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July 24, 2011

Desk Makeover....





Months ago, a friend dropped off this old desk....she was moving and wanted it out of her house, so it came and sat...on my front porch....like a "hill-billy-house-with-a couch-on-the-front-porch"....for too many weeks!



Hubby finally said....Enough!  Get this thing out of here!  But the problem was....I was feeling uninspired!




I had spray primed it and tried spraypainting it, but it wasn't turning out like I pictured in my mind....






I let it sit....for many more weeks and then pulled out the roller and paintbrush and painted it the "old-fashioned" way!




After all of my hard work, I grabbed that sandpaper and started to distress it....



....and distress it some more!





But then....I hit this little snag...the drawers!  I had the brilliant idea to use scrapbook paper instead of fabric.  I wanted to mod podge it to the drawer....the only problem....the scrapbook paper was too short!



So....it sat some more until I finally went and bought some contact paper....so much easier to work with!




Then...I spraypainted the handles with my favorite go-to color Krylon Oil-Rubbed Bronze!


But....alas....I had drip marks....so that caused another week (month!) of delay as I tried to decide what to do....I just started over with primer and it covered my mess!


So finally......here is my desk in all her glory!  After about 5 months....I think that she turned out beautifully!









Have you ever had a project that you've been "stuck" on?

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44 comments:

  1. Hannah @HannahHandmadeJuly 24, 2011 at 5:33 PM

    awww! This is amazingly vintiage-ie and cute :)
    come follow us!
    www.hannahhandmade.blogspot.com

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  2. Lauren @ My Wonderfully MadeJuly 24, 2011 at 8:45 PM

    Have I ever had a project that I was stuck on?? Yeah, I have one right now . . . an outdoor chandelier that I want to adhere clear tea cups to but they wobble too much so now it sits. Waiting. Hoping I find that solution to the wobble. Ugg. And then there's the giant, vintage shadow box. I think I'm on the fourth or fifth coat of some kinds of paint/wax/distress combo. Seems most of my projects 'sit' in between 'ideas' of how to complete them! I love this desk -- glad you didn't give up on it because it is so darn cute!!

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  3. CarolJuly 24, 2011 at 8:54 PM

    You really did this little desk justice... it looks great! I seem to stay "stuck" on most of my projects, which is why I will only do one at a time. The commitment issues make it difficult to accept a project as 'finished.'

    Carol
    antiquetexan.blogspot.com

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  4. UnknownJuly 24, 2011 at 9:20 PM

    THE DESK TURNED OUT BEAUTIFUL! love it

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  5. UnknownJuly 24, 2011 at 9:26 PM

    I love it! I am stumped myself right now on a dresser:) where will you put your new pretty desk?

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  6. LisaJuly 24, 2011 at 11:40 PM

    Finally, I am inspired! I stumbled upon a great find at a yard sale - $3.00 for a vintage cabinet with shelves inside! Loved it but didn't love it's 5 (or more) layers of paint! I stripped the paint (still have a bit more to do) and have been mulling over what to do next. Thanks to your post, I think I now know! One day, I'll link it up here and maybe you'll see what you inspired!

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  7. Michele @ {Primp}July 25, 2011 at 11:53 AM

    love it--great job! and i love how you styled it too. I would love it if you shared this at my linky party starting Wednesday.

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  8. UnknownJuly 25, 2011 at 12:29 PM

    What a great job!!! I'm leaving totally inspired! Thank you for sharing! :)

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  9. UnknownJuly 25, 2011 at 12:53 PM

    This looks great-so it must have been worth getting stuck on it!!

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  10. Lil Mama StuartJuly 25, 2011 at 1:08 PM

    looks great! starting and finishing 5 months later is better than not starting at all. I have tons of projects in my head that I just don't do :(

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  11. KellyJuly 25, 2011 at 1:12 PM

    I'm hopping over from Creative Bloggers Part&Hop. This desk turned out great! The distressing looks beautiful... I always have a hard time knowing how much to do. Thank you for sharing!

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  12. Creative RaisinsJuly 25, 2011 at 2:36 PM

    I love this desk it turned out so good, and you can't beat free.

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  13. franJuly 25, 2011 at 2:43 PM

    She's a beauty. Desks are lots of work. But your's turned out very nice.

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  14. Pretty Unique FurnitureJuly 25, 2011 at 4:13 PM

    She looks gorgeous!! Well worth the effort. And yep I have had lots of projects that I was stuck on actually I have one out in the garage at the minute lol. I think we all know that feeling!
    Tina

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  15. Amanda @ Little House on the CornerJuly 25, 2011 at 9:33 PM

    It's a beauty! Great idea to do the distressed look - I've always wanted to try that. It looks so good when everyone else does it! Don't feel bad that it took so long - we all have those projects!

    Stopping over from the Amaze Me Monday party @ Dittle Dattle. :)

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  16. TatumJuly 26, 2011 at 10:45 AM

    It looks great (i want to steal it!) and I can totally relate to being stuck on projects...you should see my house and my porch and my craft room, but you've inspired me to push through it!

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  17. Vivienne @ the V SpotJuly 26, 2011 at 11:48 AM

    It's beautiful! I know exactly what you mean when you say if you're uninspired you can't do anything with it. It was worth the wait.

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  18. AmandaJuly 26, 2011 at 9:29 PM

    Great makeover! And yes, I have 2 projects sitting in the garage that I am completely stuck on! Not for lack of inspiration...but for lack of know-how! One adorable table, I counted 10 layers of paint on! I have spent hours trying to strip it, and am still struggling!
    Congrats on finishing your project! It turned out beautifully!
    Best Wishes and Blessings,
    Amanda

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  19. SandiJuly 26, 2011 at 10:11 PM

    Sandi @ Making It Homey said...Oh have I ever been stuck on a project before. Your's turned out so beautiful, you did such a good job of distressing.

