Welcome back, sweet friends! Today I have a fantastic little desk makeover to share with you, and it is the perfect candidate to share how to whitewash furniture!
I’ll also be joined by some of my favorite furniture flippers since today is Furniture Fixer Upper Day! Be sure to be on the lookout for their projects at the bottom!
Our subject started out as this $20 thrift store find:
The top of this desk definitely had some issues:
That is an easy fix though and the look I wanted for this piece required the top to be sanded anyway. I’ve included a few affiliate links so you can find the products I love.
Sanding the top
I sanded away all the nasty with my orbital sander. I used 120 grit sandpaper first, followed by 220 grit.
How to whitewash furniture
I decided on a whitewashed look for this desk, and my favorite base coat for this treatment requires this secret ingredient:
This is Dixie Belle’s Voodoo Gel Stain in the color, Up in Smoke. The Voodoo gel stains are a line of water-based stains, easy to apply and easy to clean up!
I gave it a good shake (Because this is a water-based stain, the mixture can separate, so always give it a good shake first.) and applied it with an applicator pad:
It can also be applied with a clean soft cloth. Just be sure to go in the direction of the wood. If I were only staining this and leaving it as is, I would have started with a wood conditioner first as it helps the wood to take the stain more evenly.
However, I planned to whitewash, so that was an unnecessary step here.
Next, I mixed together one part water and two parts Cotton:
I applied it to the table with a brush, working in sections.
Then I went back with a damp cotton rag and wiped it back off. I tried to work in straight lines across with the grain of the wood.
I added a bit more water to my rag to blend it in a bit more when I was done. You can keep adding paint or water until you get a look you like.
I shared this technique on a step stool in a video if you want to see it in action:
If you have trouble viewing, find it on YouTube HERE.
I did the drawer the same way and then painted the legs in the new Silk paint in the color Whitecap. (You can read all about the new Silk line in my last post. I also shared a comparison of the Silk and Chalk paint.) I sealed the top and the drawer with two coats of Gator Hide using the blue sponge.
The Big reveal
And here it is all completed. I paired it with one of my dining room chairs…
Cute, right?
As you can see, I also added stripes to the drawer front:
I used the Silk in Whitecap for the stripes. It’s a nice, clean bright white. There is no need to seal the Silk, however, I did sand the drawer to smooth out the lines made from the tape, and so I did give it a coat of Gator Hide. See how I add stripes to furniture easily HERE.
Here it is without the chair…
I loved the starfish pull that was on there, so I kept that:
And here’s a closer look at the top:
For the drawer, I decided to try another Silk color, Harbor:
It’s a lovely serene blue!
This desk was a quick and easy makeover! I love quick and easy!
Don’t forget, my friends have three more makeovers for you today!
And that is another piece done from this huge haul!
My pile is definitely dwindling!
Catch up on any you may have missed so far here:
$5 Thrift Store Chair Makeover & How to Use Silk All-in-One Mineral Paint
Unfinished Wood Cabinet Makeover
Cabinet Door turned Shelf
Painting the Smalls, Holiday Edition (Five of these pieces are in this post!)
Kudzu Painted Side Table
REPURPOSED HEADBOARD AND FOOTBOARD
VINTAGE SECRETARY DESK MAKEOVER
$3 THRIFT STORE HEADBOARD REPURPOSED
WALL CABINET REPURPOSED
WINDSOR ROCKER MAKEOVER
DROPLEAF TABLE AND CHAIRS MAKEOVER
I’ll be back on Tuesday sharing what I did with this piano bench:
Have a great weekend!
UPDATE: Head on over to this pretty makeover here now!
XOXO,
Don’t Miss a Thing!
If you like what you see, there are several ways to follow along!
Denise - Salvaged Inspirations says
Super cute Christy! Pinned! 🙂
Christy says
Thank you, my friend! XOXO
Mary Kaiser says
Oh my gosh you made it so beautiful! It is a great size desk and I love the fun pop of color when you open the drawer. I am sure I will love this new Silk paint line, I have a cart started on your Etsy shop, and as soon as my budget will allow I will be ordering it. This piece is so beautiful now, but every thing you touch turns out beautiful! Thanks for sharing your such an inspiration!
Christy says
Thanks so much, Mary! I truly appreciate your kind words!! I think you’ll love this paint too! XOXO
Denise Cox says
At first I wasn’t so sure ( I was waiting for more pics?). But then they arrived, and lo and behold I was falling in love.. 😍!! The top Is what I was waiting for and… VA VA VOOM!!! I have saved pics onto my Pinterest board of ‘ Voodoo’ projects and have loved every one. I take it this must be the same line as it too was a water – based gel stain with bright, intense colors? Anyway, I love your color choice for the inside of the drawer and I’m so glad you kept the drawer pull. How fitting!!! Lovely, darling piece. I’ve said this often enough, but what a shame I don’t live in your neck of the wood. I’d be a ‘curator’ of many of your pieces… Lol. And.. I’d need a LARGE apt. to place them in.. 😊🤣.
