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


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

June 14, 2009 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

Filed Under: Before and After, project du jour

Comments

  1. Bobbi Jo says

    June 14, 2009 at 11:31 PM

    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. Housewife Savant says

    June 15, 2009 at 12:18 AM

    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. Sherrie says

    June 15, 2009 at 1:34 AM

    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. MiMi says

    June 15, 2009 at 1:48 AM

    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
  5. parentingBYdummies says

    June 15, 2009 at 2:05 AM

    Wow! Pretty amazing what you did with a few pieces of wood and some noodle bowls! I am so unhandy it’s scary. Awesome blog:)

    Reply
  6. mama-face says

    June 15, 2009 at 2:17 AM

    Really beautiful! Everything you touch turns to gold.

    I have so much Viv to catch up on…expect loads of enlightening comments soon!

    🙂

    Reply
  7. Becky says

    June 15, 2009 at 2:26 AM

    You could totally hot glue those noodle bowls after you spray paint them and no one would know;)

    Reply
  8. Xazmin says

    June 15, 2009 at 5:24 AM

    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. Heidi @ Blue Eyed Blessings says

    June 15, 2009 at 5:28 AM

    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
  10. ~Bobbi~ says

    June 15, 2009 at 7:08 AM

    You did an amazing job with that! I wouldn’t even have known where to start. Beautiful!

    Reply
  11. Maridith says

    June 15, 2009 at 11:21 AM

    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
  12. Shawn says

    June 15, 2009 at 1:38 PM

    I too am crafty and lately have been forced to be cheap but I have to admit LAZY trumps crafty!

    Looks great girl!

    Reply
  13. Becca @ The Texas Darlings says

    June 15, 2009 at 2:20 PM

    As usual, I’m impressed- I would never tackle a job this big!!

    ~Becca

    Reply
  14. jennykate77 says

    June 15, 2009 at 2:44 PM

    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. Pretty Organizer says

    June 15, 2009 at 3:21 PM

    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. Shaune McNamara says

    June 15, 2009 at 3:26 PM

    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
  17. shaune says

    June 15, 2009 at 3:29 PM

    Hello again.

    Sorry about the way I spelled your name above Vivienne. Cought myself though.

    Reply
  18. Lynn says

    June 15, 2009 at 4:10 PM

    I don’t know…
    I kind of like the noodle bowls.
    Conversation piece.

    Reply
  19. Amanda@Imperfectly Beautiful says

    June 15, 2009 at 7:33 PM

    WOW…that turned out amazing! I am in LOVE with the monogram you pieced together. I am soooo gonna copy that.

    Reply
  20. Jessica says

    June 15, 2009 at 10:28 PM

    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
  21. Funky Junk Interiors says

    June 16, 2009 at 3:11 AM

    STUNNING! I love that finish! And your enhancement just finshes it off perfectly!

    Donna

    Reply
  22. Melissa says

    June 16, 2009 at 3:19 PM

    Beautiful!

    Reply
  23. Dawn says

    June 16, 2009 at 6:10 PM

    That looks amazing! Even with it’s noodle bowl feet!!!

    Reply
  24. Infarrantly Creative says

    June 16, 2009 at 6:49 PM

    LOVE IT…noodle bowls and all. That actually is my favorite part 😉

    Reply
  25. Jane says

    June 16, 2009 at 7:52 PM

    I love the monogram! And, I love Sharpies!

    Reply
  26. The Harris Family says

    June 16, 2009 at 10:03 PM

    Wow! It is so pretty. I love the monogram. It adds the perfect touch.

    Reply
  27. Krystyn says

    June 16, 2009 at 11:15 PM

    It looks great…even with the noodle bowl! You’ve got some serious talent.

    Reply
  28. melissa says

    June 17, 2009 at 2:37 AM

    wow~you did great, Vivienne! Really love the monogram~

    Reply
  29. Kimm at Reinvented says

    June 17, 2009 at 11:47 AM

    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. Kim says

    June 17, 2009 at 2:46 PM

    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
  31. Deneen says

    March 11, 2011 at 12:43 PM

    I love the finish! So glad to see something different!
    dreaming-n-color.blogspot.com

    Reply
  32. Sommer says

    March 11, 2011 at 6:23 PM

    Oh wow. This is so refreshingly different! Just a moment while I wipe the drool off my keyboard. This is a FANTASTIC project. Great job! I would be delighted if you would link this to my VIP party today! http://designergarden.blogspot.com/2011/03/vip-party-6.html

    Cheers!
    Sommer

    Reply
  33. Amanda says

    March 11, 2011 at 6:52 PM

    This is stunning, you’ve done a fantastic job! Great use for noodle bowls, we have some and never used them!

    Reply
  34. Sommer says

    March 11, 2011 at 9:44 PM

    I happen to the think the noodle bowles are quit ingenious!

    Reply
  35. Ann@StylishOnceAgain says

    March 12, 2011 at 1:57 PM

    I think it is awesome. I love the monogram and the sharpie idea is genious!

    Reply
  36. Kelly @ JAX does design says

    March 14, 2011 at 12:09 AM

    Who knew a Sharpie could look so good?! The whole piece looks great, and the scroll & monogram are the perfect finishing touch 🙂

    Reply

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