Refinished: Childhood Desk

The Hobby Room is really steam rolling along! Yesterday I refinished the desk, which has been my desk since childhood. It's been in my family for generations, so it is a very special piece to me.

Happy little desk.

My mom refinished it for my childhood room - which was a playful white, pink and green. 

I don't plan the colors of my projects out in advance, I wait until I see what is available in the remnant paint section at the home improvement store before deciding which direction each piece will take. I found this amazing raspberry pink a few weeks ago and knew it was the perfect, modern pink for my desk. 

I began mentally designing the room as a modern-day homage to my childhood room - instead of light pink, green and white I would use raspberry, light mint and ivory. Classy and sophisticated with a dash of vibrance. 

I started by taking off all the hardware and sanding down the desk. 

Naked desk!

Once I had the first layer of pink on I was thinking "Wow, this pink is pretty dark. I love it." I continued painting away and a few hours later it was all done and I stepped back....and realized my happy pink was red. 

RED desk.

Well, shoot. Happy accident? I'm still trying to be convinced. 

Thankfully, it turned out beautifully and the hardware I'd purchased for it still works. The room design has shifted from dreamy and vibrant to modern nautical. Here is the finished piece: 

Still red.

I love the feminine flower pulls I found at Hobby Lobby. They were 50% off this week! #Score They didn't have 8 of the flowers, so I mixed it up a bit and got similar sizes/shapes in different pulls. This helps the flowers stand out and gives the desk a punky edge. I am starting to love the whole thing.

Total cost for this renovation was $27.

Pretty flower pull - Hobby Lobby

Ta-da!!!

I loved working on this project and although it didn't turn out as I planned, I am happy to have a fresh look to this timeless, classic piece that's been with me since childhood. 

As a final note - Bill was away all day yesterday and left me his car..but he was afraid I would make a mess and splatter paint on it....please compare the garage to the place he parked his car: 

Princess always helps - and that's a sneak peek
to the next project I'm going to feature :) 

REALLY?!

Let me just say, I made a SLIGHT mess in the GRASS to the right of this photo, but nowhere NEAR the precious vehicle. 

I made the mess, but did not step in it. Princess stepped in it, but tracked pink paint around the grass and that's all. Bill got home, trekked through the mess (without realizing it) and then walked all the way through the house, with red paint all over the bottom of his sandal. We have ivory carpet. 

Yes, I was thrilled. 

Did you know baking soda and vinegar gets red paint out of ivory carpet?