Finished! I'm very happy with my "new" white desk. It's super glossy and has the feel of a lacquered piece, which was what I was hoping for. You can see the reflection of the black box in the surface even in this photo - I love that! Getting here was not easy...
The One Shot paint was a bit of a bear to deal with and I ended up doing three coats total, with sanding in between. Drying time in my unheated apartment building basement (in January!) took a while, too.
The biggest improvement to my DIY process came after my last post - instead of applying the second and third coats with a brush (like the disastrous first coat) I switched to a small, ultra fine roller. A HUGE improvement and one worth noting for next time.
For the photos, I paired it with a small stool from Crate and Barrel that I've had for ages, my prized black lacquer box (one of my favorite things - it has a lime green silk lining!) and a bulb that very cooperatively bloomed just in time for the photo. For now, it is in my bedroom, but actually might end up in my son's room - he's in need of a permanent Lego building station!
All in all, I'm pleased to have had the January Jumpstart "excuse" to get this project done - I really like the new look and LOVE that I did it myself!
Previous Entries on this project:
The Ultimate Used Furniture Cleaning Kit
Ana Creates a Community at Home
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Z2 iPod Dock and Wi...
Soda Recipe: Homemade Ginger Ale
Recipe: Spring Fruit and Nut Tabouli
it's really beautiful - great job! (it has such nice lines that it always looked nice - now it looks wow!)
Yay!
I was worried for a second,
But it looks beautiful! Good going!
It looks fantastic!
It's gorgeous!
Beautiful! The white really sets off the details. I hadn't even noticed those in the before pics. Great job. :)
i love this!
Looks great...love the reflection as well....=]
Very, very nice. I appreciate the style-matched stool, but it doesn't look like you'll be able to get your knees under the table when sitting :(
Great pairing with the stool!
Elegant and tasteful are the words that come to my mind. Good job!
Ooooh, that looks like it would make for a gorgeous dressing table!
Janel,
It's gorgeous!!! Great job. And I love that this might be used as a lego building station. That's the best!
thanks very much everyone!
It made a difference knowing you were all "out there" while I was working on it. I really wanted it to come out well for all of us! Having a deadline was a also a huge help, especially when it got a little icky in the middle - I just had to keep going no matter what!
I think the January Jumpstart was a great motivator and a fun way to get a project done with lots of support...and yes, art, i was definitely worried for a bit there too!
Oh, I love it! Much too beautiful for Legos!
good job! i wonder if there's a high gloss enamel/lacquer paint in the "west elm" chocolate brown color? i'd like to paint my bathroom vanity to match the medicine cabinet i bought in that color.
well done! i too was worried when i saw the last stage, painting against the weather sucks. kudos for seeing this through!
Not that your son doesn't deserve something nice to build his Legos on (and seriously, those things on the corners would probably look great with that) but these photos make me want you to keep that table right where it is -- just as it is -- for a long time. It's VERY nice.
So beautiful, Janel! Way to stick with it, despite the damp cold basements of the midwest.
I LOVE your desk! You did a wonderful job! Where did you find it? Thanks!
Amazing transformation!
It's gorgeous! I LOVE it!
Janel... Job well done! It looks fantastic.
Good job, Janel. And you were worried -- pish posh!
great job! i would pair it with a modern chair though for a more interesting juxtaposition...tension is good.