Santa Fe Turquoise Desk makeover

I can't help but smile with this gorgeous makeover for a few reasons...

1. The first is this color makes me smile and so very happy!  

2. It's a desk that I've had sitting waiting for it's makeover for a very long time.  

3.  I used one of my all time favorite paint lines - CeCe Caldwell Paints.  

4.  Oh and it was for a family I adore!!

I have been working through my stash of furniture that I've hoarded collected the last one or two possibly three years over the last several weeks.  I had just pulled this desk out from under a stack of chairs to start prepping it while I wrapped up another project.

Literally within minutes I had received a text from a friend asking if I had any desks that were refinished.  I texted back..no but I have this one, I just pulled it out to start working on it & I can refinish for you.  It has great bones...

But, someone had decided to.... I don't know throw up paint all over it..  I had taken a large paint blotch off one of the sides when I first brought it home.  I am not sure what happened or why paint was splattered all over it, but I knew I could create a beauty.

Other projects took my attention away from the desk.  Now was as good a time to start as any.

Those details... LOVE!!!  Keep in mind the hardware for future reference..

I chatted back & forth a bit with my friend.  This desk was for his wife that is a LuLaRoe Retailer.  It was going in her new LuLa Room..  We discussed color, and he sent me the colors they were working with.

The top color is a Benjamin Moore color & we color matched it close enough to the Santa Fe Turquoise.  Actually I think the desk helped bring out the color better than the sample I created. 

Prepping a piece is key.  I needed to remove that paint, scuff up the entire desk and then clean it well. I used my Ryobi sander to tackle the paint removal and scuffing it up.  

Once it was cleaned well & dry, I used a couple of coats of shellac to ensure no bleed through.  

Gah look at this sweet thing.. It's just gorgeous, and I couldn't wait to make the transformation come to life.

While I waited for the shellac to dry and ready to start the painted process, there was one fix I need to make.  I had pulled the drawers out to remove the hardware and had that oh geez what was that shock!  I had grabbed the back of the drawer & immediately had a nail sick me.  

Someone did a "quick" fix to a small part on the back of the drawer by using a nail.  Thing is...it wasn't even nailed in correctly.  

I removed the nail and grabbed my wood glue and clamp.  Now seriously this is the quick & easy fix.  It really takes no time, & it's better than a nail sticking you in the hand.  

I started with a coat on the entire desk while the glue on my drawer was drying.  

One of things that I absolutely love about CeCe Caldwell paints beside that it's all natural.. It dries fairly quick once on the piece.  I did all of the drawers (except the one that was being repaired), walked away for a bit.  I came back & was able to start my second coat. 

All of my drawers were done, and the body of the desk was finished.  Now I get work on the hardware.

Remember above I said to keep the hardware in mind.  I often have people tell me... "I don't like the color".  Well that's truly an easy fix.  I sprayed each one with silver spray paint.  Knowing it was going to be entirely too bright, while the paint dried, I mixed up some of my favorite silver waxes.  They are also from CeCe Caldwell.

I guess you can see here I use the Shelbyville Graphite often... I need more.  I mixed it with a little of the Sierra Silver.  It was perfection!

I plopped myself down on the floor and gave them a coat of this stunning creation!

I gave the desk a little distressing and put my "new" hardware back on and...bam!  It's a beauty!!  I named her Lula!  

Don't forget that some of my extremely talented Crafty Girls & DIY Furniture Refinishing friends have some makeovers to share with you as well.... 

Hop on over to their blogs to see how they gave their pieces a makeover..

1. 58 Water Street – A New Twist on Traditional Desk

2. J. Burns Design – Creating a RH Weathered Wood Finish
3. Just the Woods – Unique Painted Etagere
4. Thirty-Eighth Street – Painting Furniture with General Finishes Milk Paint

5. Lynn Fern -  Santa Fe Turquoise Desk (that's me)

6. That Sweet Tea Life – Awesome ways to make a basic table more beautiful