Job well done for such a smaller item!!!
Christy says
Thank you, Denise! Ha ha… am glad you liked the final result! Voodoo does come in several colors…I just love the Up in Smoke as a base for this whitewash treatment. And I had to keep that sweet knob…it was just perfect! XOXO
Janice Holt says
What a pretty little desk. The stripes just make it and also the color of the inside of the drawer. Another great job.
Christy says
Thank you, Janice! XOXO
Cheryl Atkinson says
Very pretty Christy.
Christy says
Thank you, Cheryl! XOXO
Christina says
Christy, this desk looks so pretty!! Love the whitewash and stripes. The starfish makes it look even more coastal. Beautiful transformation as always!!
Have a wonderful weekend!!
Christy says
Thanks so much, my friend! you know I love that starfish knob! Enjoy your weekend too! XOXO
Toby Peplow says
Lovely! That is another thing I love about your projects…you just never know what surprise lies inside for you when you open the door, lift the lid or pull out the drawer. Bravo!! And I do really like that faux finish with the voodoo stain!! Awesome!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Toby! I do enjoy adding an unexpected touch the drawers! XOXO
Sue Mellette says
Hi Christy, I love this quick makeover. The white wash finish is just perfect, to me, for this piece. Thanks for all the details you shared to complete this project. I love the stripes, too, and of course, your signature inside drawer “magic.” The harbor blue just pops and clearly adds an unexpected surprise! Thanks for sharing. Can’t wait to see what treasures you share Thursday. Have a great week!
Christy says
Thank you, Sue! This one really was quick and easy…may favorite ha ha! I love that blue…now I need to try it on a larger piece! Have a great weekend! XOXO
Cecilia from Georgia says
Christy, another ***** winner! Love the aqua touch:)
Christy says
Aww thanks so much, Cecilia! XOXO
Lorri says
Once again you transformed a piece of furniture into a show piece!! I always love how you stage your pieces.❤
Do you buy your books or find them when thrifting ?
Christy says
Thank you so much, Lorri!! I always keep my eyes out for good books when thrifting and one of these I found on one of my shopping trips with Nancy, but the other one, I bought at retail. It’s hard to find decorating books while thrifting that aren’t dated. XOXO
Amanda says
Ohhh, I love this makeover!!
Christy says
Thank you, Amanda! XOXO
Sharon L Austin says
I love it! Especially the surprise splash of color when you open the drawer. It’s so cute.
Christy says
Thank you, Sharon! I love that pretty blue! XOXO
Becky says
Simple and pretty! I love the surprise blue drawer. That’s the blue I have in my kitchen. 😊
Christy says
Thanks, Becky! I love that blue…I bet it is gorgeous in your kitchen!! XOXO
Michele M. says
Oh I absolutely adore that make-over!!!!
WOW! It is so cute. Well done!!!
Christy says
Thanks so much, Michele!! XOXO
Marcie Lovett says
Super cute, Christy! Love the color surprise inside, too.
Christy says
Thank you, Marcie! I love the drawer color too and it is a fun way to try out the colors! XOXO
ROSE LEFEBVRE says
I like this redo, especially the pop of color inside the draw. Such a simple piece of furniture.
Christy says
Thank you, Rose! I love the fun pop of color too! Have a great weekend! XOXO
Sandi Allen says
This is so Beautiful!
I especially Love the pop of color in the drawer.
Christy says
Thank you, Sandi!! XOXO
Jen @ Girl in the Garage says
You really saved this desk, Christy. It looks fantastic now!! xo
Christy says
Thanks so much, Jen! It was so nice to work on an easy project! XOXO
Deanna Shanti says
I’ve come back to this post several times to get the courage after the initial inspiration pushed me to sand the top and paint the legs of a huge dining room table.
I am so excited about this transformation and want to thank you immensely for giving me both the inspiration and the courage to move forward and do it!
I’ve bought all my supplies for this via your Etsy (LOVE your free and super fast shipping) and even just purchased the HomeRight paint sprayer via your link to make these six chairs easier to finish (I primed one and was sore for a whole day!)
Thank you again,
Deanna
Christy says
Oh I love that so much!! You can totally do this! There is nothing like being excited about creating, and it is going to amazing when you’re done with it!! XOXO