An old school desk makeover complete with personalization. How a dark, painted desk got refinished with stain, new hardware pulls and a monogrammed top.
This desk belongs to my neighbors and has been in the husband’s family for a long time.
It had multiple, multiple coats of paint under the thick, shiny black enamel:
I completely stripped it down to the bare wood, then added stain and poly.
The drawer pulls are basic Home Depot stock in black.
Even the gorgeous brass leg bottoms were covered in paint.
Now the desk resides in their son’s new bedroom in a nook created perfectly to fit:
The top surface is not wood but clay – I think – we couldn’t stain it so decided on paint and adding the giant B:
Here’s how I refinished the desk:
1. Using liquid stripper strip all the paint.
I used an entire large can with multiple applications.
All sanded and stripped:
The clay? top:
2. Clean the brass feet with salt/vinegar/flour paste:
3. Stain all the wood portions Minwax Early American.
Tape off the top, prime (and putty for smoothness):
4. Paint top two coats BM chamois high gloss enamel.
Draw ‘B’ in pencil:
5. Paint B using acrylic/latex, I mixed up a grey/blue color to coordinate with the dark blue walls:
6. Seal everything two coats Minwax polyurethane satin.
Jaime, Love the personalization that you've added to this desk! And love that you breathed new life into a family hand me down! Great job!
I adore this desk, and the personalization really sends it over the top! Beautiful job!
such an awesome desk! i love the finish, love the letter, and hello to those sweet feet!
What a transformation! Love the brass feet and how you stripped them, never heard of that "recipe".
Wow! It's so much harder to bring a piece "back" that has been painted. You did an amazing job!
Every time I see something like this, I'm like, "Man, I wanna do that!" So rewarding I bet. Nice work!
Love it!
I am featuring you tomorrow 🙂
Just popped in from 36th ave – this is fabulous looking – I'm in love!
Hugs,
Suzan