Monday, May 24, 2010

Desk Reveal

I had a yard sale a few weeks ago and one of my friends had this desk leftover. I decided to try and give it a little face lift since I was actually in need of a desk.

Here is what we started with.


I got a smaller piece of plywood (most hardware stores sell them in different sizes, or just have them cut it for you) and cut it to hang over just a little on the sides.
We set the blade of our circular saw really shallow and scored the top to give it an old schoolhouse desk look.

I don't mind using the saw but I have to admit I enlisted my husband to cut and score the piece of plywood for me. His experience made his lines straighter. I did forget to have him score the edges as well, but that's ok.
I got four large screws and screwed the plywood straight to the top of the laminate on the desk. I scarred and carved the wood with nails and other objects I found sitting in the garage to make the wood appear old and used.

I then sanded down the edges and sides and stained and varnished it. I got some really thin wood cove and stained it, then used Liquid Nails to attache it to the sides of the laminate top.

3 cans of Rustoleum Heirloom White spray paint covered the desk. My sister had the genius idea of using jute for the handles since they were an odd size to replace. I actually just braided some twine and used that. I love how it turned out!

I'm thinking I might paint the legs black at some point.

But for now I'll just wait for my Mac to come back from from repair (yes Mac's break too) so that I can set it up on its new home.

This was a really fun and easy project that I worked on at my leisure. I would love to do another one in the future, maybe retro looking or something. These kinds of desks are easy to find and normally very cheap but can clean up well.
Let me know what you think!
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39 comments:

COTTAG3 said...

I have seen those desks and thought it might be easy to do an industrial style makeover but never one that looked like this! I love it. The handles are simple genius. I do like the legs the way they are. It looks great as is.

Jackie the Junk Junkie said...

That looks wonderful! Great Job!!

Amanda said...

I have always loved these old world war desks too. happy to see one get a new life. Good job!

The Misty Journey said...

Love the look and the way you made something discarded and trashed new just for you! GREAT JOB!!!

Unknown said...

Okay, can I just say....WOW!! I have seen these desks and wondered what you could do to them to make them cute, or at least decent looking instead of looking like a piece of office furniture from a high school!! You did an awesome job!! I love it the way it is, but I think it could look pretty neat with black legs too. Kudos to your sis, those sisters of yours always have good ideas. When ever I get stuck I call H to come over and take a look, she always has some great ideas!

Jane@Little House of Projects said...

It looks great!!!!!

Janice said...

Gorgeous! What an amazing transformation. I would never have thought to do that with the wood on top, it really makes the piece, along with the handles! I will keep this in mind if we ever have a house big enough for a desk!
Janice

Rory from Tools Are For Women Too! said...

Nice project. I would love it if you would link this up in Modern Craftswoman Monday. Very well done. Rory

Megan Gunyan said...

Wow, that turned out great. I love the stained boards you put up on the top! Great character for the desk. Wonderful job!

Morgan//Nuts and Bows said...

Gorgeous! LOVE IT!!

~Morgan

Meet Virginia!
Meet Virginia!
Meet Virginia!

Pam said...

From blah to awwwwwwww....Fantastic transformation! The plywood really looks like aged wood and the desk is totally a keeper now!

Kennedy Wife said...

Oh, I'm jealous of your Talent! That desk is a keeper now.

Donene said...

I love the redo! The desk looks fantastic now!

beachy keen girl said...

ohhhh, super cool! Great job on the redo. :)

redmetalroof said...

I'm so prod to claim you as my very own sister- you never cease to amaze me! How many times have I passed up this desks' twin brother? Love it!

redmetalroof said...

MMMM..Hmmm..prod. Very prod of you...

abbs said...

Robby says 'Amazing just amazing she is!" I'm not sure if he meant it or not hmmmm. anyway.. I do like it!

Unknown said...

That is so amazing! I too, would have passed it up, probably thinking,"Yuck!!". I have 2 vintage typing tables that I am wanting to do something with... just haven't figured out what. Any ideas??

Joy@Thrifty Parsonage Living said...

Wow! Your desk looks great! I love the top and handles you've added.

karab said...

okay when jamie joked I should take it and redo it this was not what my brain pictured! :) It turned out great!! wish my brain could imagine stuff like that! :)

Kaysi said...

Wow it looks great now! I love what you did with it!

Lovely Little Nest said...

Great transformation! Nice idea for the handles.

Thanks for sharing! :)

Miss Mustard Seed said...

You were so brave to take this piece on. It looks very chic, now, and like it could've come right out of a catalog. I love that you made the top a darker, warmer wood and left the chrome legs. Well done!

Tania Pelletier said...

Hey, that little desk looks great! I love the new top and how you carved the little heart in it, it reminds me of an old school desk! I think painting the legs black is a great idea too.

Tania

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous! Will for sure be doing this to my dresser makeover. I love the way it looks.

WhisperWood Cottage said...

You seriously deserve an award for this. I see these all the time but have never had any inkling of how to make them look good. You've done it right! So cool!

Amy

FineArtPainting said...

this project is so beautiful that i'd like to invite you to add a link to it from our blog in our brandnew, weekly DIY & craft tutorial linky party:

http://www.finecraftguild.com/yarn-free-pillow-free-crochet-pattern/

many more people will love it! so well done.

FineArtPainting said...

ooops wrong link:

LINKY PARTY IS HERE:
http://www.finecraftguild.com/diy-linky-party-free-pillow-crochet-pattern/

sorry about that.

Lisa Nelsen-Woods said...

Nice job! I think the legs would look better brown to coordinate with the top and desk chair though.

Paper Tree Studio said...

What a fantastic makeover. You have a beautiful blog - you are right ... a home is often made a home by the "chipped and dirty made clean again". I am now a follower and look forward to checking in regularly. Michelle

Angela said...

I think you are a genius!! Looks fantastic!

FineArtPainting said...

Thank you for contributing this to http://www.FineCraftGuild.com 's DIY Tutorial Linky Party.

It's beautiful and well presented.
In fact, this was one of my favorite contributions!!! You see, I would have had a hard time 'seeing' your beautiful desk when looking at that metal 'thing' before your transformation! So well done.

In fact, if you have a new & equally wonderful tutorial you wish to share with us this week, come on over. We just opened a new linky party for this week's greatest talented artisans out there! (and you are one of them ;-0)

Rose

FineArtPainting said...

Thank you for contributing this to http://www.FineCraftGuild.com's DIY Tutorial Linky Party.


If you have a new & even better tutorial you wish to share with us this week, come on over. We just opened a new linky party for this week's greatest talented artisans out there! (and you are one of them ;-0)

Rose

Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage said...

Love the update! You choice of stain was terrific. And I like the numbers on the drawers. Great idea.

Thanks for linking in to Time Travel Thursday!

Hope to see you each week!

Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage
http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/

Karie said...

I love the desk transformation. I pass up these desk all the time. But now I may try and transform one. Thanks for sharing your great project. karie @
karieschiccreations

Karie said...

I love the desk transformation. I pass up these desk all the time. But now I may try and transform one. Thanks for sharing your great project. karie @
karieschiccreations

Deborah@Green Willow Pond said...

I would have passed that desk right over...which apparently everyone did. What you did with it is amazing! I'm going to have to see if I can find one for my daughter's college apartment. It would be perfect!

Lili said...

Very clever! Now it has character :)

Lili said...

Very clever! Now it has character :)