Old Desk Transformed

10 years ago

Using Russian Red color in the Paint Couture! line of paint. I transformed this old desk to a bright new piece of furniture. This desk had a plastic laminated top. So first I lightly sanded it before applying 2 coats of a dark gray tinted Zinsser Primer. 3 coats of paint and 3 coats of protective finish, in flat finish. See all photos here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/99662836@N03/sets/72157636621929093/

Featured Answer

PRO

Dytecture

10 years ago

last modified: 10 years ago

The original wood desk looked fine as well in any decor.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (34)

sarabeth2
Original Author
10 years ago
Red is not an easy color of paint to work with. But by priming it with a primer tinted dark gray, that helped. Still it takes several coats to get a good finished red color. I chose Russian Red made by the brand of paint called, "Paint Couture!". Website: http://paintcouture.com/
I found it at a store in Raleigh, North Carolina, South of France Creative Furniture shop: http://www.southoffrancefurniture.com/
Related Discussions
Total Transformation of a 30-year-old Derelict Apartment into a Groovy
Q
Comments (30)
Groovy Baby! Love it! I think if you are going to have a strong look like this, you have to go the whole hog to pull it off, otherwise it just looks like a bad take on a 'theme'; you nailed it, very well done!
...See More
70's bungalow to New England?
Q
Comments (1)
I think you need to have a well defined entry - looks like there are three or four ways to get into the home. I actually wonder if the other side of the house, not shown in your photos, would make a better front side and this one a better back side.Glad your daughter is recovering.
...See More
Out with the old, in with the new
Q
Comments (6)
Downdraft kitchen fan (elica), was a great choice for a kitchen island where we weren't keen on a ceiling mounted fan as it would disturb the clean look
...See More
Built in study
Q
Comments (3)
You could do fold down tables for the study space. Have some built ins 12 or 14 inches and have the table fold down and you could make it as big as you wanted. Lots of ideas if you search photos. Good luck! [houzz=] [houzz=] [houzz=] [houzz=]
...See More
Brenda
10 years ago
tuned out cute. nice job.
sarabeth2 thanked Brenda
splagna
10 years ago
Wow. Thanks for showing us - I've been thinking about painting some furniture for awhile.
It's beautiful, the hardware looks better too. You must be exhausted.=0
sarabeth2 thanked splagna
User
10 years ago
I painted a chest red a few years back, it was tedious and time consuming. Something of this age looks better painted than in the original wood (of course my opinion!). Also makes it easier to work with the other woods in your home. You did a GREAT job!
sarabeth2 thanked User
sarabeth2
Original Author
10 years ago
splagna- yes, I agree it did show off the silver hardware very nicely. It was an easy project to do. I could have 'glazed' it also, using a dark glaze and wiping it off, it would have shown up the contours of the legs and brought out the grain lines of the wood.
Dytecture - the original had quite a few nicks and scratches through out the wood, and this painting hid them all. Thanks for your comments!
PRO
Paradise Restored Landscaping & Exterior Design
10 years ago
I do like the red! Thanks for sharing . . .
sarabeth2 thanked Paradise Restored Landscaping & Exterior Design
bungalowmo
10 years ago
Totally cute for totally cheap! Really like this. :0)
sarabeth2 thanked bungalowmo
PRO
Studio NOO Design
10 years ago
Beautiful...love red furniture !
sarabeth2 thanked Studio NOO Design
underedenx
10 years ago
Luv the red!
sarabeth2
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks, underedenx - I purchased the Paint Couture, Russian Red at this shop in Cary, NC: www.southoffrancefurniture.com
PRO
Hidden Charm
10 years ago
