Sunday, 30 April 2017

Stunning shabby-chic, blue vanity desk with orange & gold lucite drop pulls, castors, and jewelry storage

Here is a fun transformation of a very derelict vanity that had been left in disrepair for years, to a beautiful and functional desk!  I thought hard about this piece and what I wanted it to become.  It had a funny blend of pre-war attributes (ornate woodwork, castors, and little storage spots) combined with retro touches (mahogany veneer, lucite pulls).  So it confused me, but also intrigued me.  I decided to just accept its odd characteristics and make it both pretty and handsome at the same time!  I kept the handles and let the orange-y wood tones underneath coordinate with each other, and let the underlying veneer play a role too: I took all the chips, dings, peeling veneer and deteriorated finish and highlighted them.  This way, the piece could have an old-world feeling, but still be attractive in it's shabbiness!  Then, to keep the piece from getting "too" shabby, the mahogany veneer that I could spare was revived with stripping and new stain and polyurethane to keep the juxtaposition of shabby with "polished".  I think it turned out as a really interesting-looking piece that is now able to work as a desk or vanity again, while still paying homage to its vintage!

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Before: very run-down and beat up!




After: with new life breathed in!


















To place a custom furniture order or to purchase an existing piece or photography prints, please contact me at sageandbalm@gmail.com and I'll be happy to assist you!  You can also follow Sage & Balm on Facebook, on  Etsy, on Pinterest,and at sageandbalm.com.



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