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OK, I could be a little happier – it could be in their room right now and then that would make me happier.
So, in true MAKEOVER fashion the before pictures are really crappy. Taken with a phone and not pretty at all. I swear somewhere I have a real picture of this desk on the day I picked it up. I cannot find it but I’ll keep looking because I think it’s important to document how awful it was when I got it. For now I’ll just tell you a little about it.
It had at least 5 layers I had to strip off of it. The top layer was a very drippy yellow *clear* coat. It wasn’t only drippy but I swear some of the drips were so thick that after years of sitting on the desk they were still tacky. Then we had at least 2 layers of what I assume was a white but it didn’t look white anymore. Under the white is where things got really interesting and why I don’t know the actual number of layers I stripped off. I found yellow, blue, red, pink, green. There were different colors in different areas. I honestly think that each section of the desk was a different color – and the top was at least 3 of them! To make it worse I swear the colors were painted with those craft (toll) paints. You know that come in the little bottles? Anyway, it was a wreck. BUT it was a deal and it was solid wood and since I knew it was going to go into the bedroom of a 5 year old and a 3 year old I figured solid was a requirement.
Here is the desk after some of the initial stripping/sanding. I don’t even remember anymore how many different times I applied citristrip or how many hours I spent sanding.
Here it is when I finally deemed it ready to start working on.
I didn’t take any pictures of the painting/staining process. I thought I did but I didn’t so instead you just get a lot of pretty pictures of the desk all done.
It is worthy I think to note that when I started out on this thing the paint was so thick that you couldn’t even tell there was a groove around the top of the desk or around the bottoms around the drawers. Everything just looked flat and painted. I consider this a jewel in the rough and am so glad I took a chance on it.
I really am in love. The desk has actually started a bit of a disagreement in the house. Nate thinks it is to nice now to put in a little boys room. He’s sure they’ll have it ruined in no time flat. Me….I did it for their room and that is where I want it. I am already recruiting help to get it moved down the stairs because I am not sure he’ll be willing to help me.
linking up at:
All these wonderful Linky Parties!
https://www.thestuffofsuccess.com/
https://mommahenscoop.blogspot.com
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That desk is beautiful!!
Love the distressing!
I hate stripping paint… but it usually is worth all the effort. This turned out gorgeous!
where did you get the hardware? I love it.
Thank you all so much 🙂 Cynthia, I agree, the stripping is awful (well, the 1st pass is kind of rewarding because you see so much come off but after that UGH!) but in this case it made such a difference.. Thanks again!
Elizabeth, it is actually the original hardware. I wasn’t sure I loved it and so I pulled it all off and even filled in all the holes for the screws and then I discovered Krylon’s oil rubbed bronze spray paint – I painted them and then loved them again so I got to re-drill the holes and put them back on 🙂 Thank you!
It looks great! I just did a dresser too, and know the work it is! (and I bought ORB paint to do the hardware too, just haven’t done it 🙂
http://craftingintherain.blogspot.com/2011/09/dressed-up-dresser.html
I just went and looked. Your dresser is awesome. This desk has a tall dresser, long dresser and 2 nightstands that I just refinished all of – am waiting for the drawer pulls before I post them!
What an amazing transformation! I’d love for you to link this up with my blog recreation party! http://notsosimplehousewife.blogspot.com/2011/09/recreate-into-something-new-6.html
Hope to see you at my place soon!
Kaitlin-The Not So Simple Housewife
http://notsosimplehousewife.blogspot.com
Thank you Kaitlin, I linked up at your blog 🙂
Oh wow, it turned out great! I can so relate to your experience with your desk, having gone through something similar. The detail on my desk surprised me too once stripped. Please stop by and see for yourself. http://www.thediyspot.com/2011/09/desk-love/ Love the two toned and distressed combo. And your blog name is just too funny! LOL
Joselyn, thank you. I went and saw your desk! It’s gorgeous, I can’t wait to see what you do with it. If I had something like that I’d be tempted to make it really pretty and add a mirror above it and turn it into a vanity! Good luck.
Love it- it turned out gorgeous!! I host a link party on the weekends if you would like to come share sometime! 🙂
Courtney, Thank you. I will be sure to come visit your link party!
Love the title of your blog…..when will ladies be staring on Bravo? Anyhow the desk transformation is just great I love the distressing especially, it’s neatly done along the edges just great!
Thank you 🙂 I don’t think you’ll be seeing us on TV anytime soon – we’re a little to un-dramatic I would guess. Thank you so much. I am really happy with how it turned out 🙂
What a labor of love! I bet you heard the desk take a deep breath after all those heavy layers were sanded off! 🙂 It looks fabulous! Came over from 30 Days Pity party.
Wow! What a beauty she turned out to be!! I’m sure you are glad that this project is done! Looks lovely now! Found you via My Repurposed Life. Toodles, Kathryn http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com/2011/09/voice-studio.html
That’s a beauty! Definitely worth the trouble.
fran @ http://www.eleven-o-one.blogspot.com
FABULOUS…the grain on the top is so very beautiful!
That’s such an amazing transformation. It’s beautiful. THanks for linking to the party.
Thank you all so much for your kind comments. I have been loving reading them 🙂 they’re giving me a boost to keep working on some of the other projects. Deborah, the grain and detail on the top is for sure my favorite of the whole thing.
I forgot to tell you I featured this on my blog today. Have a great day.
This turned out beautiful! This is a perfect example of why we love to refurbish things. Who couldn’t love the satisfaction of these results?!
Thank you Leanne.
Michelle, you’re 100% right. It’s like a natural (and healthy) high to have something turn out so well 😀 Thanks!
Great job on this makeover! Thanks for linking up at MoMomma! 🙂
Thanks so much Amy.
Thanks for responding to my invite! This is so great! I love it! Thanks for sharing it with {Re}creation Into Something New Wednesdays at Not So Simple Housewife! Hope to see more from you this upcoming Wednesday!
Kaitlin-The Not So Simple Housewife
http://notsosimplehousewife.blogspot.com/
I want this desk!!! It’s amazing! Well done!
Thank you. All these comments make me feel awesome!
What a brilliant makeover! What a difference!
Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit! Remember the voting is now open – if you want to head over and vote for your project! The most voted link will get a full post feature/promotion next week!
Hope you have a great week!
Jill @ Creating my way to Success
Round Tuit 67 voting
You did an amazing job. That desk is beautiful! thank you so much for linking up to my party Show and Share! hope to see you again this week!
A mommy’s life…with a touch of YELLOW
tyandwhitneyulrich.blogspot.com
amazing redo on this desk! I love the color combination of stain and white. I recently did a kitchen table this way.
thanks for linking up, catching you this week.
gail
Thank you all. I love this project and appreciate so much all the kind comments.
This desk came out GREAT! Thanks for linking to Success U @ TheStuffOfSuccess.com
What a job but the final results are wonderful! Thanks for sharing this makeover at the Open House Party.
Hugs,
Sherry
I completely feel your stripping pain. Spent the last two days hanging out w/ Citra Strip. The results on yours, well worth it…look at that wood on top, it is beautiful. Really nicely done! Mine, well we shall see tomorrow…all stripped and now I finally get to paint!
Athena & Sherry thank you! Sue, I hope yours turns out exactly like you want!
It’s absolutely gorgeous! Definately worth the many hours of stripping and hard work! It looks like a Pottery Barn desk!
Katie – what a compliment! Thank you so much 🙂
Love! Those handles are awesome!!! Can’t wait to see the room all done!
Thank you Meg, I am hoping to be able to share sooner than later.
HI!
question for you – what paint style did you use for the bottom part?
thanks!!