So, my battle to have a nice, neat, clean study/blog space continues. I had a cheap, white $20 desk from Wal-Mart in here for 4 years, but I decided I needed to upgrade. Nothing wrong with my $20 Wal-Mart desk, it had just been through the ringer between sewing, crafts, painting....it needed a new home where it could continue to be used & abused and I needed something that looked a little more grown up and was suited to my grown up taste. I had originally planned on mod-podging some stuff on there, but never took the time...then when I started painting on that desk (without anything to protect it), I decided that it was better off not mod-podged. So I began the hunt for the perfect study/blogging desk. I needed something big enough to fit my laptop & wireless keyboard & mouse, along with any books I would be using to do homework, etc, and a drawer would be a plus so I didn't have to keep everything (staplers, pens, etc) on top of my desk. I found this beauty on Craig's List right after finals last spring. Turns out someone on campus was moving out of the dorms and into an apartment and was selling their stuff. (I'm assuming to avoid moving it, or to begin fundraising for all the "new apartment costs", but you never know with college kids.) (P.S. I can say "college kids" because I'm old enough to be working on my PHD, but life happens, so here I am, almost 30 and still in school.) Anyway..... After chewing him down from $75 to $57 (why he would do $57 & not $55, I don't know, but whatever,) I had my new study desk and it only cost me 1 night's worth of tips..(it was a slow night).
Normally I would not paint wood, especially pretty cherry with a great finish, BUT this desk had some wear & tear. Scratches on the legs from chairs & shoes bumping it, scratches on the top from stuff being moved around...some chips on the side in the finish, so I decided to paint it. Other than that it was in great shape, just some normal wear & tear. I just had to tighten a few wing nuts on the legs to sturdy it up.
I was at Lowe's and found this great premixed Indigo color sample that I loved. I had already decided that I wanted to do navy & tan/linen color in this room, and recovered my great-grandmother's chair (it was in desperate need of a rehab) in my newly chosen color scheme. It had been my desk chair before, and I thought I'd continue it's employment there. So when I found this Valspar sample in Indigo Cloth, for $3, I grabbed it and went on to find the rest of my supplies. I decided to chalk paint my desk. This was actually the first chalk paint I had done, and I had looked at the premixed samples, but they were around $9 for an 8 oz sample and I wasn't having it. So I got my "milk carton" full of Plaster of Paris, and quart of Polycrylic and went about my day. I knew I needed to seal my desk so what I had envisioned as my beautiful new paint job, would not get scratched & dinged like it's original finish had. Here's what I used:
I also used a sanding block, (not pictured).
Here's what I did:
1st I removed the hardware from the drawer (the only hardware on the desk), then I lightly sanded with a sanding block. With chalk paint, you don't have to sand, but since this had a slick finish, I wanted to ensure that my paint really stuck. I used the drawer as a test.
Then I mixed my chalk paint. You can see my free side table post for some stuff that I've learned along the way...mostly from THIS project. Lowe's also has a great recipe recipe chalk paint (and some helpful tips & techniques) that is pretty standard and it's what I used for this project.
After I mixed my chalk paint I applied it to the drawer with my foam brush.
However, I did use a roller for the desk top...
It would have taken me FOREVER with my 2" foam brush.
Then the rest...
Now it's time for the protective coat of polycrylic. Most people would say it defeats the purpose of chalk paint because you want the calk-y texture, but I know this desk is going to get a lot of use so I don't want my new paint job chipped. To me that's redundant.
Plus, I saved the primer step with the chalk paint :)
And apparently the paint guy didn't think I'd remember not to shake the poly so he left me a note.
Greatly appreciated Steve!After I poly-ed I just had to let it dry. I had spay painted the hardware silver, so I re-installed it and put my new desk to use!!!
Here's a break down of my costs (not including my desk):
- sanding block - $3
- Plaster of Paris - $7 (but this carton will last me an eternity, so it was worth it to me.)
- Polycrylic - $10 (again, this will last me an eternity)
- Foam brush - $2/ 1 pack
- paint roller - $5 for kit w/handle and additional roller & tray
- paint sample - $3
All and all I only spent $30 to rehab this desk! And the polycrylic and Plaster of Paris will last me forever so in reality it was some where around $20.
Don't underestimate the power of paint!
