Retro Desk is Not Retro Anymore!

by Lauri Black / Shabby 2 Uniquely Chic

I had a friend give me this desk to paint and I have to be honest at first I had no idea what I was going to do to it. I find this era of furniture a little harder to figure out. It had some veneer damage so it took me awhile to figure out how to handle that. The finish on this desk was shot so we could only go up from here, so I got busy!

retro desk is not retro anymore, painted furniture

retro desk is not retro anymore, painted furniture, I realized that after I had taken all the hardware off and started stripping the top and the drawers that I had not taken any before pictures so this is all I ve got

I realized that after I had taken all the hardware off and started stripping the top and the drawers that I had not taken any before pictures, so this is all I've got.

retro desk is not retro anymore, painted furniture, Stripped down drawers and ready for stain I thought a deeper darker stain would be nice I think I used English Chestnut

Stripped down drawers and ready for stain. I thought a deeper darker stain would be nice. I think I used English Chestnut.

retro desk is not retro anymore, painted furniture, The veneer on the top front corner was badly damaged it almost looked like it had been burnt so no amount of sanding was going to get rid of it but I ve got plans

The veneer on the top front corner was badly damaged, it almost looked like it had been burnt, so no amount of sanding was going to get rid of it, but I've got plans!

retro desk is not retro anymore, painted furniture, I kind of find the this 1940 s style furniture to be a little boring so I decided to spice it up with stencils

I kind of find the this 1940's style furniture to be a little boring so I decided to spice it up with stencils.

I fully stencil the top, this is a picture before I did any sanding to tone down the stencils.

Here is the stenciled top softened by sanding lightly.

Now that it has been stenciled you can't even see the damaged veneer.

retro desk is not retro anymore, painted furniture, I had to use the original hardware because the spacing was so odd that I could not find new with the same spacing I think in the end it worked out

I had to use the original hardware because the spacing was so odd that I could not find new with the same spacing. I think in the end it worked out.

I did 2 tones of French Linen to add more interest.

I waxed the whole thing with clear wax in the end.

Enjoyed the project?

You can do it! Saved to your projects

Frequently asked questions

Have a question about this project?

Ask a Question

Comments

Join the conversation

3 of 7 comments

Marion Nesbitt on Dec 25, 2014
What a lot of work! The stencilling is amazing. Just my taste, but would have left the top plain.

1 Reply
- Lauri Black / Shabby 2 Uniquely Chic on Dec 31, 2014
  @Marion Nesbitt There was some damage on the top veneer that could not be sanded out, so I opted to stencil the top. The damage looked like s burn from sitting in the hot sun and turned a huge corner toward the front black. I would have preferred the top to just be stained also, but sometimes you gotta do whatcha gotta do to save a piece that would have normally been put out in someones garage forever.
  
  1
Kate Baxter on Mar 02, 2017
Wow that is fantastic!

Like Reply