REFINISHING MY DESK
I am right smack in the middle of refinishing my desk and I am finding myself hoping that the 2nd time around is the charm!
I love my desk. It has a unique look and I really like the lines. Originally I thought to sell it, but this one has made it’s way into my heart and I think I need to keep it. I can see myself using this in a little office nook in my up and coming new house.
Here is a before picture:
The best thing about this desk? I got it for free. I met a gal who was cleaning out her storage unit and I bought a desk from her from $10, and then she pointed at this one and said I could take it if I wanted it.
Well, I wanted it!
So far I absolutely love the paint color. It’s a blue/green with a hint of gray. I had paint left over from painting my front door, and I thought this to be the perfect use for it.
The problem for me is the top of the desk. A friend and I added reclaimed fencing to the top and I fell in love with the hint of white:
The picture above shows the difference between our original wood and the finished wood after we “tried something new”.
We used a high-gloss glaze in refinishing my desk in an effort to keep the white/aged loveliness, and avoid sanding it off. The glaze is thick enough to provide a coating over any splinters that would come up, and we all know that splinters are common on reclaimed wood!
Well, the glaze was a huge success as far as the splinters are concerned, but it took the wood right back to dark brown. Beautiful, but not what I want.
We are going to take this top off the desk and add another one. Again in the reclaimed fencing. Then I will sand it down to smooth out the reclaimed wood, which will unfortunately take away my beloved white. This will lead me to distressing it with stain and paint to recapture the aged look of the wood.
Which goes perfect with the paint color and those beautiful white drawer pulls.
So, here we are once again at the beginning. We are going to be refinishing my desk one more time, and I am hoping that the 2nd time is the charm!
I am crossing my fingers!
Do you have any DIY projects that you have had to re-do? What mistakes have you made?
Have a great day, friends!
I could not resist commenting. Exceptionally well written!
Thank you, Bill!
I think think a secret definition of DIY is “Did It Yesterday – Doing It Again Today”….it seems like I always end up redoing some part or all of a DIY project. Most often it’s due to my own impatience that messed something up or my inability to closely follow directions. However sometimes the second time around it turns out even better than you planned which might not have happened if you got it right the first time!
Hi Alex,
I love your secret definition! Made me laugh because it is so true! Even when I make a new project,I find that the first time around just shows me ways I could have done things better….so I generally make it again.
Have a great day!
I love it! Please post the 2nd try too.
Will do, for sure! 🙂