Furniture Makeover: Writing Desk Painted Black With Gold Accents
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This writing desk is a classic. Painting it black and accenting the details in gold was the perfect makeover choice.
I bought the desk at my favorite online auction and paid waaaayyy too much for it. But those details were calling my name and I got carried away. The price was $85 plus the auction fee. I know, call me crazy.
There were no markings on the desk and I couldn’t find a similar table online so I’m not sure when it was manufactured. I did find a “calling card” in the top drawer. Isn’t that cool? After looking at all the photos, maybe you can help me determine the age of the desk?
Today is Furniture Fixer Upper Day, and you know what that means… five furniture makeovers.
The piece on the top back of the desk was splintered beyond repair so we removed it. I found a detailed replacement piece in my wood stash.
This is how the desk looked after we replaced the piece. We had a bit of an issue shooting the nails through the wood.
A few came through the front of the bottom piece, and when we tried to remove the nails, we ended up making some deep gouges in the wood. More on that later.
The desk was in excellent condition and very well-made. It was an impressive and expensive piece in it’s day. The drawer pulls were top of the line too with a nail to hold the drop pull in place.
The round knobs have metal spikes that stick into the wood to keep the knobs from rotating and scratching the drawer fronts.
I always remove drawer knobs and pulls before painting furniture. Tip: cover the screw hole on the inside of the drawer with painter’s tape to keep your paint from seeping into the drawer.
Also tape around the back of the drawer fronts to ensure a nice paint line. In this case, instead of using one piece of tape and painting over the dovetailing on the sides, I chose to tape over the dovetailing so the great craftsmanship could still be seen.
The legs were on casters and I covered those with painters tape too.
The wood on the back of the desk had several holes where the mirror was originally attached and I filled those with wood putty. Once the putty was dry I sanded it flush with the surface of the wood.
Wow sometimes it takes a lot of work to get to the painting process. I chose the Caviar color from Dixie Belle for this project. It is one of my favorite colors.
After applying the first coat of paint, I noticed that the area where my husband and I removed the nails looked a little rough, so I added wood putty filler to it. I then sanded it smooth after it dried.
Drop Cloth Chalk Mineral Paint
Caviar Chalk Mineral Paint
Peacock Chalk Mineral Paint
My original intention was to distress the paint but after thinking about it overnight I decided to spruce the desk up with a bit of gold paint. But the gold paint on the detailed piece was too stark so I painted over it.
That dovetailing is still in perfect condition. I couldn’t paint over it.
I cleaned the wheels with Howard’s Feed ‘n Wax. I use that stuff for all kinds of things. Spraying WD40 on the wheels didn’t appeal to me.
Next, I spray-painted the drawer pulls with Rust-Oleum Metallic Gold.
The bright gold was too much against the black paint or at least that’s my opinion.
I dry brushed the black paint (Caviar, Dixie Belle) over the gold drawer knobs and pulls.
Then, I needed to do something about the wood applique on the bottom middle drawer.
I very, very, lightly dry brushed Dixie Belle Gold Gilding Wax over the applique.
The drawers needed to be fancied up too, and I lined them with scrapbook paper from my stash, and Ta-Da!
That’s the story. I love how this classic piece looks classy in black and gold.
As you can see I did dry brush the gold very lightly over the wood applique and the black paint very lightly over the gold knobs.
It is always good to have the original drawer knobs. I first thought I would buy new ones, but why??
What do you think of the writing desk now. Did I do it proud or would you rather have the original wood finish. I admit I loved the wood but the legs and the top were really scratched up.
Leave a note for me if you have time before heading out on the Furniture Fixer Upper Tour. Just click the links below the “before” makeovers photo collage….
Furniture Fixer Upper Tour:
Paint A Kids Table And Chair Set – Confessions of a Serial DIY’er
How To Paint A Wood Chair – Salvaged Inspirations
Piano Bench Makeover – My Repurposed Life
How To Paint End Tables – A Ray Of Sunlight
How To Paint A Classic Desk – Petticoat Junktion (you are here)
As always thanks for being here, Kathy
Very sharp. I could be motivated to get back into this hobby.
I love the black with the gold touches, nice job!
Stunning! I love that, especially the drawer liner!
Yes the plan is to sell it and I totally agree about the color choices these days. If you follow the blog you know how much I love color!
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Thanks so much for the comment Deborah. I agree about the dry brushing for the knobs and the applique. I am going to go over them again. Thanks!!!
Hi Chris, I did try to change out the drawers but the one with the wood applique will not slide into the top slot. It would look better there right? Thanks for the comment. Kathy
I love what you did Kathy and think that it’s ok to pay more sometimes for a piece that really speaks to us and is totally justified in my opinion! I love that you kept the original hardware as it is beautiful and timeless and more honoring to the piece. The only thing I would change if possible is to switch the drawers so that the one with the beautiful trim is on top giving it a little more balanced look but they may not be interchangeable and certainly is beautiful as is! Great job as always! You are so gifted at this so I think you can always trust your gut regarding your choices!
The desk turned out so pretty!
Hi Kathy!
This is the first time commenting on your page but have watched you for several years. I absolutely LOVE your desk makeover! ( and all of your other projects over the years as well! lol) I, too, leave the dovetails showing on my makeovers. They are so beautiful and show the age and character of the furniture. I believe your desk is from the late 1800’s to early 1900’s. I have a similar piece and was able to trace it back to that time period. I may have gone a little stonger on the dry brush, both for the Caviar (also one of my favs!) and the gold gilding wax, but that’s personal. 🙂 Thank you for sharing!
Stunning! Your best piece ever! Love it!
Such a stately piece now. The black paint was a perfect choice.
The original knobes are beautiful. I love the drawer paper choice too.
You definitely did her proud. 🙂
Thanks for sharing.
I love how this turned out. Beautiful!
I think the price was worth it. It turned out just BEAUITFUL.
Hi, This table looks a lot like a Gibbard Hallway Table . A lot of the tables look similar with different drawer patterns . Marks could be on sides of tables underneath . Under the table top itself where the drawers are inserted You have probably already checked these spots but I thought I would mention it . You have done a lovely job on this even though my personal preference is NOT to paint gorgeous peices like this . This would have been stunning on its own once cleaned up . Not to dis you, but everyone these days can’t seem to see past grey or black paint so if the plan is to sell it I understand the color .
I love it!! You did do it proud☺️ just the right touch to let it shine. Really like the drawer paper too!
This turned out beautiful! It might be that this is/was a vanity. I think the back top piece may have been a foundation for a mirror. Just a thought. I have done several vanities without mirrors to be used a desks. I love their versatility. I can see where the details were inviting. I love them too.
Kathy,
I love what you did with this writing desk makeover. The color is so yummy! I’m not usually a fan of gold, but I do love the way it’s added to this furniture.
Pinned
gail
You did this desk more than proud Kathy! I love the classic black and that you kept the original hardware – glam! Pinned XOXO
This is stunning in Caviar, Kathy! Love the new piece you added on the top too!! XOXO
The desk looks great!
I found a Helen Virginia Huddell (1881-1971) on Find a Grave (married to Thomas Woodward Huddell).
You can see Helen’s information on Find a Grave https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/110850490/helen_virginia-huddell) (as well as on Ancestry.
This is gorgeous – those curvy legs and the delicate detail. The black paint elevates it to stunning!
I must admit I held my breathe for a minute there, this old girl looked really sad and neglected but you have given her new life and she looks beautiful, real classy. So glad you didn’t scratch it up after all your hard work, I have a problem with distressed furniture.