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Thursday, December 18, 2014

Empire Secretary Desk


I found this great old Empire desk at a local thrift store and I of course snatched it up quickly!  

 Before:

 The desk has great lines and legs, but was really dinged and beat up.  After giving the desk a clean I mixed up some chalk paint in Garlic Clove by Benjamin Moore and got to painting. Since the desk was so dark it took 3 coats to get it covered.  I spray painted the insides grey so that I could get all the nooks and crannies  I decided I didn't want it to be bright white, but more of an Old World White.  I aged and sealed the desk with AS dark wax/hemp oil and then distressed it.  



I am apologizing now for the poor photos-it has been raining non-stop here in N. CA and I had to quickly take this desk outside during the few hours of sunshine today to get photos.  
I added new mercury glass knobs

LOVE the legs!


Lovely storage drawers


Curved front drawers 










I love this little side detail 

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40 comments:

  1. angieDecember 17, 2014 at 4:21 PM

    woooow!!! I love her beautiful decoration !!! love greetings from angie from Germany

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  2. Susan' Hearts and FlowersDecember 17, 2014 at 5:01 PM

    I absolutely love it!! You did good!! Very pretty!

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  3. Kim @ Savvy Southern StyleDecember 17, 2014 at 5:15 PM

    Just gorgeous. I love the gray inside and you do such fabulous work!

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    1. DD's CottageDecember 17, 2014 at 5:17 PM

      Thank you Kim-I like when the inside is not the same and the legs on this are divine!

      Delete
  4. ℳartina @ Northern NestingDecember 17, 2014 at 5:25 PM

    She is a beauty!!!

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    1. DD's CottageDecember 17, 2014 at 7:57 PM

      Thank you Martina-I love how it turned out too!

      Delete
  5. chateau chicDecember 17, 2014 at 5:42 PM

    This is quite the stunning piece! I love the gray inside...very elegant!
    Mary Alice

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    1. DD's CottageDecember 17, 2014 at 7:57 PM

      Thank you Mary Alice-I like the grey inside too and the new knobs go with the grey!

      Delete
  6. AnonymousDecember 17, 2014 at 10:03 PM

    Wow, you did a wonderful job. I love the grey inside and the new knobs. :) Julie

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  7. Gustave VoltaireDecember 18, 2014 at 5:00 AM

    Another beautiful piece... where do you get the time?!!! ;)

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    Replies
    1. DD's CottageDecember 18, 2014 at 6:45 AM

      Thank you Camille-for me painting furniture is fun and relaxing so I try to do as much of it as I can. My husband calls it paint therapy! Ha ha ha

      Delete
  8. AnonymousDecember 18, 2014 at 11:09 AM

    I never find great pieces like this at thrift stores! What an amazing find. I know how you feel with the lack of lighting for picture taking. We've had nothing but gloomy overcast days here in Minnesota for the last two weeks, leaving no good time to get nice pictures. Your pictures look great though, and you did a beautiful job with this piece.

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    1. DD's CottageDecember 18, 2014 at 12:38 PM

      Thank you-it was a good find and it is hard to get good pictures right now but I will keep trying!

      Delete
  9. Betsy@My Salvaged TreasuresDecember 18, 2014 at 11:29 AM

    I'm in love too!! It's gorgeous and I love the color of the inside. What kind of spray paint did you use? Was it from a can or did you use a paint sprayer? Those cubbies would have been so hard to paint with a brush. Great job!

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    1. DD's CottageDecember 18, 2014 at 12:39 PM

      Thank you Betsy-I just used grey primer and then aged the paint with wax! The cubbies are not my fav. with a paint brush

      Delete
  10. JunkchiccottageDecember 18, 2014 at 3:53 PM

    Wooza beautiful re love of this fabulous piece. Love those knobs too. So pretty.
    Kris

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    1. DD's CottageDecember 18, 2014 at 4:24 PM

      Thank you Kris-I love the legs and the curved drawers of this desk!

      Delete
  11. Marie-Interior FrugalistaDecember 18, 2014 at 4:42 PM

    Wow Darrielle, I can't believe how fast you got this done and what a stunning makeover! Loving the the dark grey interior (so smart to spray it) and those mercury glass knobs are mahvelous dahling! Would love it if you shared it at this weekends DIY Sunday Showcase Party.

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  12. DD's CottageDecember 18, 2014 at 5:00 PM

    Thank you Marie-I love the new knobs and yes I will share it on Sunday!

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  13. Lisa @ 2Perfection DecorDecember 18, 2014 at 5:31 PM

    Looks stunning.. I want it!! ;) I love how you did a different colour on the inside too!!

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    Replies
    1. DD's CottageDecember 18, 2014 at 9:36 PM

      Thank you Lisa-I like having a surprise inside!

      Delete
  14. At Rivercrest CottageDecember 18, 2014 at 5:43 PM

    Love that desk. Love the way you distressed it.

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    1. DD's CottageDecember 18, 2014 at 9:36 PM

      Thank you Sugar-it was pretty old and dinged up so distressing disguises the dings!

      Delete
  15. Little Miss MaggieDecember 18, 2014 at 6:48 PM

    It's gorgeous. I love the knobs.

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  16. Brenda PruittDecember 18, 2014 at 7:08 PM

    What gorgeous knobs! I've never seen a piece quite like this one. (You've got this picture thing down!)
    Brenda

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    1. DD's CottageDecember 18, 2014 at 9:37 PM

      Thank you Brenda-the knobs are pretty great and thanks to you I have the picture thing down! Thanks!

      Delete
  17. Butterfly 8)(8 Bungalow December 19, 2014 at 8:13 AM

    I love it. It has such great lines. xoox

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  18. DD's CottageDecember 19, 2014 at 8:20 AM

    Thank you-the lines are very gorgeous and my fav part!

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  19. KarenDecember 19, 2014 at 10:40 AM

    Oh my goodness it is beautiful, love the lines and your paint job just made it shine!

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    1. DD's CottageDecember 19, 2014 at 12:25 PM

      Thank you Karen-I am very happy with how it turned out too!

      Delete
  20. BreDecember 20, 2014 at 7:17 AM

    Oh this is such a GORGEOUS transformation!!! I want it for my own home! Thank you for sharing at On Display Thursday! Happy Holidays!! - Bre @ Average But Inspired

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  21. Artsy Chicks RuleDecember 23, 2014 at 8:04 AM

    Beautiful!!!

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  22. karen@somewhatquirkyDecember 31, 2014 at 7:14 AM

    Beautiful desk! I wish I could find more Empire styled furniture here.

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    Replies
    1. DD's CottageDecember 31, 2014 at 7:25 PM

      Thank you Karen-I wish I could find more Empire stye furniture too-I love it!

      Delete