How to make a dresser into a desk!

Here's what I tackled this weekend, and might I say, 

my body still hurts.

But it was a fun assignment. 

And different!

 It started like this:

My client, Robin, had this old dresser 

that belonged to her grandmother who just passed away.

It was a very sturdy piece, just not in the best cosmetic shape….

rather beat up around the base..

And the top was in disrepair…….

But it held sentimental value for Robin. 

However, she didn't need a dresser….

What she needed was a desk, 

and she asked if I might be able to convert it.

Well, heck yeah!

Step One: Remove the drawers.

 Step Two: 

Get a very nice neighbor 

with a sharp handsaw to do the hard work!

(Thank you, Ken!)

 Here's what's left of the dresser after removing the three interior drawers
and frames.

 Step Three: I removed the base molding, 

and shored up the bottom bases with plywood.

Step Four: I cut and nailed bead board to the inside sides and back.

 Here it is at the end of Day One,
back inside for the night:

 Day Two:
Back to it!

I removed all the drawer hardware and
sanded down all the surfaces.

 I used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Graphite 

to paint all the drawers and the base.

 Drawers after two coats.

 Next, the top.  I used an orbital sander 

which took all that nasty stuff off and revealed

the beautiful wood.

Here's the piece with the top sanded, 

and everything painted.

 Next I stained the top with Minwax in Special Walnut.

 And here's the piece after all the waxing, buffing, and gilding, 

and the original hardware returned to the drawer fronts.

 Looks fanTAStic!

 Inside, you can see more of the distressing and gilding.
And also the patina of the painted wood, which is not a true black.
It's more of a charcoal and has lots of depth with the waxes I used.

I brushed King Gold gilding wax on some of the edges and details…..

Here you can see the distressed edges. Note the rope trim I added to hide the seams 

where the bead board was nailed to the sides.

Ready for pick-up!!!!!

Thanks, Robin.

That was fun!

And such a clever way to utilize this family heirloom!!!!

Hooks and Racks and Hardware and Knobs…….

I have this thing for hooks and knobs and hardware of all kinds…
Maybe because my mom worked in a hardware store?

Who knows…

I just know I seem to
buy them every chance I get.

I have quite the stash growing.

It's fun to get a little creative
and figure out something fun to do with them.

I purchased this "fin" hook at the beach this past weekend.

With some scrap lumber remnants from an old table,

Some hand painting….

and the hardware, it's a fun wall rack.

These were shiny brass hooks that I painted and stained
to give an antique look.

And here's the 3D fin in all it's glory!

 This plaque I cut from old lumber.
I added an owl piece that I made with a
candy mold and plaster of paris.

I painted…..

Then decoupaged an appropriate saying and framed in scrap rope trim.
Added hooks, and a little hand painting..

Here's a wall rack I made from an old piece of fencing
that I stencilled with type.
I left the weathered finish just like I found it...

 Added a cast iron mermaid that I painted.......

 And some shell knobs……              

 

 Here's another piece of leftover fencing that I painted in pale blue..

Added yet another mermaid and a couple of hooks.

And hand painted some type and waves..

Snail knobs…

"happy trails to you."

(Get it??)

 ..spatulas for hooks..

 Goodwill wooden plaque...

 becomes a "this little piggy"
hook rack

 Another thrift store plaque..

 reinvented with a bovine theme.

Foot fetish?

I have one for you, too.

I used an old wooden shoe form for this one.

And here I used dog head knobs 

for a place to hang leashes.

Oh, Deer!

Stop me!

Please!

Ugly Juvenile Floor Lamp Gets a Glam Makeover

Here's an ugly little floor lamp I picked up

on a thrift store run last week.

 Looks like a Target or Wallmart lamp for a little girl's room...

 With pink butterflies…..

on white background..

 Even a butterfly finial…..

Lampshade is trashed..

When I saw the butterflies, 

I remembered these plaques I did last month.

So I thought I'd do a similar approach on the lamp,

and it would look nice in my booth next to the plaques…

Until some butterfly/bee person falls in love with them

and buys the whole set and lamp! Yeah!

 I start the process by base coating

 everything in ASCP in French Linen.

Everything got a second coat.

 I used Graphite as the second coat on a few areas…

And for the butterflies, 

I used my "aged verdigris patina" technique 

by applying craft paints in teal, turquoise, orange, green, brown.

 It doesn't look like much now…….

But THIS...

becomes THIS…

 …and with an added layer of stain, 

becomes THIS.

After I add stain to everything, I wipe off the excess.

Then, I use a little gilding wax on my finger to "hit"

places on the butterflies….

…as well as the graphite areas,

where it really pops.

 A thrift store damask lampshade, 

and...

…it has a whole new feel!

Juvenile to sophisticated.

$89.