Antique Desk (Library Table) Makeover

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I'm in love with today's project.  My friend Laura gave me this antique desk because she needed to purge some pieces and she didn't think she would get around to this one.  Thank you Laura, you are awesome!  This piece was definitely in bad shape. 

 So I was looking for something that I can make into a bathroom vanity.  I was wondering if this is it.  Hmmm, can't decide, I think it will be gorgeous, but I'm not sure how it is going to clean up, then would I change the top, it's in such bad shape anyway, or would I just layer a piece of plexi or glass on top.  But it's too deep, so I will have to cut some off the back and move the legs forward.  I decided to sand it down and see how it goes and decide later.

  The top was very wavy.  The whole desk had been painted or stained with red, which was sort of flaking off, it was a mess.  But can you see the potential?

 I broke out my trusty sander,

 and sanded it down to bare wood, exposing a beautiful grain.  See those pieces of wood laying on the ground behind the desk?  That is the top.

 I broke apart all of the boards because they were almost completely separated anyway.There were 2 spots where the glue just wouldn't let go, so the wood tore a bit.  I cleaned out the joints and glued them back together.

I also glued some of the desk back together.  I'm not sure what all this desk has endured over the years, but she was not treated well.  I stained the whole thing with Ebony stain.

 Are you ready to see what she looks like now?  Ta daaa! 

 Isn't it gorgeous?  Look at the wood grain!  

 Can you tell how much I love this one?  It still has some scars on the top, but this is not a new piece of furniture, it has been around for a long time.  Who knows what it has been through, it has character.

 She's all dressed up and ready to be loved again for a long long time.

I don't think I can cut this up, although I think it would make an awesome vanity if I added a board in front of the board at the bottom to hold baskets.  And maybe put drawers on each side of the drawer where the shelves are, you see where my mind goes, I can see it, but then it's so pretty right now.  Yeah, I think I will have to keep looking for a vanity.

I believe I have another desk similar to this one, it is in pieces, and I haven't attempted it yet, but I think I'm ready, but I have a feeling it won't be a vanity either.

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Modern Magnificence, A Beautiful Dresser Makeover

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I bought this dresser at a yard sale, the finish was bad, but it was still good and sturdy.

I sanded the top because the finish was very worn.  I lean toward curves and scrolls etc, but I have to admit sanding something flat is so easy!  The top looked so good that I decided to sand the front.  Then the front looked so good I decided to go ahead and sand the whole thing.

At this point I was still planning to use some bright coloured paint somewhere on this thing.

I stained the top and front and was going to paint the rest, but I just couldn't commit to a colour.

I decided to move on to choosing hardware since I couldn't decide on a colour. 

 So... go modern?

Old school?

Add a little bling? (Always a good choice.)

And the winner is...

I love these little guys!

Now the problem with choosing the modern hardware is that I needed to cover the little holes left by the old hardware.  I had a few ideas but settled on this one, numbers.  At this point I was planning to paint the rest of the dresser white to match the numbers.  I asked my friend Laura what she thought and she suggested leaving the trim natural.  After much thought I decided to stain the sides and leave the rest natural.  It was a "natural" choice for this one, and I believe it was the right choice.

I know I probably say this every time, but I really LOVE this one!

I know this deserves some gorgeous background and beautiful staging, but my workshop is on the second story of my little building and I just can't wrestle my furniture around by myself (well, not once the finish is so pretty at least), and I can never wait to get them posted, so please try to ignore the mess and just feast your eyes on the beauty of the piece. :)

I think I will take wheels off of it, but for now it was so nice to easily be able to wheel it around to work on it, that I think I will leave them on for now.

Big news here, in less than 2 weeks My husband, daughter, son-in-law, and I are heading to Croatia.  Croatia is my husbands homeland and he has never been back since he came to Canada as an orphan in 1972.  When we get home from there I am taking a year off work, possibly leading to retirement.  We have starting gutting a stone house that we own, and are planning on redoing the whole house.  Life is going to be getting busier than ever!

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