May 1, 2014

one week challenge: week 5. stripping, sanding, and painting, oh my!

i was busy this past week!
here is what occupied most of my time:
stripping my vintage thomasville desk! 


there is so much detail in this piece, that eventually, i ended up using q-tips to remove all the stain from the carved areas and recesses.
once all of the old stain was removed, i actually liked the way the way it looked unfinished....but i thought this piece needed some color.


the top had many areas with water damage, and i finally managed to remove it with a secret weapon i discovered! (more on that SOON!)




for the stain, i started with a coat of minwax "golden pecan", but it was so light, that all it did was highlight the fact that the legs and drawers are made from what i believe is oak, and the side panels and top have a cherry veneer. i ended up mixing "dark walnut" with the golden pecan, and ended up with what i thought was the perfect color.




here is the top, all refreshed and pretty.


i thought i loved this desk before, but now i am MADLY in love with it!


i made a total mess in the garage, but it was worth it.
i just started the fist coat of black paint on the drawers. i have been going back and forth about using the old hardware, and getting new polished chrome hardware, and for now i am going to keep the original. i think it will look nice against the black paint, and i want the desk to LOOK like the vintage piece that it is!


also this week----
we finally got the shelving up above the credenza!



first, we screwed and glued (liquid nails) some support cleats to the wall...




and then we used a nail gun (and more liquid nails) to attach the shelf to the cleats.



after that, we attached  trim board across the front.
i am SO excited to have all of this extra storage space! having the shelves in here also makes the ceilings look so much taller!

we are in the home stretch!!

 heres what is still left to do:
-remove the rust from my office chair
-caulk, sand and paint the shelves
-repaint the walls
-get my chair cushions back from the upholstery shop and reattach to chair
-swap out the light
-hang the art
-organize and accessorize!

see you next week for the big reveal!



24 comments:

  1. Your efforts paid off because the desk is beautiful! I just realized you and I are using very similar colors in very different ways and I can't wait to see your reveal!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Incredible! That desk looks like so much work, but what a beauty! Totally worth all of your effort. And the numbers on your desk drawers? GREAT detail! I love this office already and it's not even done. Can't wait for next week! xx

    ReplyDelete
  3. That desk is gorgeous. So much work but well worth it!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Love that you kept the desk wood and did the painstaking striping and refinishing, it loots magnificent!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks cathy! i had been putting it off for SO long, and i am so happy that i finally took the time to refinish it!

      Delete
  5. The detail on that desk is fabulous. I'm happy so see it cleaned up and restained. Any other finish would not have done it justice. You did a great job!

    ReplyDelete
  6. The desk is beautiful. Can't wait for more info on how you stripped it in a future post. The room is looking great.

    ReplyDelete
  7. The desk looks great...love the stain. All that work really paid off.....looking forward to seeing the reveal next week!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Beautiful desk! And I'm loving your credenza and the shelves. Can't wait to see the big reveal!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. That desk is beautiful! Kudos to you, stripping stain is no easy task! Well done! Can't wait to see the final reveal! This is the home stretch!

    XO,
    Krista
    www.goodwillglam.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. You did a great job stripping that desk, it looks amazing! Can't wait to see the reveal next week!

    ReplyDelete
  11. There is so much detail to that desk - I totally understand why it was so much work - but what a payoff! It looks beautiful! Great job!
    Shelia
    www.houseofhighlands.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. Wow, such hard work, but the desk looks amazing. Can't wait to see it all next week.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Wowza...that desk is a beauty! Good job!

    ReplyDelete
  14. This is fantastic! I love the wall color! Can't wait for the reveal!!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. That desk is gorgeous Autumn!!! I detail border on the top is so pretty! Can't wait for your big reveal…..I love how this little space is coming together!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Looks so nice! I'm curious what you are going to use to remove rust on the chair too.

    ReplyDelete
  17. That desk is AH-MAAZING!!!! I can't wait to see this come together:)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Autumn, it's been a pleasure following your progress each week! That desk is beautiful with all it's detail! Way to stick with the staining and mess for the end result was well worth it! I enjoy all the DIY projects you have going on, making me feel guilty for the few I've done in my master bedroom. Excited to see your big reveal!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. if you want a "kick in the pants" to get some projects done, sign up for the next one week challenge! i would have NEVER finished this room had it not been for my participation!! :)

      Delete
  19. So impressed with you right now for stripping that desk. That's such a tedious and messy job but your efforts were worth it. I love it already!!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Do happen to know the style name of the desk and the original stain color? Thank you

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. i am so sorry! there is no information on the desk about a style number. there is only a stamp (looks like the wood was almost burned) with a thomasville logo on the inside of the large drawer on the left of the desk. no other information.

      Delete