A Painted Antique Desk Makes the Grade
Hello, friends! Today I’m revealing a project that I’m really excited about. It’s a painted antique desk with some gorgeous details. It took lots of products to bring it to its full potential, and several days to complete, but here it is in all its glory.
For a full tutorial on how to refinish furniture, go here.
This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. For full disclosure, go here.
There are so many details on this piece. Somewhere, several decades ago, a talented carpenter spent many hours building it.
The full view of the painted desk, curvy legs and all. It’s currently residing in my retail space, looking for a new home to live in. 🙂
The before shot. It has great bones, all the original hardware was here, and all the drawers are dove-tailed and work well, but it definitely needed a facelift.
A closeup of the center drawer after it got refreshed. The pulls got a slight facelift and the whole piece got a coat of paint. Then I dry brushed the drawers and body of the desk with a lighter color.
I highlighted some of the detailed areas and the hardware with metallic paint, applying it with my fingertips.
The top got completely refinished. It was sanded and stripped down to the bare wood, and then I applied stain and polyurethane over that.
The edge was a little more difficult to work on, but it was refinished as well.
Another closeup of some of the details.
A “before” shot of the top. You can see the reason why it needed refinishing! But I just couldn’t bear to paint it once I saw the design in the wood.
The refinished top. Now you can see why I didn’t paint it. It would be a crime to cover this up!
So what do you think? Did this painted antique desk make the grade? Or does it need to go back and get schooled?
Thanks for stopping by and seeing my latest project!
Products used –
- Base coat Benjamin Moore Eggshell finish in #979 Stampede
- Dry brushed top color – Benjamin Moore Eggshell finish #984 Stone Hearth
- Metallic Accents – Modern Masters Warm Silver
- Stain – Zar Mocha
- Polyurethane – Zar Antique Flat
To see my full tutorial on how I refinished the top, go here.
XOXOX,
Angie
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Grand!
That's how I described it in one word as I featured this beauty as a Friday Favorite. I hope you stop by to visit how I bragged about you.
Merry Christmas!
Robin
http://redoityourselfinspirations.blogspot.com/2014/12/friday-five-fabulous-furniture-features_20.html
Well done! You helped a neglected piece of furniture to new beauty 🙂
Well done! You helped a neglected piece of furniture to new beauty 🙂
LOVE that color ~ perfection on that piece! I'm featuring your desk in this week's Power of Paint Party Spotlight.
Thank you so much, Maryann! I'm so excited to get featured on your site! I love that you appreciate the "power of paint". There's nothing else like it to transform a space or a piece of furniture. Thanks again. ~ Angie
Angie,
Wow, I can't believe you did that!
I'm still so flabbergasted at the before and after photos.
The color of the paint is stunning. WHat a great choice you made!!
You totally transformed this piece!
Color does make such a difference, doesnt it?
Sincerely,
Kaylee
what color did you paint this dresser with? Love it
What color paint did you use on this dresser?
I am in LOVE with this piece, it's gorgeous! By the way, I met you at Haven – we were at the same table during the painting class 🙂
~Katie @ Upcycled Treasures
Thanks, Katie! Yes, I remember meeting you! That was a great class, wasn't it? Thanks for dropping by! ~ Angie
Just perfect! Grey with a stained top is one of my favorite combinations! Beautiful work! Congratulations on the MMS feature! 🙂
Thanks, Danielle! I'm loving the combination as well. And congrats on your feature as well! ~ Angie
Another gorgeous piece!
Thanks, Pamela! I can't wait to see what you do with your secretary! Thanks for visiting. ~ Angie
What a huge transformation! Gorgeous! Love the top!
Thank you, Allison! I love the top too! Thanks for visiting. ~ Angie
Hey, I just saw this on West Furniture Revival! Congrats on the feature! We must party at the same places. The desk is gorgeous!
Hey Elisha! Thanks! I guess great minds think alike, or at least visit the same sites! 🙂 Thanks for dropping by. ~ Angie
It's beautiful Angie! Very nice job. That before picture is really sad…so yes it goes to the front of the class.
Thanks, Karen! Yes, it was pretty sad when I started on it. I think it's much happier now! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by! ~ Angie
love your desk and I would love to feature it, if this would be ok with you , please let me know,
lauren
Sure, Lauren! I'd be honored to have the desk featured! Thanks! ~ Angie
Love the wood top – how pretty is that wood?! Great job refinishing and I love the colour of the base.
xox
Thanks, Anne! I really like the wood top too! Thanks for stopping by! ~ Angie
Angie, you did a fantastic job on this desk! I LOVE it very much. Actually a little jealous. I am your newest follower. I found you at North End Loft. Please head over to Cloches and Lavender and follow along. The projects will start soon enough, we are building a new home and I will be posting about it and then projects will follow. Thank you.
