Desk Gets Glam Makeover

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Woodworker applying whitewash finish to wooden fireplace mantel in workshop setting

I always dreamed of having one of those glamorous dressing rooms with a big makeup table and sparkly crystals everywhere. Well, it only took me 52 years but I finally have one and I absolutely love it!

 

When we purchased our home, the décor colors were…interesting. The “pink room” was aptly named because of the wall-to-wall pink carpet and pink walls. I love pink, but YIKES! A few coats of Valspar Lark Wing paint on the walls and a big gray and white area rug have toned down the pink carpet until it can be replaced at some point. (Too many home improvement projects, not enough time or cash!) 

PHOTO: The pink nightmare.

Empty room with pink walls, pink carpet, white curtains, and wood trim baseboards

 

On one of my many visits to our local Habitat ReStore, I spied this neat but neglected desk and brought it home to repurpose into a new vanity. It was missing pieces of veneer, the drawer handles were crusty and it was pretty beat up, but overall structurally sound. 

 

Curved vintage wooden desk with multiple drawers and metal oval pulls on tiled floor
Another Habitat ReStore find!
Curved vintage wooden desk with multiple drawers showing worn and scratched surface.

Cosmetically rough, but structurally solid.

Close-up of curved wooden desk drawers with round metal pulls and carved trim details

Drawer pulls were rusty and old.

I knew I wanted a black vanity to match a few other pieces in the room. That part was easy. What proved difficult was finding new hardware because apparently drawer pulls with 2ʺ centers are an odd size. After many hours of searching, I was able to find some on Build.com, as well as some coordinating satin nickel pulls for the larger bottom drawers. 

Close-up of a painted wooden desk corner with decorative floral molding detail and exposed interior shelves.
General Finishes Lamp Black Milk Paint
Black painted wooden desk frame with decorative carved floral accents and missing drawers in workshop setting
General Finishes Pearl Effects in Argentine Pearl
Black painted wooden desk frame with decorative carved floral accents and missing drawers in workshop setting

The steps to this makeover are pretty easy but the transformation is dramatic. After removing the existing hardware and sanding the entire piece, I brushed on two coats of General Finishes Lamp Black Milk Paint (3 coats on drawer fronts and top). 

Since this is for my girly room, I decided to make the sides of the drawers pink. So fun! To get the pink color, I mixed Black Dog Salvage Furniture Paint in Clean Canvas (white) and Appalachian Sunset. I taped off the fronts/sides as I painted each color.

I finished up with 3 coats of General Finishes High Performance Topcoat in Flat over the entire project.   

Curved drawer front on painted wood desk with decorative liner and makeup palettes inside

Drawers lined in Damask shelf liner

Black-painted wooden desk with two open drawers showing dovetail joints and decorative drawer liners
Pretty pink shows when drawers are open
Black-painted vintage wooden desk with silver drawer pulls and decorative trim accents

A touch of shimmer with Pearl Effects

Lastly, I put the new hardware on and lined the drawers with a pretty Damask shelf paper. 

Here she is, below, all finished and in my new dressing glamorous room. I think Audrey Hepburn approves. Now all I need is a sparkly crystal chandelier to complete the look. 

 

BONUS: To see the makeover of the jewelry armoire in the corner, check out this blog. 

Black vintage-style wooden desk with curved front and silver handles in glam room setting

What project is on your dream list? Stop by your local Woodcraft store and let them help you make it come true! 

We hope you'll be inspired!

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