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  20. CynthiaJuly 26, 2011 at 10:23 PM

    Well, for being stumped, it turned out awesome! I am painting a desk at the moment with similar pulls and wondering what they would like painted in oil rubbed bronze... yours look great, so I think I will go ahead and paint mine as well!

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  21. AmberJuly 27, 2011 at 8:16 AM

    Your desk turned out beautiful! I love it!

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  22. Kayla @ Small Town LifeJuly 27, 2011 at 1:44 PM

    Love the desk, it turned out fabulous!!

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  23. Heaven's WalkJuly 27, 2011 at 8:53 PM

    Great job, Nicole! I do believe that it was well worth the wait! lol! :)

    xoxo laurie

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  24. Alison AgnewJuly 29, 2011 at 9:14 AM

    from oh no to oh yeah...love the redo...thanks for linking it up to fridays unfolded!

    alison

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  25. Jessica MonteJuly 29, 2011 at 4:26 PM

    Gorgeous! I love this and I have to try the oil rubbed bronze color you mention as it is the color of all the hardware in my house. What an awesome project! Sorry to hear you got snagged on this one but it happens. And your snag turned out amazing!

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  26. CailanJuly 29, 2011 at 4:31 PM

    Ooooh, what beautiful pictures - love the paper in the drawers - such a lovely touch!

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  27. Krista@RustikChicJuly 30, 2011 at 12:02 PM

    It turned out so beautiful! I have many projects waiting for me as well...I need to feel inspired and this helped:) LOVE it.

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  28. Amy Gilman and Emily Lee (Sisters of the Wild West)July 31, 2011 at 12:04 AM

    awesome transformation! love free stuff! thanks for linking up. we featured you today! please come back and grab a button!
    Amy

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  29. abeachcottageJuly 31, 2011 at 12:59 AM

    The desk looks great! Even though it sat for weeks, you did her justice. Love how it turned out.

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  30. Bunny JeanJuly 31, 2011 at 4:54 AM

    It turned very nice indeed!

    I just posted about a pine desk that I painted black. Spray painted with a can no less... I took the lazy way out and it came out looking GREAT! I was so surprised. (I also linked up to this party)

    I'm hosting my first party next week and you are invited! Hope to see you :)

    xoxo Bunny Jean
    www.bunnyjeansdecorandmore.blogspot.com

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  31. emerald hillsqAugust 15, 2011 at 1:14 AM

    love this! i love taking yard sale items and bringing them back to life. I have a sewing desk that i did the same thing.

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  32. LeslieAugust 17, 2011 at 12:27 PM

    Nice job! I love it!

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  33. AnonymousAugust 17, 2011 at 11:33 PM

    So I have a question...I have a desk that has been sitting in our garage for ohhh about a year now...I noticed that you said nothing about sanding it...you just sprayed primer on it, really that would be awesome cuz that is what has me stuck, the sanding of the entire desk...ugh...
    Hilary

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  34. Nicole@Thrifty DecoratingAugust 18, 2011 at 9:30 AM

    Hilary...I do not sand, I only prime! :) I would only sand if there is loose paint!

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  35. Korrie@RedHenHomeAugust 18, 2011 at 11:08 PM

    I've had TOO MANY projects I've been stuck on! I feel your pain ;-) Your finished product is gorgeous, though!

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  36. EmilyAugust 19, 2011 at 4:30 PM

    Nicole, this is beautiful :-) A Very classy and elegant makeover. Well done!
    I came over via MMS and am your newest follower :-) I'd love for you to visit my blog when you get a moment.

    Emily
    emilysummers-designer.blogpsot.com

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  37. niartistAugust 19, 2011 at 11:23 PM

    WOW! What a transformation. Oh you give me hope that I can do this myself one day!!!! Really, WOW. I'm bookmarking so I can remember this!!

    I love transformations! I just turned my secretary into a bar area in my dining room. I really hope you'll stop by and check it out: http://niagaranovice.blogspot.com/2011/08/picture-is-worth.html

    See you soon, I hope!
    Artie

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  38. AnonymousAugust 21, 2011 at 9:43 PM

    Thanks Nicole for answering my question! I am excited to try and prime without sanding! Can't wait to finally get into my house and use it!
    Hilary

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  39. milliemorganmediaDecember 31, 2011 at 11:09 AM

    This turned out gorgeous. I wish this was my work at home desk :) The burlap book covers are too cute too. Thanks for sharing! I am your newest follower and I think your blog is cute. I would appreciate it if you came to my blog and followed me too! http://milliemorganmedia.blogspot.com

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  40. TracyMarch 20, 2012 at 10:17 PM

    It did come out beautiful! I love it. I think the time it took you was worth it.

    Tracy
    Tandy Artisan Jewelry Blog

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  41. JenniferApril 10, 2012 at 10:24 PM

    I love the liner idea. It looks beautiful!!

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  42. Iuliana@Hip2ThriftApril 27, 2012 at 3:16 PM

    I am new to your blog, but I have a question. I am redoing this little nightstand slash vanity and it seems to have the same handles as your little desk. Do your unscrew from inside the drawer or do you take the handle off and then unscrew from the front? Mine have no screws inside. I finally figured out I have to take out the handle. But it only worked for one. I tried and tried and they just won't come off. Any tips?

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  43. S.BeskowFebruary 8, 2014 at 11:22 PM

    I have the same desk! Very vintage

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  44. S.BeskowFebruary 8, 2014 at 11:23 PM

    I have the same desk! Very vintage

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I LOVE hearing from you! :) Thanks for taking the time to chat!