Cynthia
Thanks, Cynthia! I'm so glad you like it! But there's no need to be jealous! Thanks for following. Headed over to check out your blog now. I always love to see projects! ~ Angie
This is a gorgeous piece! I have a very similar buffet that I got yesterday. Waiting for her to tell me what color she wants to be..I love how you left the top unpainted. Sure hope mine has this graining underneath the Yuk..
Thanks, Naomi! I hope your piece has nice wood detail as well! It's not too hard to refinish…just time consuming! Good luck with your project! And thanks for stopping by and leaving a oomment! ~ Angie
I'm planning on doing 2 pcs. in similar color to the desk, so I have a few questions if you don't mind. Did you use chalk pain? If not, what kind of paint did you use? You don't have to tell the brand if you don't want. Did you sand it at all before painting? What method did you apply silver paint with (brush & what kind of bristles, etc.). I'd really appreciate your help because I can't afford to mess these pieces up!! Thx so much, your work is lovely on all your pieces!
Hi, Susan! I'm so glad you like the piece! I'm working on a post where I reveal all the products and procedures used on this project. I hope to have it posted in the next week. Hopefully you can wait that long for the details! Thanks so much for dropping by and taking the time to comment and ask specific questions! ~ Angie
Can you tell us what kind of paint you used and the method of applying it? Also, did you sand it at all; did you use chalk paint? I'm planning n doing 2 pcs. similar to this color and need a little advice!
Angie, this is an amazingly beautiful desk . . . great job you did!!!
Louise
My first time to your blog. Gorgeous piece!
http://www.theadventuresofmarloandbill.blogspot.com
My first time to your blog. Gorgeous!
Mary Soulios @www.theadventuresofmarloandbill.blogspot.com
Thank you, Mary! And thanks for dropping by my blog. ~ Angie
Gorgeous piece to begin with but really fabulous refinishing!
Thanks, Maureen. It always makes the job easier when the piece has good lines! Thanks for stopping by! ~ Angie
Absolutely gorgeous!!
Absolutely grogeous!
Thanks, Donna!
This is so beautiful! Glad to see you were able to save the top. It would have been a shame to cover up that wood grain…Really well done!
Robin
Thanks, Robin. Yes, it would have been a shame to paint over that gorgeous wood grain! Thanks for stopping by! ~ Angie
I saw this beautiful desk on Pinterest. Had to come over and say what an amazing job you did giving it a new life. Gorgeous! I'm now a new follower. 😀
Thank you so much! And thanks for following! ~ Angie
BEAUTIFUL! You did a fantastic job on it!
Thank you, Tammy!
wow! that's gorgeous! it needs my new home. wait, i have to have a new home first! ;0D how much are you asking for it and where is your retail shop??
Thanks, Shelley! New home, old home, apartment, whatever…it would happy to go home with you! It's for sale at $395, and my space is located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Let me know if you have any other questions! Thanks for visiting. ~ Angie
Girl, this is gorgeous! Such a beautiful piece! Great job!
Thanks, Shanna! So glad you like it! I always love the way you paint your furniture pieces.
It is beautiful and I am loving all the details! The lines in the desktop are amazing!
Thanks, Amy! It does have some gorgeous details. Thanks for visiting!
It is just gorgeous, Angie! You did an amazing job! Oh, and I think it WOULD be a crime to paint over that beautiful top! Good call!!
xo-Lisa
Thanks, Lisa! Nope, I just couldn't bear to cover up that gorgeous wood! Thanks for dropping by! ~ Angie
What a beautiful desk! Honestly you would never know that it is the same piece. Great job.
Thanks, Tina. It really get a complete makeover! Thanks for stopping by! Nice to hear from you! ~ Angie
oh my gosh Angie,it's just beautiful! I'll be looking for that tutorial.
Thanks, Kathy! I hope to have a post with all the supplies and techniques very soon. As you know, those posts are very time consuming! Thanks for dropping by!
A beautiful reveal! I love the after – and so glad you left the top unpainted, what gorgeous graining.
Some pieces look better painted, while others look better unpainted – but this was definitely a match made in heaven with both types of finishes.
I've no doubt it will soon find a happy home! A+++
Thanks, Erica! I agree, somtimes painting is a good choice, but other times it just isn't right. This one deserved both! Thanks for stopping by!
You did an absolutely gorgeous job Angie! I love it!
Thanks, Holly! It had such pretty lines and I really wanted to accentuate them. Heading over to see your home tour now!