DIY TIME
It's time for a new look, wouldn't you say? If you look closely, you'll see a broken drawer pull, chipped up paint, and a sort of jerry-rigged panel fixed to the back to hold the legs on to the rest.
First, I took off that back panel and here's what I saw...
*post sponsored by HomeRight (see full disclosure)
Yep...a hot mess. Thankfully, though, the desk is not beyond repair. It just needs some TLC and has come to the right place. {{wink, wink}} Next, I used the same wood from my reclaimed wall art in this post and my Kreg Jig to create a tight brace. A bit of wood glue and screws go a long way.
Then, for the rest of the desk to get some lovin'. Oh, and I found a chair to pair with it. woot! It too, needs a refresh, don't you think?
NEXT STEPS
My end goal in this project is to prime and paint. In addition, I'll be adding some fun details as we go too. In order to do that, I need to get as clean as a surface as I can. First, I sand down the top with my sander hoping to find wood.
However, I didn't find wood, but rather laminate. Well, you might say bummer, but I was like...let's rock this. Laminate is a supremely durable surface, and it can be painted. See my past dining set tutorial HERE.
As for the rest, I just filled in dings and dents with wood filler, and sanded down the brush strokes and drips that were already present. Nonetheless, I plugged the original drawer pull holes with dowel. Then, I drilled new holes for knobs.
PAINT FUN
Next, it's time to break out my paint and rework this ol' gal. First, my favorite HomeRight tools come out to play. Why are they a favorite? Well, I've had a paint sprayer for about 5 years now and it has never let me down. You can see my first project with it HERE. I can get a project like this French Provincial desk set done in less than twenty minutes. Seriously!
I begin with a stain & odor blocking shellac primer as a base coat. It provides the clean slate I'm after, plus makes for a durable finish. Also, notice how nice the desk looks with just primer.
You can watch how to set up and use this handy sprayer in my video below. It's not only good for paint, but poly finishes, and stains too. Consequently, you can see all the ways I've used it in the past in these posts.
Then, I took care of the drawers and chair. See that purple inside the drawers? After sanding, I found that this was originally a creamy white with that purple on the drawer fronts.
Finally, to complete the set, I applied two coats of a color called Dove White, letting cure in between coats.
FINAL TOUCHES
Now that I truly have a blank slate, it's time to add some fun details to make it pop. My oldest daughter, Miss C, had a leftover transfer from a drum table she just finished. Secondly, it was just the right detail to add to the desk top. I'm not one to use these transfers often because I like my work to be individual - my own design work. But...I have to admit they are super handy to use as I've show in these past makeovers.
Naturally, I always have an audience while working (the best ever, BTW). My two youngest girls wanted to give it a try, so I let them jump in on the fun.
In addition to the transfer, I also added a bit of fun to the sides. Take a peek below.
THE REVEAL
And so after all is said and done, my French Provincial desk makeover is complete.
This set now showcases a feminine vibe with all the shabby chic goodness it can muster. Not only does the new paint make a difference, but the little details give it a story. I'm excited that the linen upholstery I had left over from my French Provincial headboard I turned into a bench with a custom mattress fit the look perfectly.
In addition, those stripes were so fun that I even added them to the sides of the desk too.
Last, for added depth and timeworn feel, I add a bit of gray wax and distressing. Desk is done and I'm a happy camper. In the even that you'd love to make this desk your own, you can find it and much more available in my online store.
SHARE
Also, pin and share this French Provincial Desk project to inspire others. Not all furniture should be ignored. Most just need some DIY lovin'.
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