DESK DIY AND OTHER PRETTINESS

2 Posted by - January 15, 2014 - DIY

Brooke Eva, my seven year old little lady requested a desk for her bedroom. I played it super cool and said I would think about it. Truth be told, I was all over the idea. I love a little room update! However it meant getting rid of the ‘baby toys’ as she referd to them to make space for the desk. I had thought those ‘baby toys’ were little girl heaven, however I was proved wrong by said little lady when she told me that ‘she had outgrown them’. Right! It’s a case of  me holding on to her being little and her pulling towards growing up. Because apparently at seven you are pretty grown up. Or so I am told.

I decided I would keep the new desk on the low down from her and do it all as a surprise and present it to her on Christmas Eve. This of course meant me painting the desk and stripping the chair in some pretty clandestine ways and hiding them from her, and from her younger brother who has not mastered the art of ‘keeping things to himself’ shall we say.

So it was literally done in bits and pieces when the kids were not around, which is not very often. So it took me some time.

I looked around town for a desk and decided on the Leksvik from the ever faithful Ikea. I chose it because of the shape and the price. Unfortunately it only comes in the dark wood so a little priming and painting was needed.

DESK IMAGE

Now for the chair I bought a set of antique arm chairs in Singapore more than a year ago and they have sat in my office waiting for their perfect resting place. Well, one of them has found a home. It’s a beauty which needed some work however, so I striped the varnish and gave it a good sanding. Definitely not my favourite work but you gotta do what you gotta do right?

CHAIR IMAGE AND SANDED

Once striped down to its original beauty I took off the pretty nasty faux leather and got to painting it white. I then sent the chair off to be reupholstered in a grey cotton trimmed with gold upholstery nails.

FABRIC AND TRIM IMAGE

I love how the chair turned out, it’s pretty right?

CHAIR COMPLETE 2

For the walls, I found some prints at Pottery Barn Kids on sale, they were super cheap and I framed them in these gold frames, but when I saw them on the white wall I decided they needed to be white as well, so out with the spray paint and job done!

FRAMES

I had them matted picking up the colours from the prints to add some more colour seeing as thought they were going to be hanging on a white wall.

ARTWORK

I was still stringing Brooke along in that I was thinking about getting her a desk when in fact the work was done and I was all set to surprise her on Christmas Eve. My husband took the kids to the park and I set about getting the show on the road.. setting up the desk and chair in Brooke’s room so when she came home we could take her upstairs and give her her surprise! I was pretty impressed I pulled it off, she had no idea I was up to something at all. Which was a feat I wasn’t sure I would succeed at! It’s the little victories right?

Here is what the little lady came home to!

FRONT VIEW MAIN IMAGE

2 IMAGES DESK AND CHAIR

FLOWERS

FINAL IMAGE

And the look on that little face when I uncovered her eyes, well thats something I will hold close.

Those are the things that count!

Until next time lovers.

xox Jacqui resize

 

Linking with Savvy Southern Style  , Domestically Speaking, The Girl Creative , Miss Mustard Seed  , 504 Main , Redoux, 36 Avenue ,Remodelaholic , Live Love Create and Life In velvet , DIY Show Off, Making Mondays, Under The Table and Dreaming, Rain On A Tin Roof, Carrie This Home, An Extraordinary Day, The Blissful Bee, The Makers Link Party and Thrifty Decor Chick

51 Comments

  • Jenna January 15, 2014 - 2:26 pm

    Oh wow! This looks amazing! Beautiful for the little princess, well, beautiful for even me!

    • admin January 15, 2014 - 3:02 pm

      Thank you Jenna. I think so too!

  • Kelly January 15, 2014 - 3:06 pm

    You are one talented lady, a true inspiration!! I only wished you were in Jo’burg to do my house. One question – how do you strip varnish off a chair?

    • admin January 15, 2014 - 4:42 pm

      Thats so kind of you Kelly, I appreciate that! To strip the varnish I used a paint on ‘varnish stripper’ and a painters tool. All found at hardware stores. Its definitely a hard task, but worth it!

  • Jill @ The Rozy Home January 17, 2014 - 8:15 pm

    I saw this over at Remodelaholic and love it! I have often thought about painting that same desk white. Now that I’ve seen yours, I will def. be doing it!!! I also love your nail head trim!

    • admin January 18, 2014 - 9:19 am

      Hi Jill, it makes such a difference doesn’t it! So much nicer in white! Do it, am sure you will be glad you did!

  • Angela January 18, 2014 - 11:46 pm

    i could not be more impressed right now. that chair, that CHAIR! its gorgeous, the whole space is beautiful. thanks for sharing 🙂 http://www.handmadeintheheartland.com

    • admin January 19, 2014 - 4:45 pm

      Thank you Angela! I do love it! And most importantly so does my little lady 🙂

  • Shirley January 20, 2014 - 4:18 am

    Wow! Amazing job! Gorgeous!

    • admin January 20, 2014 - 4:28 am

      Thank you Shirley, appreciate that! Jacqui

  • Angela (Life in Velvet) January 20, 2014 - 5:09 am

    Absolutely stunning! This is a gorgeous! What an amazing Christmas surprise! I can’t even imagine how you could top this 🙂 Thank you so much for linking up at Thursday STYLE! I can’t wait to see all of your fabulous upcoming projects!

