This is a continuation of the story of my obsession with secretary desks. I love taking unused and unloved vintage desks and turning them into functional and beautiful pieces of furniture for another generation to cherish. They are truly labors of love, because I can guarantee you that when I factor in my time, it's probably less than what the minimum wage was in the year it was built! But they get my creative juices bubbling and in the end it makes me so happy when they end up in great new homes.
If you're interested in Part One, you can read about it here.
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| My Obsession With Secretary Desks |
After that one, I refinished a few more that have become Pinterest favorites.
This secretary and matching chair took forever to refinish because of the "bleed" problems associated with mahogany wood.
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| A Fresh New Look For a Secretary Desk |
This next desk was Parisian-inspired in gray and duck egg with silver accents. I hand painted and used dark wax to create texture and color variation.
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| Paris Chic Secretary |
I hand painted it in General Finishes Lamp Black with light, specific strokes to emphasize the wood grain underneath. The entire piece was sprayed with General Finishes Flat Out Topcoat to seal for protection and durability.
I left the interior upper cabinet and insert in its natural state.
I fell in love with this Nate Berkus fabric that I used on the back of the upper cabinet!
But the absolute part of this makeover? It went to a repeat client and a lovely young family!
Have a fantastic week!
I'm Sharing At:
Thoughts of Home, Feathered Nest Friday, Furniture Fix,
DIY Sunday Showcase, Sundays at Home, Silver Pennies Sundays
DIY Sunday Showcase, Sundays at Home, Silver Pennies Sundays
Hi, Beth!! I can understand your obsession with secretary desks, I am in love with them. My mom still has one, and I remember spending hours and hours with it when I was a child. Loved the little treasures I used to find there.
ReplyDeleteYours is now so elegant, great color choices! No wonder you sold it, it is gorgeous!
I would love to invite you to share it with us at the party I co-host every Tuesday on my blog. Enjoy the week!
Hugs,
Pili
Thanks so much, Pili! I'll check out your party! Have a wonderful week!
DeleteWow I love how this turned out and especially the area you left in it's natural state. It creates such a nice affect and with the finish color that you chose is perfect. I really like that fabric you chose for the back- it will be easy to put things with it and will help accent whatever is put inside. 5 star job!
ReplyDeleteThank you so very much for the compliment, Liz! It was a fun makeover!
DeleteTalk about perfect timing. I am working on my grandparents' secretary desk which my parents had for many years. I started a year ago! It's hot and humid here much of the year, so my time to work on it in the garage is limited. I almost had two coats of Kilz primer on it last year when it got too hot. I wasn't able to work on it over the fall/winter because our trees have leaves falling the entire time and they blow into the garage. So, the leaves are finally gone and I've resumed work. I know I found your one secretary on Pinerest a year ago when I was looking for ideas. Now my secretary will need at least two coats of paint and then I plan on putting at least two coats of a non-yellowing finish over that because I want it protected from my cats who will be jumping up on it. That's six coats altogether. No wonder it isn't done. I've decided if I don't get it done before the hot weather I'll move a portable A/C unit that I have for hurricanes out into the garage. It means the door will have to stay down and I won't have as much light, but I need to get this done! Thanks for your inspiration!
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome! It's a lot of work to paint the "right" way - but in the end, it's so worth the effort! Good luck with your project! xoxo
ReplyDeleteMary Beth, I've always wanted a secretary because they are so beautiful. I love the way you painted the parisian gray secretary. Gorgeous!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for being with us for Thoughts of Home on Thursday. We love having you. :)
Beautiful secretaries. I have one that belonged to my great-grandmother. Very nice work on yours!
ReplyDeleteyou have made an excellent case for painting and updating these lovely pieces! bravo. peace to you.
ReplyDeleteYou truly have a gift for transformation! Thank you ever so much for linking up at Thoughts of Home on Thursday. Your presence adds such a ray of sunshine!
ReplyDeleteBravo
ReplyDeleteYour work is both handsome and classy.
ReplyDeleteThey are all beautiful, it would be hard to choose a favorite!
ReplyDeleteVisiting from Thoughts of Home.
Have a great weekend.
Such beautiful work. You have done some of the prettiest secretaries I've ever seen. Thanks for linking to Friday's Furniture Fix. WE love having you!!
ReplyDeleteJust gorgeous - I LOVE these secretaries and you've done every single one of them beautifully but my favorite may be this last one !
ReplyDeleteThanks, Suzan! I had so much fun refinishing this one!
DeleteIt turned out beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Pamela!
DeleteAbsolutely Gorgeous..... I have my mom's - same exact piece...... There is not a mark, scratch or ding on my mother's......
ReplyDeleteI love, love how you left some areas as original....... Don't know if I have the nerve to attempt.... Thank you for the inspiration......
I love that fabric, too! Its very eye catching and my favorite part of this makeover. Beautiful job on both pieces.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic post! Featuring this evening on the Fridays Furniture Fix party! Thanks for linking up, Beth!
ReplyDeleteMary Beth! your secretary desks are swoon worthy! I wish I could get my hands on one that was as nice as these! They just aren't that easy to find around these parts of Alberta! Thank you for sharing the eye candy, you did a beautiful job on them! I hope you have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteSmiles!
Terry
http://thecuratorscollection.wordpress.com
Making Broken Beautiful
Beth: I have a similar piece and the right hinge has unattached from the drop down piece and the wood broke off where the screws would attach it. Any ideas? I notice yours all seem to have blocks of wood that pull out to support the drop down writing area? Any suggestions are appreciated! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteBeth: I have a similar piece and the right hinge has unattached from the drop down piece and the wood broke off where the screws would attach it. Any ideas? I notice yours all seem to have blocks of wood that pull out to support the drop down writing area? Any suggestions are appreciated! Thank you!
ReplyDelete