Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Symmetry is a Trap

When I went to pick it up, the day-glo yellow on this desk was so intense I almost couldn't hear anything, but managed to make out the owner mouthing "twenty dollars." 




At home we called it 'the taxi cab.'


Shocking.  Normally I'd have painted right over it, but took it as something of a challenge to rid the desk (and the western hemisphere) of this color.  Let the stripping commence.


It took awhile.  And see those top outside drawers?  Interesting (in a good way) contour, but there was no access to the screws holding on the pulls.  I puzzled over that one for awhile, ultimately to discover (thanks Dad) that there was a dowel system in place to install the pull on both drawers.  Getting the existing screws sawed off took a special Dremmel saw attachment and a time-intensive effort.  Again, golf-clap for Dad.


Worth it?  Worth it.


Body talk [eyebrow raise].  I'd read people writing diabolical accounts of the dreaded, deadly-treacherous red mahogany stain.  If only I'd known that removing the cornea-damaging yellow wasn't the end of the transgressions visited upon this poor desk; I began to paint the body in off-white only to see a reddish-pink color staining through each coat (...after coat, after coat, after coat).  I switched to Kilz primer after four coats.  Bunch of passes with Kilz, then finally one more with the paint.  I wondered how this would work when it came time to distress.

In music, a hemiola is a rhythm of three beats against two.  I wasn't feeling like being symmetrical and wanted to see how some of the drawers would look stained, some painted.  After a lengthy search for 2.5" pulls that  work on contoured drawers (ooof, kids), results below...










15 comments:

  1. ok i LOVE the funky 3 toned look with the drawers different, too! it looks awesome!
    and sadly i kinda liked the yellow, too. ;)

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  2. Smack me in the butt...That's got to be THE most amazing transformation I've seen yet... But, like Cassie, I, too, sadly liked the yellow...But I LOVE the new look...

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  3. I noticed you didn't have any followers..you deserve it with this desk...Proud to be yur first...You've set the bar really high...Now you've got to deliver! NO pressure...hahahaha...

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  4. O.K. I just had to give this makeover a shout out on my FB page! It's really astonishing...Did I tell you I'm a serial commenter? Watch out...

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  5. Hey! I liked the yellow too, but I LOVE the two tone un-symmetrical (is that a word?) finish.
    Nice job, I don't think I would have made it through what sounds like a pretty intense redo!
    I will happily "follow" too;)

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  6. good heavens, this is flippin' gorgeous! really. that top drawer is delectable. delicious....delightful! done good, buddy. glad to see gwen's fb post so i could check this out.

    guess i'm gonna have to follow you now, too.

    amy

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  7. mind-blowing transformation! I can't wait to see what you do next.

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  8. Just beautiful! They sure don't make furniture like they used to. I think this is from the 1930's. Maybe the late 40's. They weren't making any furniture during the war. Love it. Ann

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  9. Oh, I love it! So original and fresh! Your hard work paid off!!! :)

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  10. Ooo, I love this! SO different from anything I've seen! You did a great job!
    http://makingacasabella.blogspot.com/

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  11. Ok, now this is fab! A lot of work, I know, but it sure is beautiful and one of a kind! Love it!

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  12. I have to say I really loved the yellow, but I love your makeover too! It's a toss up for me, Kathy, Petticoat Junktion

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