Before & After: Old-School Desk Gets a Makeover

Holly readily admits that organization isn’t her strong point, so she certainly sympathized with her client’s desire to find a “mommy desk” to help her get organized as her eldest started kindergarten. Holly found this vintage teacher’s desk, solidly built though marked by years of doodling and dings. With strong bones but in desperate need of a refinish, this desk was the perfect candidate for a makeover.

Holly stripped the top down to the bare wood and lightly sanded it; she wanted to even things out a bit without removing all the history. She stained it darker than the original tone, and waxed for protection. The base and drawer fronts were painted a custom mix of Annie Sloan’s Country Grey and Pure White, then waxed with a combination of clear wax and dark wax. The insides of the drawers were painted duck egg blue, and the hardware replaced with knobs from Anthropologie that the client already owned.

See More: Storywood Designs: An Organized Life

(Images: Holly/Storywood Designs)