A Fresh New Look for a Secretary Desk

I've refinished quite a few secretary desks in the past year. Each one has had its own challenges, and in the end, rewards. But this one really almost put me over the top!

It was your standard Queen Anne-style secretary desk that was mass-produced in the 40's and 50's. And although it may appear to be in good condition from this before photo, it doesn't depict the extent of the damage on the inside. There were numerous deep scratches on the writing part that went all the way down to the wood. I had to sand the heck out of it to get it smooth.

But this wasn't really the main problem with this desk. This is what happened after one coat of primer!

Bleed-through! The worst I've ever experienced!

My usual fix for this type of problem is to spray it with clear shellac. But even this wasn't working! So I did a little bit of research, and discovered that a shellac-based primer could help. I used Zinsser Shellac Base Primer. This was already tinted white.

It did the trick after two coats, and the bleed was controlled enough that I was finally able to paint!

I wanted something fresh, clean and fun looking so I painted the body in General Finishes Snow White. And I wanted a little pop of color, so I painted the back of the upper cabinet in General Finishes Persian Blue. I removed the fretwork on a whim, and decided I liked the look for this piece without it.

I also painted the framework for the insert part on the lower portion and kept the drawers white. A teeny-tiny brush helped with those hard-to-reach areas!

The original handles were sprayed in Rustoleum Oil Rubbed Bronze.

With the secretary complete (two weeks later!), I felt the desk needed a "friend". I had a chair in my stash that I decided to pair with it. I painted it as well in GF Snow White and recovered the cushion in Waverly home decor fabric in "Buttom Blooms".

Don't they look beautiful together? I took this picture after two days of rain (sadly that's all we got here in drought-stricken Southern California) and loved how the light was streaming in through the window.

I've entered this project in the General Finishes Annual Design Contest. I would love it if you would stop on by and give it a little bit of love (vote)! I have a number of entries, so just look for Mary Beth's Place and take a look at my other projects!


Thanks so much for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

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