Updating a desk with Chalk Paint

Update your traditional furniture with Chalk Paint and a few tips.

Often times we are asked at the shop to hunt for specific pieces of 

vintage furniture for clients. We have contacts with auction houses and 

can usually source what we need to find in a few weeks.  Ana wanted

a drop front desk that we would paint to go with her decor.

Sometimes it seems that what you were looking for was plentiful,

but as soon as you want to buy it becomes very scarce!

It took us about a month when finally we came upon two options

at one auction. A very french style drop front desk up on legs.

and a more traditional New England style drop front desk

we call a Governor Winthrop desk. 

We purchased both at auction and Ana chose the Governor Winthrop.

We still have the french desk, and I will be painting that soon for the shop.

This grainy auction pic above shows the mahogany desk with ball and claw feet.

 After Ana made a visit to Maison Decor at 150 Main Street, Reading, MA, 

the colors were chosen for the desk.  Here it is with two coats of 

Coco Chalk Paint by Annie Sloan on the exterior.  

No waxing had been done yet. All the hardware was removed, 

but was being painted and gilded per Ana's custom order.

 This is our trick for painting hardware if we have to remove it. 

 Get some thick cardboard and push the drawer pull right through 

the cardboard and it will stay still while you paint and wax it. No dirty fingers! 

And no lost hardware, it all stays nice and neat until its ready to be reattached. 

The hardware above was just getting coated with the clear and dark

 wax to protect and seal it.  After this step it would be gilded for the finishing touch.

 The interior of the desk has a little surprise! 

It is finished with a contrast color, Duck Egg!

A pale green-blue color that is the number one selling color in our shop. 

The desk above is shown before wax was applied. 

 Ana wanted a dark wax finish, and as you should know, 

that is done only after clear wax is applied.  

We waxed this in traditional fashion by first applying clear wax,

 followed by dark wax.

Do it in sections and then wipe off the excess wax with a soft clean rag.  

We use our large wax brush to apply the clear wax and our 

special dark wax brush to apply the dark wax. If you only have one wax brush, 

use it for the clear wax, and apply the dark wax with a rag. 

 Don't cross contaminate your wax brushes as you want to 

make sure clear waxing stays clear on your next piece.

  Look for all of our wax brushes in our online store as well if you are interested. 

Many ask how do we paint and wax the cubbies? 

 Switch out your brush for a soft rag. Use one rag for clear wax 

and one rag for dark wax. Using my fingers wrapped in a rag 

I get a little wax and spread it around. Then I follow up 

with a rag using dark wax, rubbing it all into the painted wood.

For the narrow side slots I wrapped a rag around a 

painters stirrer stick and applied the wax 

into the recessed area where fingers could not fit.  

After the waxing, I applied German Silver Gilder Paste using 

our Gilder brush to highlight the outside edges of the cubbies.

The edges of the cubbies and the tiny knobs to the apothecary drawers 

were gilded afterwards with German Silver Gilder's Paste, 

our number one selling color of gilding paste.  

Its a champagne gold color and looks pretty amazing

 with any choice of Chalk Paint color.  

Makes for a pretty interior, doesn't it?

Interior is all finished and it looks amazing!

This is such a neat little touch that really makes for an 

elegant presentation when the drop front is opened. 

The interior and exterior shown above with clear 

and dark wax with gilded cubbies.

Now all that is left is to add the hardware back on!

It is also gilded for a bit of understated bling.

Update your older furniture~its simply amazing!