Just to prepare everyone, this is a before and after type post. And as with all the best such posts, the before is none to pretty. If is was pretty, why would I change it. But I can’t start with the before. It’s just too painful. So here is a sneak peek of the after of the new home office/side of the family room.
You might remember the prison issue, metal desk from my first Metal Desk Makeover post. This desk used to live in my parent’s basement, but I thought it would have looked nice in a prison warden’s office with overhead fluorescent lights.
See what I mean!
But I needed a desk. Particularly one with storage for all those random office-y things that can accumulate, and one big enough to accommodate my computer. See I’m not a dainty computer type. Unless you were totally focused on the desk, you might have noticed Herman, my new, super fast, tons of memory, ooh so pretty ‘puter. And until today, this is where Herman has been living.
Oh the shame!
Tangled wires and cords, no storage, random folding chair, sloppily hung wall art, piles of software, papers and office supplies. You see why I jumped at the chance to get a real desk. It just needed some TLC first. Thus the new paint job as seen before.
Well after it’s new paint job it sat in the garage for a few weeks because as “dainty” as it looks, it took four people to get it in the house and upstairs. My sweet hubby, sister Paula, her kind husband who has moved more than his fair share of my furniture, and myself. And I think the Renovation Whisperer jumped in there somewhere too. Beast is an understatement when it comes to this desk. When we were done I had to promise my sports addict we would never move again…ever!
Now my sweet Herman has a pretty desk to sit on, and I have drawers to hide all the papers, disks, binders and pens. Here it is one more time.
And instead of the metal folding chair, I snagged my newly reupholstered, good will chair I talked about here. I think the black matches Herman nicely.
April
I’m linking to:
Miss Mustard Seed, The Shabby Nest , My Romantic Home , Remodelaholic , Finding Fabulous , French Country Cottage , Chic on a Shoestring Decorating , A Little Knick Knack , Fingerprints on the Fridge , Be Different…Act Normal , Funky Junk Interiors , Saturday Soiree at A Little Lovely, Passion for Paint at Mural Maker & More , Making the World Cuter , Made By You Mondays at Skip to My Lou, Between Naps on the Porch , The DIY Show Off, Tools Are For Women Too , First a Dream: The RE-Party , The House In the Roses , Keeping it Simple ,Sugar Bee Craft Edition: Take a Look Tuesday , The Gypsy’s Corner , Today’s Creative Blog, Domestically Speaking: Power of Paint , Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm , House of Grace: Twice Owned Tuesday , Saturday Mornings , Santa’s Gift Shoppe , Sew Chatty , Blue Cricket Design , Creations by Kara , We are THAT Family , Someday Crafts , Beyond the Picket Fence , Primitive & Proper , The Shabby Chic Cottage , House of Hepworths “HoH” , Life as Lori , Brambleberry Cottage ,
Great Job!!!! I am such a fan of metal pieces and yours looks great. The color is perfect…Happy Holidays!!
That desk looks great and I love it with the chair. Now I am thinking we need to do something with the filing cabinet. Oh the projects are endless.
Love the desk! It looks great and your black chair is perfect with it.
Well Done April! Love the blue and the black, I think you need to repaint the metal filing cabinet to match your new look- so you had better get your movers back to take it downstairs for a paint job LOL!
As ugly as those darn metal desks are, the practicality, storage, and sturdiness have always been a bonus. To add to the list, you have just made “pretty”….Love it!
Take care,
Lisa
April,
this desk is LOVELY!!! Did you spray it? It looks like it has such a smooth finish. I am in the midst of spraying and decoupaging old tin trays and having a heck of a time!
xo
lynn
p.s.
the chair is perfect!
I love how this very generic metal desk now looks pretty. The chair is really cute too!
I have one of these and I painted it gloss black and red, really! I’m almost ready to redo it again, it’s built like a World War II tank and still perfectly serviceable. Love the blue color you used!
Looks fabulous!
WOW – what a transformation !!!!! Looks wonderful!
Thanks for sharing,
gena
http://www.thehouseonlavenderhill.blogspot.com
You did such a great job. LOVE the aqua!!! Hoping you’ll visit me at Sew Chatty and link up to Made With Love Monday! The party will be open until Friday if you want to link up multiple projects. Wishing you a very blessed Christmas! http://sewchatty.blogspot.com
That’s a fabulous make over. When my kids were small we had metal military issue beds that had the drawers underneath. They were battleship gray and my sons would have been destroyed if I ever painted them. We also ended up with a desk to match and it stayed the same to. They are in their 40′s and still reminisce about their furniture.
that looks soooo amazing! i love the color- it is so cool now! i want it!
what a great change–made an ugly eyesore gorgeous!
Very nice! We actually have a similar desk. it’s painted in that exact beige! However, I think a different/brighter color like your blue would be better for ours. I’ll see if I can talk hubby into it.
Amazing how a face lift with paint can do for something like that…looks great.
Wow! What a difference! It looks amazing–I love the color!
That looks really great. And such a big change from the prison look it had been sporting.
You had me at the color blue but the referance to a prison desk sealed the deal! You crack me up! Love the makeover….going to go look for a prison desk of my own now. Thanks!
That desk is awesome! and those metal desks are ugly . . . you did a great job! What kind of paint did you use?
[...] Home Hinges painted an old desk and made it beautiful! [...]
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[...] admin, on December 30th, 2010 We’re super honored that Allison at House of Hepworths liked April’s desk enough to feature it on her site. You can see what she wrote here. Thanks Allison! [...]
We gals know just how to beautify anything, don’t we?!
I love the color of your “new” old desk. And you have a new “super fast” computer, as well! Now I’m really envious!
Thanks for linking to my party. Hope to see you each week.
Blessings and Happy New Year!
Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage
http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/
*This desk turned out GREAT! come on over andl ink up to MMM
*Hi, I’d love to hear how this is holding up. Any scratches on it at all? I’ve got a bunch of metal furniture from moving offices a while back. I’d love to use it – but you’re right, it all looks like it’s from a prison. I didn’t think it would be possible to spray paint metal though. So I’d love to hear how it holds up. Thanks, and I love the color by the way!
Hi Hayley,
Thanks for asking about the desk. I’m sitting at it right now and I
see a few scratches but nothing major. I’m actually quite happy with
how it is holding up so far, especially since I have five young kids.
One of them has chipped off a few little flecks on the top of the desk
near the keyboard, but the top is a laminate. I can’t help but think
I should have sanded the top more. It was definitely an experiment,
but so far I’m still happy.
Thanks for stopping by.
Hi April,
I stumbled upon your page when i searching for ideas about my home office and I have to say that your desk is amazing. And I’m totally going to steal your idea!
I never would have though to paint an old metal desk. And now I can’t picture anything else I want me in office. What kind of paint did you end up using? Did you put any kind of seal over the paint? Any advice would be great! Thanks so much!!
i’m curious about the paint and seal as well
Imitation is the best sort of flattery. Thanks.
I am pretty sure I used Rust-oleum Painter’s Touch White Primer followed by Rust-oleum Painter’s Touch Ultra Cover 2X spray paint. Then finally I finished off with a clear coat of something. It may have just been another Painter’s Touch clear coat, or it may have been a polyurethane. I’ll have to see if I still have the can out in the garage. Whatever I used, I wish I had used something a little stronger. It is wearing well, but with five kids, I should have put on at least another coat or two.
I doubt the fan would have the strength to effectively move the heat. A ceiling fan or oscillating fan may be more practical.
[...] Easy Paint Job Makeover [...]
Love it!! You should totally redo the filing cabinet to match!!!
That is a fantastic idea!