Before and After: Roll Top Desk

This roll top desk was in pretty good shape when I found it 

but the varnish was starting to dry up and flake off.  

I was going to sell it "as is" but I really wanted to shabby it!

It is really sturdy and the roll top works perfectly -

a great candidate for a makeover!  The polished brass knobs had to go.

I'm going to replace them with some glass knobs from my collection.

The inside of the desk was in great shape as well - but again, those shiny brass plates on the front of the drawers weren't going to look so great once I painted this desk white!  I love the main drawer handle - it is carved wood so that will just get some white paint and little sanding- no need to replace it with that detail.

So I sanded and painted and sanded some more until all the wood was shabbied!  Then I set to work on the plates - a light sanding and then primed and dried.  I thought the gray primer color would look pretty good but it was too severe.  So I painted the plates and screw heads with a light gray spray paint and reattached them.

Next onto the knobs!  The knobs can make or break a piece - I first tried pink knobs but I didn't think the pink looked that great on a roll top - perhaps on a desk with some ornate carving.  Then I tried some antique green glass knobs I had - green may limit the buyers and I was doing this piece for resale.  So I went back to basic clear glass knobs.  I had three different kinds; flower, beaded edge and star. I finally settled on the star ones.

So with the plates and the knobs back on I just had to finish sanding

the inside desk area again so it was nice and smooth.  

 A dry paintbrush works great for dusting out all the dust from sanding.

With the lid closed, I sanded the ridges of the roll top so they would be shabbied, too.  You can see the nice carving in the drawer handle here.

This desk is ready for a new owner to cherish!

The solid oak desk has received a fresh makeover and is ready for a new home.

As the sun sets, I load the desk into the car, 

ready to take to Melange for our Bastille Day Sale!

Come on by if you are in the area and have some French treats 

- and maybe you will win one of our gift baskets!!

I'm linking up to these parties - check them out!