Yesterday, I obtained began on the desk makeover for my studio. (I’m nonetheless not prepared to speak about my pendant gentle. I’ll share when it’s completed, however for now, I’m transferring on to different issues.) I made this desk again after I had a really particular imaginative and prescient for my studio that included numerous black, for some purpose. However after I determined to lastly work on my studio and get it completed, my imaginative and prescient modified for the room. I didn’t need as a lot (or any) black within the room. I needed the room to be gentle, vibrant, colourful, and female.
That meant that the desk wanted a makeover. With it’s black base and thick brown prime, it seemed method too darkish and heavy for the room. So my plan is to reconfigure the bottom, paint it a lightweight colour (I nonetheless haven’t determined if it will likely be white or gold), after which paint the desktop white. I additionally needed so as to add an ornamental element to the edges, and add two drawers.
I began this makeover by eradicating the boards that created the “V” element on the entrance. These have been connected with nails and wooden glue, so I eliminated them very simply with a couple of good, swift hits with a rubber mallet.
Then I eliminated the underside horizontal brace board. This was connected with 4 screws by way of pocket holes, so it as quite simple to take away utilizing my drill with a screwdriver bit.
I turned the bottom in order that it was mendacity with the entrance going through up, and I reattached that board in the direction of the highest. I’ll finally add some plywood inside in order that this part isn’t see-through, and that can present the quilt wanted to cover the brand new drawers.
After that was connected, I sat the bottom again upright, and that is what it seemed like…
Subsequent, I repeated that very same course of on the aspect…
After which I needed to determine the way to connect these ornamental leaf cutouts that I discovered at Interest Foyer. I began by reducing some 1″ x 4″ lumber to type a tough body across the leaf design, and to determine precisely how I needed the leaf sample to take a seat contained in the body. I made a decision on this, with the leaf design touching the body on 4 factors — one on both sides of the body. At this level, my essential aim was to determine the tough dimensions of the within of the body.
As soon as I obtained the within dimensions found out, I ran these boards by way of my planer thrice every to airplane them right down to 1/2-inch thickness to match the leaf cutout.
Subsequent, I wanted to determine simply how broad these boards wanted to be for the body. The house they wanted to fill on the desk is 29 inches broad, so I measured the general width of the cutout with the body, subtracted 29 inches from that width, after which divided that quantity by two to get the quantity of width I wanted to chop off of every board in order that the completed product can be 29 inches broad. I used my desk noticed to chop the boards right down to the right width.
Earlier than reducing the edges down, I needed to go forward and assemble the items, ensuring all the pieces was sq., in order that I’d know precisely how a lot to chop off. The leaf cutout is a little bit bit flexible, so till I obtained the items assembled, it was onerous to inform precisely how a lot wanted to be minimize off of these aspect items.
I began by assembling the highest and the aspect items utilizing wooden glue and 1.5-inch 18-gauge nails shot by way of the perimeters of the aspect items into the ends of the highest piece.
With these items assembled, I positioned the leaf cutout into the body, after which I may precisely decide the place the underside piece wanted to be. I connected the underside piece utilizing wooden glue and nails similar to the opposite items.
After which I nailed the leaf cutout into place by capturing the nails by way of the surface fringe of the body and into the 4 factors the place the cutout touched the body. So this nail went by way of the body and into the sting of the leaf.
And this one went by way of the body and into the sting of the stem.
You get the purpose. This is the reason I wanted to be sure that the leaf cutout made contact with the body on all 4 sides.
On this aspect, I had a misfire earlier than getting a nail to enter the leaf. However that’s nothing that my Dremel Multi-Max and a little bit wooden filler and sanding gained’t repair. I typically don’t pull out misfired nails (though it will depend on the precise situation) as a result of it dangers tearing and splitting the wooden. I typically use my Dremel Multi-Max with a blade that can minimize by way of nails, and I simply minimize off the protruding portion of the nail. If the blade cuts into the wooden a bit, I repair it with wooden filler.
As soon as I obtained this a lot performed, it was too late to make use of my miter noticed to chop off the additional items on the body. (Matt had a HORRIBLE day yesterday, so most of my time was spent caring for him, and I didn’t get practically as a lot work performed as I had hoped.) However I did set the leaf design in place in order that we may get a preview of what it’ll appear like.
However once more, you’ll simply need to think about it with these additional bits minimize off, and a brand new 2″ x 2″ piece connected beneath the body. After which, you’ll need to think about the entire base painted one strong colour.
So what do you assume? White or gold? I’m undecided proper now, however I is likely to be leaning barely in the direction of gold on the bottom with a white prime.
Addicted 2 Adorning is the place I share my DIY and adorning journey as I rework and beautify the 1948 fixer higher that my husband, Matt, and I purchased in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do bodily work, so I do the vast majority of the work on the home on my own. You can learn more about me here.
