Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Re-using and Refreshing

In our house scale down, I am often getting side tracked by other projects.

One of which is an old desk that we have been storing in our basement. It has functioned down there as little more than a surface to put things occasionally. I decided if I made it look a little spiffier, it could easily be a nice desk for me to do small watercolors and sketches.

I wanted to paint it to cover up the old scratches and dingy wood finish. So I picked a nice blue color, painted it, and now it sits nicely in our master bedroom.


These drawers are the color the whole desk was. I didn't get a photo of the whole desk before I primed it.
I've never really primed anything before, since I usually don't mind if it get's a "worn" look. But I really wanted the blue to be the actual color, so went the extra mile to prime this desk.

This is the desk after painting! I've always like colorful furniture, but it seemed too risky. But I really like how it turned out!

Another project was this old barn window. I am always trying to figure out new things to do with them since we have so many. I saw some fabric I really liked and thought, "that would look nice behind the glass panes". But it was $20 per yard.......on sale. So instead I drew out the pattern on a piece of paper and copied it onto the window with paint. It still seems kind of plain to me, any suggestions my crafty sisters and mother in law?


Now that those two things are out of the way, I can get back to cleaning.

4 comments:

Alissa said...

LOVE the desk, Sara! I think the hardware is as cool as the color. I am a tiny bit jealous right now! :)

About the window, I would put a colorful fabric (that's cheap)and put it behind the part you painted to make it pop. (or colorful paper would work too if it looked right.) I like your bedroom. Its like what I envision in my head I want mine to look like but it never happens! :)

Sara said...

Thanks! :) That's a really good idea, unfortunately I painted the back of the glass white so the design would show up better. I suppose it wouldn't be too hard to scrape it off...

I've been thinking how easy it would be to make old yucky furniture that I see on Craigslist all the time look cool. Paint, hardware and voila, you have a new piece of furniture. It could be a decent business!

I got lucky that was the hardware that was already on the desk.

Hillary said...

Sara, super nice work on the desk! Wow! My first thought on the picture was, "Wow, looks great as is!" Then I thought you could add a black braided rope with tassle on the end draped over top and sides. It does look great the way it is too. Nice work. By the way, Alissa, I think your bedroom looks nice. We sure enjoyed staying there last year!

Jan said...

Love the desk and picture! Could you paint the frame the same color as the desk? You ALL have lovely bedrooms. What I need is someone to help me bring mine out of the 1980's. I love the new looks, but I also love my pink flowered comforter. Anyway I can update and still use it?? hmmmm.....