I am excited to work on this secretary desk. We had one in our living room when I was growing up. Even then I wondered how it would look painted.
I chose Annie Sloan Olive Chalk Paint, because it is a beautiful color, and I thought it was the right vibe for the secretary desk.
Always stir your Chalk Paint before using it to get the true color.
I was not a big fan of the hardware. They look like the Batman signal to me. I removed the handles and center pieces and filled in the little hole marks.
The handles left marks. So to smooth it out, I sanded this area as well as the spackled holes.
You won’t see them once they are painted.
Once prep work was done, I began painting.
I really love this color, so rich!
Oh yes, I had to paint the inside too!
I am not going to lie, this was a bear to paint.
It took three coats. Did I say this was a bear!
I plan on putting a transfer on the drop door.
I let the desk dry overnight. The transfer needs to be applied to a clean dry area.
I learned about re-design Prima from YouTube. They have a variety of items. Transfers, decoupage, stencils, etc. I decided on re-design Prima ‘Somewhere in Paris’ for the gold detailing.
The transfer comes in three parts. You can use it all together or each separately. I used just the top part.
The transfer goes on before any wax or topcoat. Simply pull off the backing and center the transfer. Once placed, use the tool that comes with transfer and gently rub until it releases.
Next, I used Annie Sloan waxes to add depth. I always put clear wax on first. It allows you to move the black wax better.
I ordered new hardware from Amazon. I love their simple elegance. I added some gold gilding wax to pick up the gold in the transfer.
Using Rub’ n Buff, I put some on my finger (you can also use a small brush) and wiped it on the handles.
A little goes a long way.
I also highlighted some of the detailing inside the desk with gold.
The final touch of gold went around the outside of the drop door. It really made the transfer stand out.
I did not stop there. I added re-design decoupage paper in washed damask to the sides of the drawers.
This was the first time I have done that, and it will not be the last!
I am very pleased with the results. It feels so good to be refinishing furniture again! Next week I think I will do it again. I see a dresser and maybe decoupage…
