Free desk has found it's home!

We finally moved that free desk I posted about here into my son's room.  Here is a picture of the desk when we got it home.

As you can tell, it was missing a drawer front as well as drawer pulls.  You can't tell from this picture but the top was a little rough and the rope detail around the top was really rough. 

I was originally going to paint it.  But in the light of day, I could see it only needed a good cleaning and refinishing the top.  That was no problem.  This was my first venture into using a stripper.  No jokes please.  I had to listen to enough of them from hubby every time I talked about "stripping" the desk.  He was a thousand laughs a minute I tell you.  So, I worked on the top while hubby made a bottom for the now cubby hole instead of drawer. 

Let me tell you that it was not easy finding drawer pulls the right size.  I luckily found some at Menard's that were being discontinued for only $2.50 each.  They were a brass but I decided to spray paint them oil rubbed bronze.  Unfortunately, it looked too black for my taste.  So, I took a little Spanish rub n' buff to add a little more umf to the handles.

After I stained and polyed the inside of the lower drawer made cubby, it was ready to go.  But then, the phone rang and it was the neighbor who had put the desk out for trash.  My heart beat a little faster because I thought maybe she was going to ask for it back.  But to my surprise, she had told me she had a piece of glass specifically cut for the desk.  She said I could have it or else it would be on its way to Goodwill.  I quickly did a quiet squeal and cartwheel.  So, without further ado, here it is:

My son informed me that he needs a laptop to do his homework at his new desk.  I had to break the news to him that kindergartners don't have homework at his school.

I'm linking up with:

   

May edit to add links to parties.

Dining room buffet

This is my find that I worked on during my week break from blogging.

I have been to the auction 4 different times to get buffets similar to this one.  Of course, I spent the whole day there finally to bid and lose to a vendor every time.  Well, I am always keeping an eye out on Craig's list.  I stumbled across this.  The lady was actually selling it with a table but I emailed and asked if she would be willing to do them separately.  Luckily, she said yes.  So, on the hottest day of the year, I borrowed my mom's blazer with no air conditioner, drove across town and brought it home for $100.  I never wanted to spend that much but seeing how I wasted 4 days at the auctions, I figure I saved somehow.

You can't tell from the photo but the top had to be refinished and I knew I would be painting it to match my table.  Initially, I wanted to stain the top a dark color but decided against it.  When I stripped the top, I really liked the bare wood/veneer.  I decided to just poly it.  For the body of the buffet.  I primed it with 3 coats, painted 2 coats of my heavy cream, distressed and glazed it, and applied my poly.  I took me a while because I like to sand in between every coat of primer, paint, and poly.  

Here it is:

                    

This is a little close up

I'm so proud of how it turned out.  I have been working on expelling the musty smell old furniture tends to get.  I cleaned it out the Murphey's oil, aired it outside for 2 days, and finally filled all the drawers with tons of crumpled newspaper and activated carbon.  I am letting it set for a week with the carbon and newspaper.  I don't really smell anything but will still wait to make sure.

I plan on sharing this at:

                                           

 I will be editing to add links to parties.