I am ashamed to admit how many times I almost got rid of this writing desk. It was one of Michael and my first purchases when we moved into our first home. It was from Target and we were so proud of the style and the fact that it was new. Fast forward over fifteen years later and this desk has lived many lives.
At some point a number of years ago, I decided to slap a coat of paint on it to make it blend in. At this point it had gone from being a desk to a makeshift vanity. And not only did I do a really sloppy job, I didn’t even paint the back. Let’s not talk about it.
But in the last few years, I have realized I can’t share a working area with Michael. His work papers are always spread out and I have papers to grade. Then the girls come along with their drawings, and add bills, catalogues, junk mail, etc. to the mix…it just doesn’t work for me. And back to the Target site I went. I have been eyeing writing desks to put in the den for a few months but the truth was, it wasn’t in the budget. I found a few I liked but other than putting them in the cart and promptly saving them for later, I never did anything about it.
And then I walked into my room and realized I legitimately owned a writing desk turned vanity turned laundry storage! Perfect! I moved it into the den and it fit. It just needed a lot of help.
After finding an almost black color to contrast against the white bookshelves, I gave it a solid sanding and cleaned it up. Then to change the look a little bit, I decided to add pole wrap to the back and sides. If you have never used pole wrap, it is sold in a variety of widths (12”, 16”, etc.) and 84” long. I have used it before as an accent to cabinet door insets I built last summer. I had enough scraps to complete the project so the only cost ended up being paint.
To attach the pole wrap, I cut it to the appropriate length and then I used construction adhesive (go big or go home) to glue it to the desk. From there I clamped it down and left it until the next day. I did lightly sand it down and prime the entire piece before painting. This writing desk has been through a lot and it needed as much help as it could get.
To get a smooth finish, I used the Benjamin Moore Advance paint but in the Magnolia color, Blackboard. Because it requires 16 hours between coats and a light sanding, this project took a few days but not more than 45 minutes to an hour each day. To finish it off, I chose a brass handle for the drawer and moved it inside.
I may style it but the truth is, this desk will be covered in essays within a few days so maybe just a lamp so I can see and a more comfortable chair. That’s real life isn’t it?