Before & After: Shannon’s $10 Midcentury Modern Desk Makeover

Gregory Han
Gregory Han
A Los Angeles native, Gregory’s interests fall upon the relationship between design, nature, and technology. His resume includes art director, toy designer, and design writer. Co-author of Poketo's "Creative Spaces: People, Homes, and Studios to Inspire", you can find him…read more
published Aug 15, 2013
comments
Add Us
See more Apartment Therapy stories when you search on Google.
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Brown wooden desk with six drawers and brass knobs, labeled "before," placed outdoors on a concrete path.
See More Images
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

The compact shape, characteristic midcentury tapered wooden legs, and bargain price all caught Shannon’s eagle eyes at a yardsale, immediately convincing her this worn and roughened desk had yet another life to live in her living room after a serious makeover…

See More Images
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)
See More Images
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

I decided that a fun dose of bright color was just what it needed to really come to life! I painted the entire piece a pretty teal color (Behr’s Shoreline Green), and painted the edge of the desktop gold (Martha Stewart Yellow Gold craft paint). I can’t get enough of gold lately!

I also updated the knobs with some lion’s head pulls! Seriously , the perfect finishing touch! I love how this desk looks now in my living room, where it acts as both a functional end table and a pretty display piece!

See More Images
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Thanks for sharing, Shannon!

Have your own Before & After project you’d like to share with the editors? Submit it here.

(Images: Shannon/Fabulously Vintage)


Filed in:
Home Projects
before & after
furniture
home office
diy