You know that feeling you get when you're zipping right through your to do list? Yeah, a sense of accomplishment! Well, that's what I am feeling today. I woke up, made our little ones breakfast, put in the start of the daily laundry, made the beds and cleaned the downstairs bath all before 8 a.m., whew!
Some days start of kind of sluggish when you just don't have the motivation, but not today I say! After my morning chores, my mom came over to keep an eye on the kids (thank goodness for moms!) and I was back at it in my workshop. There's something about opening that big door and turning on the lights to see all of the wonderful pieces awaiting my paint brush. It's almost like they're begging for their turn!
Today my goal was to buff the finished desk and take photos of it to put on my For Sale page (I'll get back to this gorgeous desk in a bit). I ended up finishing that, stripping the antique dresser and starting on the painting of it's sides and drawers. I also finished the inside of the antique china cabinet and it's shelves. Now do you understand why I am feeling so accomplished today!?
Back to the gorgeous vintage desk I finished over the weekend. This piece was also one of those finds that the owner was no longer using it and it had an outdated stain on it. I found it on Craigslist and learned it was an Early American Desk and boy it is solid! Because the top was in great condition, I went ahead and stripped it instead of painting it to bring out a beautiful walnut color. The varnish that was on it was quite thick and it took two coats of stripper to remove it, but when it was all off it looked amazing already. I was so excited that the time to wait for it to dry, so that I could sand it took forever!
 |
| And here is the top after sanding it down, so smooth:) |
Well, I finally got my chance and it went so easily that after using a 180 grit, I only had to go over it with 220 grit a few runs. The dark walnut stain I applied brought out all of that yummy wood grain and after a few coats of polyurethane, its was as smooth and beautiful as velvet.
The body of the desk is in ASCP Old White and the 7 drawers are in Louis Blue.
I distressed the piece a bit and applied Annie Sloan's clear wax and then dark wax over the Louis Blue to give it that gorgeous aged look!
The drawer knobs were in great condition and I felt they could just use a few coats of Rustoleum Rubbed Bronze. They look fantastic against the Louis Blue:)
 |
| Before.... |
|
And after, just gorgeous!!
|
 |
| Dark Walnut Stain |
k
 |
| Loving the distressing and dark wax against the Old White |
 |
| My favorite shot! |
