Name: spwishy
Location: Montreal, Canada
Time: About 15 hours. Could have been much less had I not made the mistakes I made.
Cost: Desk: 200$ used; Keyboard shelf mechanism: 15$ used; Wood for keyboard shelf: 18$; Handles: 36$; Wood Treatment Oil: 9$
When wood gets old, particularly veneer, many of us simply think about chucking it and going shopping. But it's hard to find good furniture, and wood is incredibly resilient and responds well to TLC. Here, Spwishy tells us how. Head below the jump for all her pics, tools, and instructions and VOTING...
BEFORE
Tell us the tools and resources you used for the project:
- Used desk found at a used office furniture store (1)
- Jobmate sander (1)
- Black & Decker Screwdriver (1):
- Ikea KORREKT handles (5)
- Wood (1 keyboard shelf)
- Wood treatment oil
- Used keyboard shelf mechanism (2 top mountable rails)
- Screws for handles and keyboard shelf rails
MY TOOLS
Share step by step instructions for how you completed the project:
1. I chose the desk specifically because the wood (hard oak) matched that of my kitchen table. However, the finish looked like the previous owner had put self-tanner on it. It was orange and too dark to see the wonderful grain. Since I had no previous experience refinishing furniture but I did have an electric sander, it was important to me to choose a desk with flat surfaces only;
2. In sanding the desk I made one crucial mistake that cost me hours and hours of work: the grain I had chosen for the sander was the biggest grain I had. If your piece is already painted, you must use the finest grain you have. It will get rid of the paint tenfolds faster and you will not need other grains to finish;
3. After sanding was finished, I cleaned the desk of any remaining fine dust and treated the now natural wood with oil;
4. I got the very modern handles for my desk at Ikea. However, Lee Valley has hundreds of models to choose from and this is probably where I would have gotten mine had I known about this store sooner. Those I chose may only be screwed from behind, which added an extra challenge to the installation. I made a cardboard template of the back of the handle that I then centered horizontally and lined up to the top of each drawer;
DURING
5. I removed the plastic keyboard shelf that was on the mechanism I had purchased and attached the wooden shelf to it instead;
6. After the wooden shelf was attached to the mechanism, I proceeded to install it under the desk. However I had made another crucial mistake: I had chosen the piece of wood slightly smaller than the clearing under my desk, however this was not enough so that the screwdriver could reach the wood because of the limited space between the mechanism and the shelf. I had to purchase 6 inch bits for my screwdriver (from Lee Valley);
7. This has not yet been done, but I would like to add a small 4$ Ikea STRIPA shelf to the back of the desk (the back of the desk is flush with the back of the drawers, which are not as deep as the desk, making this a perfect space for unseen cable management.)
AFTER
I thought the "after" picture was the "before" picture....not a good sign. I know the refinishing was probably very hard work, so great job! I just don't think the piece was significantly improved...still kind of homely to me.
view aweekinparis's profile
I think it was nice the way before too! I really liked the dark stained wood color but I think you did a good job cleaning it up.
view M. Patrizio's profile
The desk "after" is not just that inspired, especially when you factor in the amount of work it took, and that estimated cost of the entire project.
I am not fond of the desk to begin with but in another setting I think I could appreciate it more. However, in your picture (space), there is alot of wood, the floors, desk, shelves and they all don't seem to match. While it may be more functional for you now, I just don't think, as is, the desk is a real improvement to the way the space looks.
Not to mention the after picture seems messy with the extra storage, cat toy?, and what appears to be a pile of laundry next to the desk. When the surroundings in your before picture seem tidier it's harder to spot improvement in the final results.
view buffalogirl's profile
Well I wasn't competing for apartment of the year or anything. I have no such delusions. I was only showing a piece I thought looked muddy before and am now proud of. Different strokes for different blokes I guess. ;)
view spwishy's profile
I prefer the lighter, more natural colour of the refinished desk. The original stain looks patchy.
Also, this is a **project** competition, not the 'best smallest home'. Spwishy is obviously in a studio apartment - mattress on the floor.
It is a great beginning and a good learning exercise (I assume Lee Valley is a hardware store). In its spiffy new condition, this desk will spend many years with Spwishy in a variety of decorating adventures.
However I cannot understand how any of you are doing these things in the dead of winter with all the windows closed. For the health of the competitors, this is really a Springtime Event.
ONE SUBTLE HINT.
Before sanding, make sure ALL your electronics are securely covered in plastic. I nearly passed out when I saw everything just sitting there on the floor next to the desk. Sanding = dust; dust = dead toys.
view Deb of Oz's profile
Yes, Lee Valley is a hardware store. Sadly their website pales in comparison to their catalogs (tons of pictures, great products and witty writing) but this is the link: http://www.leevalley.com
Deb is totally right about covering my electronics however: While my screen was already dead before I started, some of my plants still have orange dust on them from this September's sanding. (I never intended to enter this in a contest. I just truly enjoy Blueprint Magazine and Apartment Therapy for their great projects so I entered when I saw that early starts were accepted.) Even with windows opened, the first few days were painful: You can only clean dust as fast as it settles and if like me you only have the one open room, you might want to consider making other sleeping arrangements.
view spwishy's profile
looks like a completely different desk!
view LaDonnaNichole's profile
white would have been better. too much orangy wood
view superrenee's profile
I love the grain on the 'after'. I like this kind of project best: straightforward, mostly elbow grease, and a great result.
view Jute Zak's profile
I far prefer the "after" to the "before."
view Joan A.'s profile
I applaud your courage and initiative in taking on the project. Too many people are so overwhelmed by the thought of screwing it up that they won't take the risk. The "after" desk is definitely more attractive than the "before".
The best part of it is that you can take pride in having done it yourself and take the skills that you learned onto the next project.
view Aldyth's profile
I think the "after" looks great too. Lovely and honey-coloured and you can really see the grain shining through.
view Laurita's profile
I think the refinished desk and the floor are smashing together. Good job.
view Aulaire's profile
the before picture looked better than the after picture. Not to knock the work put into the desk, but the overall impression was cleaner and more streamlined in the before shot.
view c16621's profile