Love & Intimidation

I had two emotions when I first saw this desk at my local thrift store.

Emotion #1:  LOVE.  I mean look at those dainty little feet and the lovely drawers on the side.  

It even has a slide out table.  It's like a trap-door desk.

Emotion #2:  INTIMIDATION.  If I purchase this desk, I have a heck of a lot of work ahead of me.

I’m getting more confident in my furniture redo’s, so for $40, I bring it home.

I tell you, if they had a heart monitor on me when I find trash this special, my pulse would be on the incline.  Trash is so exciting for this girl.    

I get the desk home and size it up. 

How long will this take?

How will I sand it in all the small spaces?

What color should I paint it?

Is this really worth my time?

I start by taking of the fixtures, then sanding, loving the process of striping the stain.  My color choice?  Black.  The paint goes on great.

When I get to the fold-out table, I’m certain I’m in over my head.  All the fixtures to tape off and painting the inside of a cabinet sometimes takes forever.

But, you know what?  It isn’t too bad. I paint it up in no time.

When I see the end result, I know my efforts are worth it.

LOVE sets in again, and I have another piece I want to try in black.

This darling little French cabinet hutch.

Before:

After:

This is a great piece to take to the shop at Qcumberz.

My emotion now?  BITTERSWEET because I love these pieces of trash, but know soon they'll be gone to another home.