Vintage Claw Foot Drop Front Secretary Desk

Furniture refinishing 23 comments

Whew! That’s a mouthful.. but it is what it is… which this beauty is from the early 1920’s, has beautiful bow front drawers, cool “secret” compartments and some fine claw feet! Yes, it needs some love… don’t all of my pieces?

BEFORE

0525121201

Well here she is after said “love’”! Just gorgeous! I decked her out in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, Duck Egg for the drawer fronts, Old Ochre for the body and I sprayed the handles flat black…

Check out her yummy curves! A little bit of distressing on the entire piece was all she called for…

I just LOVE ball & claw feet… and hers were intact. Sometimes when a piece is this old you might be missing some of the “toes” or parts…

I love this combination of Duck Egg & Old Ochre!

Voila! For the inside I used a flat black and waxed it after I distressed it.

I got very lucky as the back of this was off so I just removed the whole mail sorter piece and refinished the door and drawer fronts and sprayed the rest flat black. I lightly distressed the edges and waxed all of the edges and fronts and then reinstalled the piece… I cannot imagine having to have to paint this by hand!

So lucky the key is still here.. can you imagine! Did you know these little columns pulled out? I didn’t until I removed the piece… pretty cool huh?

One last look at her ready for a new home!

My middle daughter so wanted to keep this to replace her current makeup vanity but it was just a smidge too big… she loved the little door on this piece… it reminded her of Alice in Wonderland…

imagesCA8WIHT5

I see what she means!

Thanks for stopping by… until next time!

My Signature

Linking up to these great parties!
Between Naps on the Porch, Coastal Charm, Sumo’s Sweet Stuff, The Dedicated House, A Stroll Thru Life, Elizabeth & Co., Primitive & Proper, The Ivy Cottage, Western Warmth

The Dedicated House

23 comments

  13. Good Lord! That is one beautiful piece and you did an amazing job making her pretty again. Thank you for sharing this at my Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. Hope to see your prettiness again on Monday. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

    Like

    Reply

  17. One of my other favorite things about this paint is how well it distresses. When you distress latex paint, it rolls and peals off unless it has cured for over a month. I sanded this hours after I painted it and the chalk paint comes off in a fine powder, so it looks natural. The finish is flat and chalky, but shine and protection can be added by applying a coat of wax. A darker wax was then applied to my corner cabinets to tone down the vibrant Louis Blue.

    Like

    Reply

  18. What great work you can’t beat customised furniture, it looks like you have done an wonderful job. A piece of customised furniture can really give your home a personalised touch.

    Like

    Reply

  19. I have the same piece but, i am missing the 2 wooden pull out pieces that support desk when it folded down. Could you tell me the measurements of those pieces?

    Like

    Reply

  20. Love this. I have this desk that my Mom @antiqued green” in the 1960’s Its hideous, but beautiful, I love what you did with this desk

    Like

    Reply

  21. Beautiful job! Did you prime it first? Is that the original mahogany showing through with the distressing? Even though these desks are pretty common, you elevated this one to a new level.

    Like

    Reply

Leave a Reply