem" of picking up trashed furniture off the side of the road. I never quite have a plan or place in mind for furniture I find, I just always know I HAVE to have it! I love taking old, ugly, destroyed things and making them beautiful once again.

My latest victim was this miniature secretary's desk. When I saw it I thought it would be perfect for my daughter someday. My husband had a hard time seeing past the amount of sanding it would require, but I was not deterred.



The first thing we did was sand down the desk. It had two coats of THICK paint on it. Then, it was up to my husband and his father to fix all of the cracks and missing pieces. The drawer had to be re-fitted as well so that it would slide in place properly. I wish I had better pictures of this process to share. It was certainly entertaining!

Next, I used a beautiful Laura Ashely color to give the drab old wood a fresh look.


Seeing as how the desk was definitely an antique of sorts, I wanted to give it lots of unique character. I tried to accomplish this by "antiquing" the edges with my favorite old Martha Stewart Anjou Pear color (as seen on the Sock Exchange last Thursday.) I just used a sponge brush to apply the contrasting paint color to the edges and in random splotches of the desk.



To finish off the desk, I painted the inside of the drawer with the pear color and added a crystal knob.


I have to admit I was very pleased with the product! As soon as we turn Laurelei's nursery into a big girl room I have even bigger plans for the desk, for of course it is going to need the perfect chair to go along with it!


For now it is bouncing around my home, having found its current spot in an awkward kitchen corner, (which is certainly another post for another day! I mean, what do you do with such a tiny, inconvienent corner in an already small kitchen? hmmmm)



Thanks for stopping by! I'll be linking this now to the CSI Roadkill Rescue Challenge. Stop by and check it out!

Visit thecsiproject.com

56 comments:

Cassie Bustamante April 8, 2010 at 6:25 AM  

that looks great! it is so beachy and fun- love the color you chose. it's just perfect on that piece to add a nice pop of color to the room.

Jessica @ This Blessed Life April 8, 2010 at 6:56 AM  

Wow, wow, wow - can't believe it's the same piece! Love that you added the glass knob - adds a bit of unexpected glamour to an otherwise "rigid" piece.

Jessica April 8, 2010 at 6:57 AM  

Patrice, this looks so good and I love the color choice. Perfect revamp!

Pati @ A Crafty Escape April 8, 2010 at 8:13 AM  

LOVE the color!

TBonesMom April 8, 2010 at 8:38 AM  

AWESOME! I think your husband and father-in-law deserve gold stars!!

And I absolutely love (and covet) that fun, funky chair you have next to the desk.

just_me_tiff April 8, 2010 at 8:46 AM  

Oh my goodness that color is to die for!

Cindy April 8, 2010 at 9:59 AM  

Your little desk looks great! That color is so wonderful, too. Good for you for seeing something in such a forsaken little piece of furniture. Hugs, Cindy S

Fawnda@Fireflies and Jellybeans April 8, 2010 at 10:31 AM  

That turned out fabulous! I love the color! :)

Erin A April 8, 2010 at 10:36 AM  

This is darling!! I saw it in another one of your posts in the background, just too too cute. Great color choice!

Brandy April 8, 2010 at 10:55 AM  

I love that! I think it looks great next to the lamp and sofa!

bilbiochic April 8, 2010 at 2:34 PM  

i love that color! its simply perfect!!
xoxo
http://bibliochicshop.blogspot.com/

deborah April 8, 2010 at 5:38 PM  

Great work Patrice. I love road side finds and seeing what can be done with them. I figure it's saving the world one find at a time...

Lisa B. April 8, 2010 at 7:30 PM  

Oh my. I wouldn't have been able to pass that little cutie up either. Great job.

Holly Lefevre April 8, 2010 at 8:05 PM  

Loving that desk...the style is great - what a find! The color you chose is fantastic! Thanks for stopping by 504 Main. I have been to Erin's before, but not over here! I am a new follower.
Holly
504 Main

Jess April 8, 2010 at 8:24 PM  

I LOVE that desk! You did such a great job!

Tracy's Trinkets and Treasures April 8, 2010 at 9:42 PM  

Very cute. I am glad to see it in red. I have something I am considering painting red. Your desk has persuaded me!

Morgan//Nuts and Bows April 8, 2010 at 9:46 PM  

WOW! I love this, the paint is divine!!

~Morgan

Meet Virginia!
Meet Virginia!
Meet Virginia!

Pauline Wiles April 8, 2010 at 9:59 PM  

It looks wonderful - so cute and fresh! Love the character you gave it, too.
I am having a Design Your Own Giveaway and would love to have you enter!

The Chubby Dove April 9, 2010 at 7:56 AM  

I have the same "problem".

I love your piece!

I think it would be perfect next to a little girl's bedside.

Vanessa April 9, 2010 at 9:27 AM  

Great Job!!!!!

Vanessa April 9, 2010 at 9:27 AM  

Great Job!!!!!

Vanessa April 9, 2010 at 9:27 AM  

Great Job!!!!!

TidyMom April 9, 2010 at 10:16 AM  

So cute!! I especially love the color!!

Thanks for linking up to I'm Lovin' It! Have a GREAT weekend!

Tausha April 9, 2010 at 4:30 PM  

oooh-I love it! WHat a great color. I have 3 girlies at my house, so I am thinking that I need to know the exact color you used. Love you girls and all of your fantastic ideas!!! Happy Weekend!

