The V Spot

Rants, observations, and home decorating... from a woman with no time for a blog.


Yes, I know they’re noodle bowls. Shut up already.

36 Comments

I’m crafty. I’m cheap. I’m able to see potential in almost everything.
Those things combine to create a perfect storm of unfinished projects.

This secretary desk/dresser isn’t finished.
As you can see, the most glaring problem is that I haven’t found feet for this yet. So yes. Your eyes do not deceive you. This piece of furniture is resting on four, upside down noodle bowls.
secretary desk with monogram
It also needs trim pieces along the back and at the bottom. (And did I mention it needs feet?)

refinishing a secretary desk
It was a basic brown bow-wow with boring stain and antiquated pulls. I’m horrible about remembering to take before pictures until I’m in the middle of the during portion of the project…antiquated drawer pulls
I’d already started with the sanding block by the time I remembered the camera. I lightly sanded everything and then shot it with primer.
refinishing dresser drawers
My original plan was to spray paint it with my favorite Heirloom White (Rustoleum’s American Accent) and then distress the edges and put new hardware on.
I wanted it to go right inside my front door to house keys, bills, stamps, etc. However, it was too stark and practically created white-out conditions in the area.

primered secretary desk
So then I decided to hand paint the edges of the drawers and desk top with black acrylic paint.
Too contrast-y.
I whipped up a brew of antiquing glaze, pearlized acrylic paint and lustre finish ModPodge. I brushed it on and then wiped it off with paper towels.
Better and it had a nice sheen to it.
glazing a drawer
I found a scroll design on the internet, printed it and enlarged it until it was the right size.
I taped it on the desk portion of the piece and traced over it with a ball point pen, making sure the pressure from the pen left an imprint to guide me.
Then I took a black Sharpie and colored in the design.

(That’s right, you heard me. A Sharpie.)

It still needed something, so I took one of the aforementioned noodle bowls and used that as a template and traced a circle. Printed a “W” off the internet and did the same Sharpie process with that.
hand drawn monogram
Once the pen was dry, I put the glaze over that as well.metallic drawer pull
The spray paint and new pulls probably totaled about $20, but I had everything else already.
secretary desk
The best part? Handsome Hubby likes it.
Except for the noodle bowls.
He thinks I should paint ’em black.
(kidding.)
We’ll see what happens.
I’ll post an update once I finally finish.Linking up HERE

Comments

  1. It looks great! You did a wonderful job even with the noodle bowls.
    I too have a list of my unfinished projects. You know we don’t want to finish it all then what would we do? he he
    Hugs, Bobbi Jo

    Reply

  2. Lovely. It’s always lovely when you show us your creative side.
    And you do a stellar job with pix and descriptions.

    I’m impressed with the usefulness. We’re working on a kitchen with [so far] no place for keys, sunglasses and phones.
    This is a wonderful spot for all the crap we dump when we come in the house.

    Brilliant V.

    Reply

  3. This came out so pretty! Well except the noodle bowls…but what a laugh I got out of your title!
    Please post again when you find the feet. I love this!
    ~Sherrie

    Reply

  4. For some reason those noodle bowls kinda work!
    I would’ve given up after I painted the edges black and decided it was to contrast-y. Have I mentioned I’m a half-asser?
    Great job!
    : )
    Macey

    Reply

  8. Holy Cow! You are amazing…like seriously! I’m so not worthy to stand next to you in blogland!

    It is really beautiful, Vivienne, I love it!

    Reply

  9. Vivienne, What a great project to share! Great job in making it what you want it to be…even with some trial and error. I really love the design you added onto it. Lovely!!

    Thanks for being a part of this month’s craft challenge.

    Reply

  11. What a beautiful piece. I love the W and the scroll design. I like you uses what works like the sharpie!

    The noodle bowls crack me up!! If that was my house it would be like that for a very long time!!

    Reply

  14. You’re super creative and resourceful! I love this re-do…noodle bowls and all…they’re really my favorite part of the whole project. 😉 I love the monogramming. Monogramming always adds a certain pizzazz to things. Very pretty!

    Reply

  15. Noodly Shmoodle… your new crafty legs look good to me. That was a fantastic project! Love the pearled look… and the monogram! Sharpie?!?!? you win, girl, you’ve got talent!

    Reply

  16. Hey Vivian,

    How are you. Thanks for visiting my site the other day. I relly like yours. I am very interested in projects like the one you have here with the dresser. I can’t believe what you did with it. looks fantastic.
    Shaune

    Reply

  20. I love this project!!!! You made me laugh with those noodle bowls. It would probably be sitting around my house that way for a few years! 🙂

    Reply

  29. Wow. I am so impressed! Tracing a design with a pen, painting with a Sharpie, mixing Mod Podge with glaze? Double wow. I have learned so much today. And the noodle bowls? Genius. And here I was using PVC pipes to hold up my furniture! 🙂

    Reply

  30. This would be a great piece for our hallway too. Throw all the mail in. I just love it. I sort of have that eye for jewels in the rough but not as good as yours I think.

    Reply

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