Friday, November 19, 2010

The HUGE Red Desk

                                                 I posted this great find a couple weeks ago~
The desk was missing some hardware, and the top had had it! 

 The man at the thrift store gave me a killer deal on this~ $25!  It is a monster desk!

I probably sanded on this thing for about three hours!  It has tons of nooks and crannies, so there was lots of hand sanding, too.

I already had a plan for this desk.  My mom had just given me four of these pretty red stools that were topped with black glaze.  I thought the desk would look great painted the same way!


At Home Depot I picked out this "Allure" red and had it mixed up in the paint + primer (Behr Ultra).

It's been pretty cold, rainy and windy here, but on Monday the weather cooperated, so I was able to pull out my spray gun to use!  Yea!!!

I've heard that red can be a pain to paint with because it seems to be hard to get good coverage.  Using the Behr Ultra, I had zero problems.  I just sprayed the whole thing once, and it was good to go.  I didn't even bother to prime on this one!

Next I got out my Ralph Lauren black glaze.  It says "Black Truffles," but the lady at Home Depot added a bit more black to it for me.  I think that's why it says "ADJ" for adjusted. :)

I've found that if I take a wet cloth and wipe over the section I'm about to glaze FIRST, the glaze is a bit easier to work with.  Next, I worked the glaze into the wood with my brush (just a little, not globbed on) and then took a wet cloth and lightly wiped some of it off. 

Here is a picture of the cabinet doors ~one before glazing and the other after glazing~

BEFORE

AFTER

After the glaze had time to dry, I finished the desk off with Minwax Wipe-On Poly in satin~


I wanted to fancy up the drawers a bit, so I dug around for the extra fabric left over from the black buffet project.  I thought it would look great in the desk drawers, too.  This time I used Fabric Mod Podge.  It's more spendy than regular MP, but I wanted to give it a try. 
It's thicker and a bit more smelly, too.  The smell reminded me of the days when I used to get perms in my hair!  :0    I brushed a layer right onto the bottom of the drawer.  Then I layed the precut fabric on top and smoothed it out with my hands.  A popsicle stick works to smooth out the edges and corners.  Fabric doesn't bubble like paper, so that is a nice bonus! 

After drying, I used my regular MP to seal the top.  Since it isn't as thick, it went over the fabric easier than the Fabric MP.

Half of the hardware on the desk was missing, so I went to Lowes and found these inexpensive and VERY shiny brass pulls. Great price, cute style, SCARY color!  Here they are waiting to be sprayed with black primer and paint!  Careful, the shininess might blind you!
I wasn't kidding!

Always better after a little spray magic~
I also wiped the pulls a couple times with the wipe-on poly.

I didn't want the silver screws from the hardware to stick out, so I primed and painted them red so they'd blend in better.  Here is a little trick to painting screws~
Stick 'em in some styrofoam and paint away!

So, here is how the desk looked when I found it at the thrift store~

This is what it looks like now~


Here's the cute door~

...and a close up! :)


Glazing details~


Top of the desk~

Peek inside the drawers~ 



Side view ~

This desk even has a fancy back!



Yippee!  Red was sooo fun to paint with!  It felt like I was applying lipstick!  :)

48 comments:

Sherry@Back2Vintage said...

Wow, Kim. Impressive! I don't know how you work with such large pieces of furniture. Great job!

Cathy said...

Wow, that is a monster desk! Great job, I love the glazing.

Anonymous said...

Love how the glaze toned down the red! The hardware is perfect! You always do an amazing job of paying attention to detail. I'd buy it :)

Anna Whiston-Donaldson said...

Great job, Kim! Thanks for the play by play!

Sheri said...

This is absolutely gorgeous! Red is my favorite color. Visit me at http://designingdreams-sheri.blogspot.com

Chrissie said...

Awesome desk. I love the red, love the drawer insides too! I bought tons of those same pulls at Lowes for .33 each, the last time I was there I noticed they had been marked back up. Love this desk, you do awesome work!

nickys nook said...

You did an awesome job I love your finished project I appreciate you adding the products you use I new so any tips are welcome

Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co. said...

Wow, Kim! First of all, great find at a great price. And I love the color, the glazing, the fabric and the hardware. Nicely detailed and photographed. You should be really pleased!!!

Unknown said...

It's beautiful, i love the red color!!!

Leigh Ann said...

Love everything about this piece! Good job!

Empty Nest Full Life said...

Beautiful Desk! Jackie

Lisa said...

FAB. U. LOUS. Love, love love! :)

Jean said...

that turned out so good. the grain on top really took you glazing well.

Sue@Uniquely Chic said...

You are amazing!!! I have one of those sprayers on my Christmas list. I love everything you do and always look forward to your next project. You are so inspirational!!!

Carolyn @ My Backyard Eden said...

That is just beautiful. The glaze makes it look so expensive and gorgeous. Nicely done!

Dayna said...

That is very impressive Kim. It's fabulous and you did an amazing job with the glaze. I'm going to try your damp rag wipedown technique prior to the glaze on my next piece. I'm sure it will go out the door fast!

