A Fresh New Look for a Secretary Desk
I've refinished quite a few secretary desks in the past year. Each one has had its own challenges, and in the end, rewards. But this one really almost put me over the top!
It was your standard Queen Anne style secretary desk from the 40's or 50's that was mass-produced. Not a valuable antique by any means, and although you can't tell from this picture, it had significant damage to the feet and interior.
But this wasn't the main problem with this desk. This is what happened after one coat of primer. Bleed-through! The worst I've ever experienced!
My usual fix for this type of problem is to spray with clear shellac. But even this wasn't working! So I did a little bit of research, and discovered that a shellac-based primer could help. I used Zinsser Shellac Base Primer. This was already tinted white.
It did the trick after two coats, and I was finally ready to paint!
I also painted the insert for the desk in the blue and kept the drawers white. A teeny-tiny brush helped with those hard-to-reach areas!
The original handles were sprayed in Rustoleum Oil Rubbed Bronze.
With the secretary complete (two weeks later!), I felt the desk needed a friend. I had a chair in my stash that I decided to pair with it. I painted it white and recovered the cushion in a Waverly home decor fabric called "Buttom Blooms".
Don't they look beautiful together?
I've entered this project in the General Finishes Annual Design Contest. I would love it if you would stop on by and vote for it! No email or name is required, just one click! Voting ends Monday, March 30th.
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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2 comments
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Beautiful job! I have this exact secretary and did a similar paint job to it a couple years back. I love the finish, it looks very fresh. I also like the look of the windows without the criss cross pattern wood in front. Thanks for sharing!
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Gorgeous!
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