Hope everyone is having a “le beau lundi” and a beautiful start to their week.Â
A couple of weeks ago, while en route to pick up a Craig’s List find, I magically happened upon this sad little desk:Â Â
Hard to believe, but it was sitting all by it’s lonesome, in a not so lovely part of town, in front of a very run down home that was clearly empty. Yes, “la bonne fortune” was smiling on moi!
I threw this thing in the back of the van as fast as I could, worried someone else would spot it at the same moment and fight me for it. (Even though the only people around were shifty looking teenagers and the random odd looking street person). You just never know who might be curbside shopping!Â
It had a lovely “l’odeur de cigarette”. Although probably pleasing to the previous owner, may not be so appealing now. I gave it a thorough wipe down with TSP, and evicted all the lovely critters that lived and died in the recesses behind the drawers. (Yes, I have a glamorous job).
I painted it with two coats of Zinsser Water Based Primer. It blocks out smells, stains, everything. Â
I then painted it with three coats of Sherwin Williams, “Rock Candy” paint I had left over from a previous job. I painted the recessed drawers with leftover SW paint from our office, then used my new favorite tool, the Krylon Paint Pen, in “Silver Leaf” to add detail. Â
The Desk came without hardware, so I found something I thought would coordinate at Home Depot for CHEAP! However, it was ugliesh rubbed copper. Not to worry, used the Paint Pen again to “paint” the knobs. This is my FAVORITE new painting tool. If you haven’t tried these out, you must! Â
Three coats of a nice Polycrylic to protect it from future writers (and little girls who might want to decorate the top with their own artwork), and a nice coat of Clear Wax to top it off. Â
I am so in love with this piece, I wish I had a place for it. This will be my official 1st “for sale” piece. I will be putting it in theÂ
September 8th-11th
Unless, you live by me and would like purchase it sooner……
Check it again:
Avant:
Apres:
Oooh La La! I love it! You did an amazing job on what was once a very sad desk. Gorgeous! Wish I was going to the Paris Flea so I could buy it! 🙂
Have a fabulous week!
it looks so cute! and i love it against that wall color- those colors together always make me weak in the knees.
Beautiful! I love curbside finds!
It is drop dead gorgeous! I cant believe it was free.
Wow, that's one fantastic makeover. Hooray for risking your life in a shady neighborhood to save this little beauty. Love what you did with it.
AH love it great job!
oh my this desk is perfect
So pretty–I love what you did with it. I also love it against the chalkboard and blue walls–so cute!
So fresh! Great piece and great name for your blog- Redoux- wished it was mine
Visiting from MMS Linky Party
~Suzanne in IL
It looks so pretty now! You mentioned the Paris Flea Market and it rang a bell so I had to find out if it was the same one I was thinking of, and it must be. My family is from Walnut Creek. Did the Market use to be downtown behind the ballet studio?
Wow cant believe you scored such a beauty 😉 it amazes me how some people cant see the beautiful bones some pieces have, all they need is a make over and they are perfect again .. you have done a lovely job x
Beautiful makeover!
OMGosh! I can't believe your letting it go. You did a beautiful job on it.
Oooh, I love this!!