Home Decor, Gifts and More

Decor tips, trends, and charming treasures for home and garden, gift ideas and much more!

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Harlequin Desk

I found this desk quite by surprise at my local Habitat for Humanity Restore.  I was drawn to the curved top but it was missing a drawer front and definitely needed some love.


I was up for the challenge!


The wood wasn't in great condition, but certainly nothing that a little chalk paint couldn't cover!


My husband made a drawer front out of some spare wood from our shed (it didn't take much convincing to get him to play with wood and saws), and I set out to putty up the holes.  The hardware wasn't original and some were missing, so no loss there.


With a little inspiration from Fox Hollow Cottage, I decided to try a harlequin technique for something a little fun and different.  Contrary to the blog, I did NOT find it "a simple DIY technique"...for dummies, you say?...I don't know what that makes me...but it wasn't simple.  So, I did what any determined woman would do...

...passed the task onto my husband!  

He measured and drew...erased...measured again...drew again...sighed...
erased...measured again...drew...and on and on it goes...meanwhile...

I decided on a mixture of my own version of duck egg blue and paris grey chalk paint with a creamy white.
  
Piles of eraser shavings later and a few coats of chalk paint, this is what I ended up with...a little bluer than I imagined but nothing that the dark wax couldn't tone down.


I finished with a little rough sanding...


And the usual coats of paste wax...


Ready for knobs...


Did I mention how cute the inside of the drawers are?  Love the music notes!


Mercury glass knobs...perfectly girly!  I'm happy with the way it turned out.  I think it would make a super cute desk or if you added a mirror, why not a super cute vanity?

You can find it on the sales floor at the shop - $249.95.

Onward to the next project!

Until next time,

~Mary