Thursday, October 6, 2011

The Adorned Atelier

This could be a "before" and "after" post had I not been too lazy to photograph my desk in its previous state, but I'll just have to go with a "ta-da!" approach instead. 

My new workstation and I first crossed paths at a secondhand store in town. It started life with a school-desk hue (you know, like an orange stain that resembles someone who's indulged in too much spray tan). During the last two summers, I stripped and sanded the piece until it was back to its natural color. It was carried up and down a flight of stairs a million times so I could work on it little by little outside with adequate ventilation. The desk even spent a winter in our hallway, waiting for the day when it would be finished and put to use.

Finally, the weather perked up few weeks ago and I spray painted the desk with a couple of cans of Krylon. 

I'm thinking it'll have to be sealed at some point. I also bought a porcelain accent knob that will one day replace the original wooden one. In my mind, though, I consider the desk done and ready for use. I'm ecstatic with the results of my first "stray" furniture revamp but I learned that my artistic leanings require way more instant gratification. Taking more than a year to complete this recycling process took more time than I initially anticipated. All in all, however, I'm very proud of my project. I'm glad this desk gets a second chance, and I can't wait to make good use of it.