Sarabeth... I use and carry the entire Paint Couture!™ collection and have this suggestion for the future. As you already know, red is a tough color to get a good opaque coverage with. Using a grey or tinted primer does help reduce coats, but I've found that using a yellow tone (such as our color Spanish sunrise) as a base coat under our Russian red it will cover much easier and with fewer coats.
The desk looks fabulous, by the way!!!
PRO
Michael Lee, Inc
10 years ago
Great color! Wonderful new look!
saratogaswizzlestick
10 years ago
I do see a lot of nicks in the before. Very nice red, a lovely transformation.
Sharron Sinclair
10 years ago
Really nice.
Samuel Benbow
10 years ago
It has a new lease on life! The piece is nice, but it looked very dated before. Good job! Nice colour choice as well!
Louise Hockenson
10 years ago
Really nice & Love the color.
Dixie Henrie
10 years ago
Really attractive. How did you apply the paint.
Holly McCord
10 years ago
Changing the legs on this piece would have given it a really updated look there is a disconnect between the new pulls and the style of the legs, but very nice job.
katfon
10 years ago
I'd have thrown away the "before" piece as painting it wouldn't have crossed my mind. I consider it an almost impossible job to do. The new look is fantastic, it's like a completely different desk and I kindly disagree with the previous comment of changing the legs. Good job!
Ellen Martin
10 years ago
What work did the desk require before you painted it for the paint to bond?
L O
10 years ago
That looks awesome! Good job ;-)
Jeffrey Favreau
10 years ago
Nice job but I have had great success with chalk paint!! It did not take me 8 coats of paint wow a lot of layers, my opinion but sure is less work my way!!!
inkwitch
10 years ago
Love it! Turned out great! This inspires me to paint a tired-looking table.
PRO
TeamZupko.com, Inc.
10 years ago
How many quarts of paint to do this with 3 coats?
Bridget White
10 years ago
Beautiful and a great inspirational piece for figuring out how to fit a functional sewing station in a very small space.
Margaret Heller
10 years ago
Really? That was the best you could do?
Constance Koopman
10 years ago
I have a desk similar I was thinking of getting rid of or transforming. Right now it is painted black. That's a lot of paint layers. It looks great though.
PRO
Leichsenring Studios
10 years ago
Love that you opted for the simple and sophisticated solution. Yes, you could have glazed it. There are dozens of things you could have done, but here, using restraint shows that sometimes that cleanest path is the most effective. Love the color choice.
dailypainter
10 years ago
Transformed? I don't think so...
PRO
Hidden Charm
10 years ago
@janzupko I'm sure she barely used 1/4 of a quart.
PRO
Leichsenring Studios
10 years ago
Can't say it enough times. Transformation doesn't mean it has to be glazed, embossed, gilded, foiled, aged or distressed. Transformation can be subtle and sophisticated.
PRO
Studio NOO Design
10 years ago
Love the red, very nice !
Patricia Miller
10 years ago
I believe it is Ethan Allen furniture. The handles have been changed too.

Old Desk Transformed

Dytecture

Comments (34)

sarabeth2
Original Author

Related Discussions

Brenda

splagna

User

sarabeth2
Original Author

Paradise Restored Landscaping & Exterior Design

bungalowmo

Studio NOO Design

underedenx

sarabeth2
Original Author

Hidden Charm

Michael Lee, Inc

saratogaswizzlestick

Sharron Sinclair

Samuel Benbow

Louise Hockenson

Dixie Henrie

Holly McCord

katfon

Ellen Martin

L O

Jeffrey Favreau

inkwitch

TeamZupko.com, Inc.

Bridget White

Margaret Heller

Constance Koopman

Leichsenring Studios

dailypainter

Hidden Charm

Leichsenring Studios

Studio NOO Design

Patricia Miller

COMPANY

EXPLORE HOUZZ

CONNECT WITH US

Old Desk Transformed

Comments (34)

sarabeth2Original Author

Related Discussions

sarabeth2Original Author

sarabeth2Original Author

COMPANY

EXPLORE HOUZZ

CONNECT WITH US

sarabeth2
Original Author

sarabeth2
Original Author

sarabeth2
Original Author