sammer party: "D" is for Desk

Another makeover, more like a total overhaul, took place and no I am not starting homeschooling - meet our newest furniture piece:

I saw this desk posted on Freecycle and just knew the kids would love it!

I however did not love the bubble gum pink paint and I knew that wooden seat was too great to cover up with paint. Plus I wanted to be able to use the desk on the main floor for homework and play so I knew it was going to need a serious makeover.

The top even opens for storage and holds straight for writing level - brings back some memories!

You know how they say "it's going to get worse before it gets better"? Well that was definitely the case here. This picture is after an entire can of stripper and lots of sanding with the mouse sander:

Here you can see the original salmon color slightly on the inside, it was all over the desk portion too, hiding under that bubble gum pink:

Once I saw the chrome I knew it had to stay so out came the steel wool for some clean up and shine.

And then I found some aluminum paint (Rustoleum oil based enamel) in the basement and went all over the metal parts including the inside, two coats, it looks so smooth and sleek and shines like the top of the Chrysler building!

Look at that detail on the feet, it's like an airplane ready for take off.
It was beginning to remind me of a kids version these chairs:

Aviator Chair

image from Restoration Hardware

The wooden seat needed a nice stain, I used Minwax medium brown with some satin poly on top. It looks so great and really shows the age and beauty of a wooden school desk seat.

Looks like these chairs (no longer available):

image from Pottery Barn Kids

Then for a little color I sprayed the bottom of the desk portion with Rustoleum in Colonial Red gloss finish.

Now she's really ready for some schoolwork and lovely enough to have a place in the main living area. Thank you to Freecycler Gary, hope you don't mind the color change!