simply vintageous...by Suzan: desk

Showing posts with label desk. Show all posts

Sunday, September 6, 2015

A DESK MAKEOVER ( think pink )

Good morning everyone !

This was the first Friday in a while that I didn't have time to " chat " because I'm trying desperately to clean out my " stash " of furniture in order to start working on the dining room !

DO NOT LOOK AT THE HANDLES - I OBVIOUSLY HAD A HARD TIME FIGURING OUT WHICH WAY WAS THE RIGHT WAY !!!

( this happens every single time I do a French Provincial something or other - I swear to you - both ways look right to me )

This way is the wrong way

and the scariest part is I didn't even notice I had them going in both directions !

John says - Something's off with the handles
John says - Can you please let your readers know that I pointed that out for you please - thank you.

The desk was part of the set that I did for Evan's nursery - ( HERE )

I went in a completely different direction since there was no space for it in his room.
( I held on to it for as long as I could - hoping against hope that Ashley would store it for future use but she told me there was no way she could - ABSOLUTELY NO WAY - and so the makeover began this week and will be sold.. It's from a high end furniture line and is exactly 43 years old ( it was my nephew's - and then my niece's ) but it looks like it was made yesterday - it's in immaculate shape for it's age.

The chair - however - was in rough shape ( and of course I didn't take a before - of course not )

After unsucessfully searching for just the right fabric I ended up reupholstering the seat with drop cloth..................and painted the grain sack pattern on it - it's a perfect " fit " !

and then I decided to have a little fun with this makeover - with the hutch - to make it look like a country piece for a little girls room

BEFORE & AFTER DESK - ASCP ANTOINETTE & OLD WHITE

Perfect timing for back to school days :)

Ok - on to the next piece ( s )

It's been hot here in Montreal - very hot as in 37 degrees celcius with humidity ( 98 in American ) and today they've got a " Heat Warning " in effect.................guess I'll spend some time in the pool - this may just be the last hurrah !

ANNIE SLOAN CHALK PAINT ™ - Antoinette and Old White - with clear wax for protection

Have a wonderful one everybody !
Hugs,
Me

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TIP JUNKIE

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Shhhh................I'm learnin'

Morning all!

I'm still learning - every single day - with every single mistake - I keep learning!

Last week I showed you a sneak peak of a desk I was working on

Here's what I was working on

I wanted to put 2 transfers on this from the Graphics Fairy - but I messed up.
Badly.
Because I never never never know when to leave well enough alone.

I tried to take it off before it was ready - although I like that it looks all ripped and shredded and authentically very old - LIKE THIS - there was still a lot of paper to rub off ( where you can see the whitish patches ) and there would have been only a few words of the graphic left...........
The " stamp " fared much better - still some paper left to rub off - but the graphic is in tact - except for the fact that it's UPSIDE DOWN...............that's what sleep deprivation will do to you.

So I asked my official " Sander " if he could sand the section down where the postcard graphic was
And it came back in looking like this

GASP - EUREKA - PAYDIRT - SIGH...............................I fell instantly in love..............
Much like I did over this Oops makeover

The dark blue that this piece was originally - with the old white ( ASCP ) and the wood peaking through?
Perfection - so I promptly began sanding away the entire top of the desk and somehow the upside down
stamp doesn't look so bad? In fact I'm loving the graphic - looks like it's been there forever!!!

John says - OMG - what the hell have you done to it?
Suzan says - I LOVE IT
John says - It looks like crap ( the other version of that word )
Suzan says - Thank you very much
John says - First of all it'll never sell - second of all I don't want it here -
John says - It looks like crap ( the other version of that word )
Suzan says - You already said that
Suzan says - It's rustic chic
John says - It's RUSTIC CRAP ( the other version of that word - which sounds like Chic almost anyway )

In his defense ( NOT that I'm defending him at all ) he may be right ..............Montreal seems to be a little behind with all this rustic - prairie - farmhouse - stuff. My " clean " pieces seems to outweigh this type in
" demand " and it may have to be changed in the end but I'm loving it.................

John says - you're going to have to repaint that now, hope you know that
Suzan says - nothing - absolutely nothing - because she's learning how to keep her yap shut!

Things I learned this week

1) Sometimes mistakes are good things
2) Getting a proper amount of sleep is very very important
3) John has no idea what he's talking about
4) John really likes to say Crap ( the other version of the word )
5) No matter how shabby a piece is - bling ALWAYS works - so I'm going to start wearing a tiara when I'm in my painting clothes ( e.g. nightgown )

John is yelling from the Kitchen that there's 2 glass knobs missing off the cabinet doors as I type.

You'd think he'd learn by now !!!

Anyway they can be replaced - the STAR needed them more

Have a great Thursday all
Go out there and make a few mistakes..................
I'll probably be repainting this by friday LOL
Much love,

Sharing with!
Common Ground French Country Cottage Craftionary
My turn ( for us ) One Artsy Mama   My Romantic Home
The Shabby Nest   Miss Mustard Seed Homemaker on a dime
The Dedicated House Funky Junk Interiors   Winthrop Chronicles
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia   Not Just a Housewife   Shabby Creek Cottage
Savvy Southern Style   Clean & Scentsible   Rooted in Thyme
I Heart Nap TIme Uncommon Designs   The Graphics Fairy
Knick of Time Homework

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Before and After Desk and Bookshelf

I was sourcing a desk for a customer and found this one - it didn't work for her at all - but I grabbed it up an because I figured I could do something cute with it anyway - it's a well made typical SEARS desk -don't ask me why but doesn't this make you think of Sears?

I painted a chalkboard blotter on this piece for quick notes......................

but the coolest part of this is that it's like a smaller version of a bankers desk - because you can have it
facing the entrance way of a room................so I decided to put some of the stencilling there too -

If you notice in the first photo - they had glittery rope handles - I really did want to seal the holes up and drill just one center hole - BUT - it's too freaking hot to take out any kind of tool at all - so I picked up back plates from Home Depot - 1.99 each - and handles - all were in a coppery bronze color which was quickly changed with a few sweeps of Rustoleum Metallic Silver - and instead of one large handle - I put one in each hole - not sure if it works but it's staying!

and a close up

I actually use these back plates on a lot of furniture makeovers - especially if the furniture is plain because it gives it a little bit of character..............and my all important bling - they look beautiful with glass knobs too!

God it's so hot all my keys are sticking - very difficult post to type -

Than I bought this sorry little book shelf - actually it didn't look so bad on the listing but when John brought it home I was extremely disappointed - it was a piece that had obviously been connected to other pieces because there were holes all up and down the sides -
Anyways - here it is..............

I'd already started painting it - but you get the gist of it, right?

Holes everywhere - dowels sticking out that I absolutely could not get out ( John sawed them off and I sanded them )
It looks bad in the photos? It was 10 times worse...................

I had to put wood trim on the top to hide the awfulness of the edges.................

And here it is with a lot of tlc -

Wait till you see the back - lol - just wait till you see this

Used Goo Gone to get rid of the paperwork - and then knew that just paint would not do for the back - I had to cover up all those lines of screws and holes - so again the wood trim came out -

I painted the back in Chalkboard Paint - and the wood trim white - so that even the back is now presentable
( I never paint the backs of antique furniture - because I feel I have to leave something to prove ( and honor ) it's authenticity - but this piece was a whole different ball game.

Paint colors are: French Linen - Pure White - and Provence for the stencilling - All ASCP.

Next piece?

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