A two toned chalk paint desk redo.
I don’t know about your wallet but mine is still pretty empty from the Christmas season. I feel like it happens every year – we go overboard and then we’re broke and trying to catch up all January long. I tried doing that whole money saving thing last year where you add $1 the first week, $2 the second week and so on up until $52 the 52nd week but that lasted about five weeks before I forgot about it and then had to rob the jar a few weeks after that. Being a crafty DIY type of person that doesn’t stop me from shopping my house for supplies or projects. I have a list of things I want to do when we get a bit of extra money but for now I am trying to work on things that I put off during the holiday season. Last weekend was a three day weekend for my two older boys with Monday being Martin Luther King Day. I took advantage and started redoing a desk my mother-in-law bought for us at an estate sale.
The desk was free to me. I had bought the chalk paint for it a while back so the only thing I had to buy was the stain for the top and another foam brush which set me back $12. I have plenty of stain left for a few more projects too.
This is what the desk looked like when I started. It was a bit beat up and the top had some scratches but otherwise it was in really good shape and most importantly the drawers were in perfect shape. If I had to give one tip on picking furniture to redo it would be to check all of the drawers. A lot of times the piece might look really nice but the drawers are broken or stuck and to me there is nothing more frustrating! A piece of furniture with broken drawers is like a drink with a broken straw.
Normally I would be more organized by finishing one part before moving onto another but I went back and fourth with this desk. My husband had to work 3-11pm every day this weekend and with all four kids home I had to work in stages. The weather was super nice last weekend so I was able to let them play in the backyard while I did most of the work on the back porch.
Two Toned Chalk Paint Desk Supplies
(some affiliate links are included to Amazon products I used)
Ryobi Sander
Sandpaper for the sander
220 grit sand paper sheets
Minwax Stain (I used Jacobean)
FolkArt Chalk Paint (I used Parisian Grey)
FolkArt Wax Sealer (I used clear and dark wax)
Phillips head screwdriver
Old cloth (I save my children’s stained clothes for these projects)
Painters tape (not required but suggested)
Foam brushes
I started out by removing the drawers and taking off all of the hardware with a Phillips head screwdriver. Then I painted the drawers using chalk paint and a foam brush. I used Folk Art chalk paint in Parisian Gray. The next day I sanded down the top of the desk with my Ryobi hand sander and hand sanded the top edges.
Here is a picture showing the desk before and after the top of the desk was stained. I used Minwax Jacobean for the stain and it turned out absolutely beautiful. To protect the bottom part of the desk (since I had already painted some it) I used painters tape to protect from dripping. If I would have waited to paint the bottom I wouldn’t have needed the tape and could have just sanded off any area where it dripped down.
Once I finished painting with the Parisian grey I used clear wax and the dark wax on the bottom of the desk to give it a weathered and worn look. I used pieces of an old baby onesie to rub the wax on and off for the look I wanted. On the drawers I only used the clear wax to give them a bit of contrast.
The Finished Two Tone Desk
It seems like for each thing I finish on my to-do list I think of two more things to add. I want to build a sofa table to set frames on in our downstairs living room, a bar for Mike’s man room and redo a shelf I bought at an antique extravaganza this past weekend.
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Lovely desk! You did a great job, inspiring me!
Love it! If possible, would you be able to please elaborate on the waxing process of using both the clear and dark wax? Thanks. 🙂
Its a beautiful desk. Can you tell me what. you used to protect the top?
What did you use to seal the top of the desk? I’ve done this and used gel stain on the top but not sure how to seal it.
Thanks. Love your pic!
I love the way this turned out. Did you use a sealer on the top of the desk?
This comment is for the anonymous writer and I am replying to the post from August 20, 2016.
As far as the streaks on the newly stained desk top, it is supposed to be that way . It is a stain and not a paint. A stain brings out the natural beauty of the wood, while paint covers up the wood. What you here see is a natural wood grain pattern, which is very beautiful. If you would like a more solid look ,use regular paint. Great job on this. I will be taking some ideas and incorporating them with mine.
I love this desk and am going to refinish one very similar. Not sure I get anonymous. Guess the thought of looking further didn't occur to them!!
I just don't get it. This is the 15th or so blog that I have seen where the after picture looks just as bad as the before. Why do people like having ugly brown streaks on their newly painted furniture? It looks like someone put their dirty, greasy hands all over your desk. It's nasty! It's a pretty desk and I love the blue-gray color but the brown streaks just ruin it. I'm currently repainting my desk and I was looking for photos for inspiration and all I can find is this dirty "vintage" look. Apparently it's popular. Like I said above, I just don't get it. 🙁
Then go to Ikea, it’s all EVEN and junk, oh and you get to put it together. Good luck
The desk looks great! I really like how it turned! I love vintage furniture! It just have a spirit of another time! Greets, Storage New Cross Ltd.