Restyled Vintage said...

Awesome job, Kim, that looks fantastic. I love the glazing job, it really makes it special.

Silly question I have for you - all those buttons to linky parties, do you have a tip for me the get and save them all then put them on the end of my posts?

I just do them one by one for each post that I want to show off at a party and it is very time consuming...I am thinking there must be a better way but I can't think what it is!

thanks :)
xx Karen

DANA said...

That's great! I would love for you to come link this up at my Strut Your Stuff Party, and enter the giveaway as well!
http://danajeanward.blogspot.com/2010/11/strut-your-stuff-link-party-and.html

gail@My Repurposed Life said...

omgosh! that's a lot of work, but so worth it. I love the way your desk turned out! way to go!
thanks for linking up and linking back.
gail

Ann Marie @ Twice Lovely said...

Fantastic job, Kim!! Expert glazing job, I must say. Glazing is my nemesis. We have a love/hate relationship. It's tricky, I think, but you did a super job on it!

Unknown said...

This is one of the most beautiful pieces I have seen. Honestly it is truly gorgous. Great work on the glazing. And wonderful tips.
Thanks for sharing.

Cassie Bustamante said...

gorgeous! you did a beautiful job on this desk- everything is done to perfection (well imperfect perfection- you know what i mean!).... distressing, antiquing, all wonderful.

Cassie Bustamante said...

ps- i just became your 100th follower!

The Inspired Nest said...

The desk is amazing and I am loving that red! That is one fun and whimsical desk. I love that the insides were considered too!
Lacy

Sandra said...

Oh my gosh! I had just been telling hubby that I want to paint a table we have in red with a glaze over it! I just show hubby your pictures cause this is what I wanna do! You did a great job!
I'm gonna sign up to be a follower on your blog. Come visit me. I'm hoping my blog entices you enough to become a friend. :)
Sandra

Pam - @diy Design Fanatic said...

Soooooo gorgeous!!!! The desk has fantastic lines and your finish is outstanding!!! Love it :)

Sarah, Three Boys said...

Seriously great! New follower and I can't wait to see what you will do next!!

Tire Swing Mom said...

Wow! I love it. You wouldn't sell this would you? lol Really, it is a GREAT transformation.

Kathy said...

My goodness the desk is beautiful :-)

cindy said...

Wooo Girl...that looks fab.u.lous. What a great makeover!

Savannah Granny said...

Sooooo beautiful!I am glad I found your blog. Your work is exceptional. Every element is perfect. I am your newest follower. Ginger

Tire Swing Mom said...

Okay, I have now gone through all your other posts so I'm gonna have to follow and wait to see what you come up with next. :>)

Lindy said...

I love red painted furniture. You did a great job on the glazing, too. Beautiful piece!

Beth @ Free Stylin' said...

Oh my gosh! Another great transformation! The desk looks awesome. Thanks for the fabric-lined drawer tip. I'm not sure I would have thought of that! Thanks for checking out Free Stylin', too! :)

Christa @ Stories of a House said...

Woa, you are a whiz with that sprayer, girl! The finish is so perfect. The desk is beautiful, and I am glad I read your idea to buy cheap pulls and paint them. I would have been all over that desk, too, and I love what you did with it.

Sweet Bee Cottage said...

Excellent job! That desk had some great bones and you just prettied it up.

Anonymous said...

Wow!! What a transformation! You did an amazing job! :)
Hope you have a great week.
Beth.

Lori @ Projects Plenty said...

You did a fantastic job on that desk. The finish is beautiful. Thanks for sharing your products and technique.

The Midwest Cottage said...

Amazing job. I know how much work goes into a piece like that! I bet you will sell it in no time!

Unknown said...

OMG! I LOVE it! My favorite color - it looks totally incredible. I cannot believe the difference - you really brought out the beauty in that piece. I am very impressed!

Denise C said...

What a difference! I've had such a hard time picking out a good red. Now, I'm ready to try again.

If you have time, I would love for you to link this post to my blog party at http://firstadream.blogspot.com/

Simone @ Doberman's by the Sea said...

Wow-looks like a new desk and a lot of work. Great job. Happy Thanksgiving and don’t miss the give-a-ways, linky party and Bavarian Christmas starting 26 Nov! http://dobermans-by-the-sea.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

I love how this piece turned out. I would not have even looked at it in the second hand shop. It turned out beautiful. I can appreciate the work and effort in this.

foreverdecorating said...

Such a professional job. It is soooo much better now. Beautiful, Terry

One Life Many Journeys said...

I just drooled when I looked at this beautiful desk. I love the fabric liner. Is it easier than paper. I think I would like working with it better. Looks like it would wrinkle less???

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

What an awesome job you did. I love red and that desk looks great. I have got to find me some cheap deals like that to work on. Thanks so much for joining the party!

Bonnie@Creative Decorating said...

Great job! I love the black glaze. I may have to try that! Eventually I want to paint my hutch in my sewing loft red and glaze it. I think this will work perfect!

Carisa @ Paintmeshabby said...

This is absolutely beautiful!! I LOVE the glazing!! Fantastic job!

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