Trashy Tuesday, The Dumpster Desk is DONE!

Furniture and Cabinetry Redouxs, Furniture Makeovers, Le Junque

Happy Tuesday, Welcome to another addition of Trashy Tuesday, where we talk trash.  This week we are talking about the trash I found outside of a warehouse last week.  This Desk:

Do you remember my tale of not being able to lift it so I took the drawers and came back and waited for some heavy’s to help me get it into the car?  Then Adrenaline took over when I got home and I managed to get it into my home, with sliders!

This is where it was planning to live:

Originally I had placed that cheap book case on top thinking I would put two of them there and attempt to build some kind of shelving/built in.  When I put it all together, I realized it was too heavy and too big for this space.

I turned to Plan B.  This Shelf/piece of junk I purchased on my birthday when Mark and I went to Urban Ore in Berkeley.  I have no idea why I bought it, #1 it was cheap, but it was rickety, badly scratched, and just ugly.  It was begging to come home with me, so I took sympathy on it, knowing I would find it a good home.

Time to get to work.  The first thing I did was scrub the desk inside out.  It was “plein de poussière” in other words, it was deeesgusting!  Look at the rag!!!!

Next I gave it a nice light sand, the wood was not in good condition, the top was a plastic type veneer, so I knew I needed a primer.  Didn’t want to waste all my beautiful CeCe Caldwell’s paint covering up yucky wood.

Now for the shelving.  I did a quick mental inventory of my “junque” and remembered this horrid little “I don’t know what the heck it is” I purchased from Urban Ore on my birthday.

Really, really bad scratches…

There is life left in there, I know it!

A major sanding with a 60 grit to get rid of the flaking off lacquer and get the scratches out, finished with a 220 to make it super smooth.  I left some of the stain, you know how I like my things to look rustic.

A nice coat of CeCe Caldwell’s Wax brought this piece back to life.

And now for that desk…..after a light prime, I sanded again lightly with a 220, then wiped the dust off.  Two coats only!  CeCe Caldwell’s Vintage White, a lovely coat of all natural CeCe Caldwell’s clear wax, a good buffing to make it shine, and it is ready for service!  My daughter is playing on the computer at its new home as I type.

Le Drawer……

And we have an entire new space in our home!!

We couldn’t be happier.  I still can’t believe I found this sad little thing outside of a warehouse that looked like this:

And became this:

Hope you find some good “junque” this week!

10 Comments

  1. Micki @addhousewife

    Oh I just love that! we have a new computer coming and I need to find a place to put it. Your desk would have been perfect. No good trash finds here this week. 🙁

    Reply
  2. Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co.

    It looks amazing Karen! And I love everything I see in that beautiful space!

    Reply
  3. cassie

    it looks awesome, karen! i am always amazed at what good ol white paint can do!

    Reply
  4. msmerlin

    You did an awesome job!! Obviously you’ve got great potential-visioning ability. It really looks GOOD!!

    Reply
  5. Rita

    Very nice! What a metamorphosis! That was one ugly caterpillar turned beuatiful butterfly.

    Reply
  6. Kathy

    That is fantastic! I love your blog!

    Reply
  7. Sheila

    Woot! Amazing how such a sad little desk came to life with your love and effort. Looks fabulous!

    Reply
  8. Megan

    Beautiful job!! It turned out perfect! Megan

    Reply

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