School is coming to a city or town near you!!! In fact, my kids have already been in school for two weeks. It is a long story, we have what is called “modified traditional”. Not year round for those who are curious. 8 week summer, 2 week fall break, 2 week holiday break, 2 week spring break. It really does make for a nice school year, no one gets burned out, and summer doesn’t go too long.
With that said, this is the time many people go shopping for desks. I recently updated our family room with this Junque find Desk. You can read all about this fun find HERE.
This desk I am sharing today was the VERY FIRST piece I painted when we moved to our current home, almost 9 year ago!!!! I found this little French writing desk in a thrift store and fell in love. I knew it would be perfect for the little space we had next to our refrigerator for the phone and miscellaneous family paperwork.
Fast forward 9 years and we needed something a little more substantial. I still loved this desk, but it wasn’t necessary to have two in the same living area. I decided to give it a new life with my favorite “Alaska Tundra Green” from CeCe Caldwell’s.
All that was needed to prep this desk was a thorough wipe down and a little sanding where the paint was uneven from children’s handiwork. I started with a thin base coat of Hershey Brown, then finished with a slightly thinned coat of Alaska Tundra Green. After this dried, I sanded with a 320 grit sandpaper. I used a dark wax in the corners and edges, then went over the entire piece with CeCe Caldwell’s wax. I buffed it to a high sheen, then added a little more depth with my favorite Modern Masters colorants. I brushed it on in places where the wax hadn’t darkened it enough, and rubbed a little here and a little there.
I was so pleased with the transformation, the desk looked like it finally had the paint finish it deserved. It went to a lovely new home Saturday where hopefully it will live out its days serving another family.
Sharing La Petit Desk at these lovely parties:
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wow- those colors and that finish are just beautiful! fabulous job, my friend!
Lovely! Adore the colors, Karen. I’m on the hunt for desk to makeover for my son’s room — he no longer wants Mom standing over him at the kitchen table when he does his homework. Hmmm..
xo Heidi
gorgeous! I’m thinking I must get me some Hershey Brown as an undercoat, I’ve seen it in many of your pieces! I so wish we had a modified year around schedule. Summer break hits the “breaking point” for us by the end of July!
Oo-la-la, tres bien mon amour!
Very, Very Pretty finish!
Super super sweet looking! Love the end result!
lovely! I have the matching side table to that dresser. I painted it orange and the top is white. It’s lovely
I had a desk just like that with the same handles when I was a flower child. Sadly my paint job was not near as nice.
~Bliss~
What a sweet story about a very sweet desk. I’m sure lots of A work will be done there by that new familly who has “adopted” your find!
Linda
Wow Karen, it’s gorgeous! i love the desk and your paint job. So pretty.
cheers Fiona
Ohhhh, I love her!!!
Sooo pretty! … And it’s way too early for going back to school!
SUPER love the hardware!! I just sold the aqua Frenchy la la side table and it had the exact same one! (may have already told you that?) It’s late. LOL!!
Turned out gorge girl! Pretty enough for a pixie
This turned out very lovely!
Francine
Beautiful makeover. Love that color.
Beautiful job – beautiful color!!!
Hugs,
Suzan
What Beautiful colors! Thanks for sharing.
What an awesome shade
love it!!
Beautiful! I would have had a really hard time saying goodbye to that one.
What a difference and so pretty and Frenchy.
How do you find the time!
Liz
this is so wonderful, brown for a first coat…great idea, it looks so beautiful! love the lines of it. so pretty!!
Love this piece!
Karen… I’m IN love!!! This finish is GORGEOUS!!!