Furniture painting… Desk

This antique desk has such beautiful lines and great detail. Unfortunately it has been abused over the years and was badly stained, mainly on the top as shown, but in numerous other spots as well. The solution? Paint! Furniture painting is one of my favorite things to do!! It is so amazing how paint can transform a piece of furniture. I know a lot of antique enthusiasts hate painted furniture, but I love it. A fresh coat of a bright paint can really make details pop, especially if distressing is done in all the right places.

This piece was first primed with four layers of a white paint and then the top coat, a light grey, finished it off. Once it was good and dry the desk was distressed along the sharp edges of the top, legs and drawers and of course on the carved detail that decorates this piece. Sanding these places with a heavy grit sand paper allows the color of the wood, as well as, the white primer to show through adding character to the grey finish. The knobs, original to this desk, were also painted. I chose a black paint for the hardware, which I think really adds a pop of color to this fabulous desk! To complete the look and protect the gorgeous new finish I polished it with a nice coat of wax.