    • admin January 20, 2014 - 7:13 am

      Thats so lovely of you Angela, thank you! I look forward to sharing with you and your readers on your Thursday STYLE!

  • Jo @ Coventry Lane Design January 20, 2014 - 11:12 am

    This project is so pretty – what a lucky girl to have such a creative mum!

    • admin January 20, 2014 - 12:37 pm

      Thank you Jo! And thank you for visiting 🙂

  • Carrie This Home January 20, 2014 - 12:52 pm

    What a beautiful desk and chair! I love that you left this as a surprise for your daughter. My kids are still little and I know the days of outgrowing toys are coming! That was so sweet.
    I would LOVE it if you’d link this up to my Frugal Crafty Home Blog Hop. Our readers love to see projects like this!

    • admin January 20, 2014 - 1:36 pm

      Hi Carrie, firstly thank you! It was so worth keeping it a surprise! I have linked up and hope to see you there often! Jacqui

      • Carrie This Home January 24, 2014 - 8:01 pm

        Thanks so much for linking up! I’ll be featuring you at our next party to be sure to check it out!

  • Jacqui! This is so incredibly beautiful! WOW! Pinning for sure! I popped over from Give Me the Goods– thanks so much for sharing!

    ~Abby =)

    • admin January 21, 2014 - 4:41 am

      Thank you Abby, so appreciate that!

  • Fotini Roman January 20, 2014 - 8:37 pm

    I love it, your chair turned out gorgeous!!

    • admin January 21, 2014 - 4:47 am

      Thank you Fotini, I think so too 🙂

  • Dominique January 20, 2014 - 8:51 pm

    This is completely charming. I’m in love!

    • admin January 21, 2014 - 4:53 am

      I like your description Dominique! ‘Charming’ 🙂 Thanks!

  • Jennie January 21, 2014 - 2:14 am

    That chair is amazing! I am doing a giveaway today and would love if you would stop by and check it out! http://www.thediaryofarealhousewife.blogspot.com/

    • admin January 21, 2014 - 4:59 am

      Hi Jennie, thank you! I stopped by, Jacqui

  • Thursday S.T.Y.L.E. Week #4 January 24, 2014 - 12:04 am

    […]  Brooke Eva had the most clicks this week with her daughter’s new grown up desk. The chair before & after is my favorite part, although I love everything about her new space. […]

    • admin January 24, 2014 - 9:26 am

      Thank you to Thursday STYLE for featuring this post! I so appreciate it! Jacqui

  • Courtney @ Crafts by Courtney January 24, 2014 - 2:58 am

    I love the makeover you did on the chair and the whole area looks amazing!

    • admin January 24, 2014 - 9:13 am

      Thank you Courtney! Appreciate that! Jacqui

  • Katie @ Upcycled Treasures January 24, 2014 - 2:19 pm

    This chair is absolutely gorgeous as is everything else you pulled off! What a beautiful surprise for your daughter and it looks like something straight out of a magazine! The whole space is very inspiring 🙂 I would love it if you linked up to The Makers! http://upcycledtreasures.com/2014/01/the-makers-link-party-1/

    Have a great weekend!
    ~Katie @ Upcycled Treasures

  • Corey @ Tinysidekick January 25, 2014 - 6:13 pm

    What a lucky little lady you have! This turned out awesome. Love the light colors and the art!
    Thanks for linking up at The Makers!

    • admin January 26, 2014 - 5:05 am

      Thank you Corey, the best part is she sits there all the time!

  • Diane | An Extraordinary Day January 25, 2014 - 8:57 pm

    Oh my goodness! Your sweetie must feel like a queen every time she goes in her room. I love every little bit you did. And I love the story and how sneaky you were too!

    Thanks for sharing your inspiration at Project Inspire{d}!

    Wishing you more Extraordinary moments!
    ~Diane

    • admin January 26, 2014 - 5:06 am

      She does love it Diane, so worth the sneaky operation! Thanks for having me on your ‘link party’!

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  • Diane | An Extraordinary Day January 27, 2014 - 5:15 pm

    Jacqui….I’m featuring your DIY Desk & Chair Makeover at Project Inspire{d} tonight! We go live at 8:00 ET. 🙂

    • admin January 28, 2014 - 5:29 am

      Hi Diane, thank you so much for the feature! And thank you for the party 🙂 Jacqui

  • Michele January 27, 2014 - 5:58 pm

    Oooo, i love your refinished chair! Pinning and chair

    • admin January 28, 2014 - 5:34 am

      It is pretty, I was so happy with how it turned out, thanks Michele! Jacqui

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  • anna February 4, 2014 - 8:10 pm

    This really is lovely! I’m loving the grey and gold combination. Good job!

    • admin February 5, 2014 - 5:01 am

      It does look pretty right! Thanks for the comment Anna! Jacqui

  • Amazing Furniture Makeovers April 15, 2014 - 1:03 am

    […] at Brooke Eva has an astounding eye for makeovers. She transformed a dark and dated chair and desk into a bright […]

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    […] Desk DIY from Brooke Eva […]

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