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I wanted a two-tone look, but did not want to strip the top. I am over stripping. Messy and stinky. Enter my new love...the orbital sander. People...where.have.I.been? I have been HAND SANDING. I'm not only wasting time, but energy. Anyway, I took my sander to the top of the desk and had it stripped in no time. I used 80 grit to strip, then used 120 to smooth and 220 to finish. I was going to use Minwax Polyshades in Antique Walnut...but it was way too light. So I went back to my trusty Dark Walnut...and it didn't let me down. I did 3 coats and then 3 coats of wipe on poly (love that stuff!). Then I painted the base a creamy white, distressed, and glazed with Provencial stain. Here is the end result...and I am really happy with it. So happy I'm keeping it and that it's a part of my history. I still remember it sitting in my grandfather's office...with the pipe stand near by. 
My husband always gets on my case about my "pile" on our kitchen island. It migrates around and always ends up in the same, cluttered space. Up until this desk, I haven't had a space for my pile...but I can't wait to clutter it up ;)
~Allison
Linking to these parties
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41 comments:
Oh what a pretty desk with a sweet history! This one is definitely a keeper Allison!
that looks beautiful, allison! i love it and how nice that it was your grandfathers!
and i bet your arms are so sinewy and lean from all that hand sanding!
Allison it's perfect with all the built in personal history. I can't believe you just bought a power sander! My mouse is my bff. All that handsanding gets my fingers numb so I can only imagine what shape your arms and hands are in. This will speed up your projects 10 fold. That dark walnut is so yummy, I want to eat it like dark chocolate.
I love how you refinished this piece. How nice to have a piece to remind you of your grandfather!
How wonderful that you get to keep it, and you've done such an amazing job on it. I love the dark top :)
Your desk looks awesome! I just posted about handed down furniture and how hard it is for me to paint it. I have a chest in our guest room that was in my dads family. I may have to bite the bullet and give it a new life :) Tks for the inspiration!
That is beautiful! And especially awesome because it's part of your family history, enjoy it!
Julie ~ paintedparlor.blogspot.com
Love the stained top! Great job!!
Allison,
Your furniture is so beautiful! I've been wanting to redo some pieces but I have yet to try. I'm afraid it will look like something you see on the side of the road.
I'm definitly following you! Hopefully I will get inspired to take the plunge!
Hi Allison! What a special desk - the pieces with a history you know are the best. Love how it turned out!
Kacey
I'm glad you were able to keep your g-pa's desk it turned out beautifully!!! I am really loving the stain/paint furniture pieces.
I love your style! The colors are fabulous...great work!
Thanks so much for linking to "20 Below Thursday"! :)
That turned out great! I have an old desk from my great-grandma that I have been thinking about refinishing. I love what you did.
Love the desk! I'm in search of something similar. I want to do the exact same thing:)
What a beautiful desk, it turned out great. Loved that you used the orbital sander as opposed to stripping.
The desk turned out beautifully! How wonderful to give it a second life!
That's absolutely one of the smartest and best-looking redos for that style desk I've seen. Really, great job. Wow. Now enjoy it. Jane F.
I love your desk! I have a similar desk that has been stained red. Your colors are exactly what I want to do with mine! I too dislike striping, but also I can't stand sanding as well. Maybe I can talk my husband in to doing it for me!
Emily
You've done it again! BEAUTIFUL. I love the dark stain, you can just barely see the wood grain showing through. I hope you will share this at my VIP party today... http://designergarden.blogspot.com/2011/04/vip-party-11.html
Love the dark stained top and shabby paint~ I am a sucker for that combination! Your desk is great- well done! Thanks for sharing at FNF! :)
What a pretty little desk! You did a beautiful job. I'm working on my first rehab and I am finding it challenging, to say the least! I'm sure the first is the hardest. (Right?!)
Gorgeous, how wonderful that you were able to keep this. Love the white bottom. I know you'll enjoy having this with you! Thanks for linking up with VIF! Debra
We just purchased a desk similar to this one on Craig's List for $15 and would love to paint it like this one. Found you at Miss Mustard Seed! Thanks so much for such a great idea!
It looks BEAUTIFUL! You did a wonderful job restoring your grandfather's desk! What a great memory to keep in your home! I am in love with my electric sander as well! In fact, when I realize I can't use it, I don't do the project! Lazy, that's me. :)
wow, what a transformation! i love what you did to it! my parents have a similar desk at their house...you're giving me ideas!
I have a desk that looks almost EXACTLY like that (the before version), and this is just about exactly the way I want to make it over ... I just can't seem to get the motivation to do it. You helped though! Thanks!
~Bec :-)
Wow that is gorgeous.. I know you love that a family piece turned out so lovely. I love the color.
so classic allison! love it!
I featured this today on my blog...congrats!! Come get a "featured" button :)
http://christinasadventures2010.blogspot.com/2011/04/sunday-features-16.html
Wow, what a great job!
Wow. Great desk. Amazing colors. Is that the creamy white from SW? I'm really glad I found your blog on Chic on a Shoestring. I have three boys also!!!! Fun to read. I'm a new follower.
I love this transformation! Very beautiful!
That looks so nice! Great Job!
Saw you on Homemaker on a Dime blog party. Great color choices! I have a similar small desk that was my dads I've thought of redoing with those colors.
Love what you did with this desk :) Great paint choice!!
New follower from Creative Bloggers party hop! Looking foward to reading more! Hope you get a chance to stop by mine too :)
Trisha
Awesome!!! I’m your newest follower from Creative Bloggers Hop. Please follow http://sweetcalifornialiving.blogspot.com/
Your desk turned out gorgeous! Really appreciate you sharing this great post with us at the Creative Bloggers' Party & Hop.
This is fabulous! I have a chalk paint giveaway going on now you may want to enter.
I have a similar desk and was wondering what it would look like with the dark top and painted bottom! Now I know! Thanks for the pointers and great job, it's beautiful!
I love this! I have an old sewing machine table that looks much like your desk here. Only my table has 4 drawers an each side. It has been sitting in our shed for 2 yrs waiting for me to strip/sand it & repaint it, but I just haven't had the time. And now I'm pregnant. I had always envisioned painting it white with a little distressed look. I really like what you did with yours. I may do something very similar! Thanks for sharing!
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