Sarah AKA The Thriftress April 9, 2010 at 7:30 PM  

This is one of my fav revamps of the week. Hop on over to my blog to check out your feature! Be sure to grab my button and pin it on! You earned it.
Sarah
http://thethriftress.blogspot.com

Unknown April 10, 2010 at 9:13 AM  

This is so awesome! I love the color you used. I actually would have probably passed this one up if I'd seen it on the street. Great job!

fitty's pinky rose cottage April 10, 2010 at 11:45 AM  

great make over and beautiful end result! love the table!

Jennifer @ The Thrifty Cardinal April 10, 2010 at 3:50 PM  

I love the color you used on this desk! It actually looks great in your living room! :)

MarshaMarshaMarsha April 10, 2010 at 4:29 PM  

Great job, Patrice! How fun that you picked such a bright color. The antique knob really finishes it off too.

FrouFrouBritches April 10, 2010 at 4:42 PM  

Gorgeous! What a great re-do! Love it!

Kayleigh April 10, 2010 at 10:36 PM  

Can I ask where you got the crystal knob? They seem to be hard to find!

Magic Brush April 11, 2010 at 8:21 AM  

I am not familiar with that color but I am loooooooving it!!!! Great job on it!

Stop by my painting blog sometime and say hello!

Blessings, Jennifer

Wenderina April 11, 2010 at 2:25 PM  

so adorable...I wish I had the guts for color like this. I always think - no it will be too girly or pepto...but it isn't - it's fun and bright.

Olivia April 11, 2010 at 11:18 PM  

So so pretty! My husband helps me with alot of my furniture as well! Too cute!If you get a chance check out my blog at http://shabbychictreasures.blogspot.com/ I am giving away a darling teapot for the month of April! Hugs, Olivia

Allison Shops April 12, 2010 at 8:05 AM  

Nice job! Love the color. Stopping by from BNOTP.

Tracey @ My House of Giggles April 12, 2010 at 9:22 AM  

haha..I too have the same "problem", according to my husband! And it's "spring cleanup" here tomorrow (meaning huge huge piles of amazing free stuff at the end of everyone's driveways!), I can't wait!!!

Come on over and link up at my Tuesday TALENT SHOW if you like :)

http://myhouseofgiggles.blogspot.com

Ashley @ Ashley's Finds April 12, 2010 at 9:43 AM  

I love this! Always fun to see trash turned to treasure! Great job! :)

pamela April 12, 2010 at 10:17 AM  

Oh wow. I am in love with the color you chose. I work at painting furniture and this is a color that I am a huge fan of. I painted my office walls this color but I hadn't for some reason thought of using it on furniture. I am gearing up for another sale next month and you can be sure I will have a piece that pops in this pretty coral/red.
I owe you one. Thanks
Pamela

Kaysi April 12, 2010 at 1:12 PM  

Great transformation!! I really like the outcome. My husband can't look past the dust and grime sometimes either :)

Kristi April 12, 2010 at 1:51 PM  

I love it! If you're looking to get rid of it, I could provide a home. :o)

Ashley April 12, 2010 at 2:35 PM  

VERY CUTE!:)

KimMalk April 12, 2010 at 3:45 PM  

That is so cute, I really like the color you chose for it, both girly and grown up.

Krista@RustikChic April 12, 2010 at 9:00 PM  

This turned out so precious! I love it. My husband rarely sees the potential in things I drag home. ;)

Sherri April 14, 2010 at 5:55 AM  

I love it! The color just POPS! I actually painted a sewing table green this past weekend and it was my first attempt with color! Usually I'm painting black or white. Inspiring! And the desk is just adorable.

Helena April 14, 2010 at 8:55 AM  

haha, I can see why he's call that a "problem" But you sure showed him! That desk turned out so pretty. That color is perfect for a little girls room (or, you know, for my room) I love the antiquing on the edges.

carlotta cisternas April 14, 2010 at 9:41 AM  

I love it! And that crystal knob adds that extra touch... ;)

Laura April 14, 2010 at 10:02 AM  

This looks great. I love the color.

I would love it if you joined my "Saturday is Crafty Day" party on April 24th! Stop by my blog for details.

Kacey April 14, 2010 at 2:56 PM  

Looks lovely! What a fun color - and what a lot of work you put into this piece. Way to go!

Stacey April 14, 2010 at 3:02 PM  

Love the color. So cute! I love how it turned out! Thanks for sharing at 'Look at me, I'm SO Crafty!' at Fun to Craft!!

Carolyn @ My Backyard Eden April 14, 2010 at 8:15 PM  

What an amazing transformation! I like to redo furniture too, but I think I might have passed that one by! I love that vibrant color too!

Thanks for linking up to Make it Yours Day!

Miss Mustard Seed April 14, 2010 at 9:11 PM  

I'm so glad you saved this piece! It was so cute to begin with and it looks great with the bold color.

Maryann @ Domestically-Speaking April 15, 2010 at 12:01 AM  

You scored a great piece of furniture. Love the color choice too. Thanks for linkin up to the POPP.

Unknown April 17, 2010 at 8:09 PM  

LOVE the color... fabulous!
We have a friday fun finds party that's still going- we'd love it if you'd link up!

Michelle @ Sweet Something Design July 27, 2010 at 10:07 PM  

Great color! It really livens up a traditional piece, great job!

Kelly July 28, 2010 at 2:37 PM  

PINK!!! Yeah, baby!

Jane July 30, 2010 at 9:13 PM  

So cute. I bet the "dumper" would want this back if they could see it now.

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