midnight letter desk

I had this old cabinet kicking around the house and I thought it would make a perfect first personal project.

I had this old cabinet kicking around the house and I thought it would make a perfect first personal project.

The hardware was half torn off and still had the old paint on it but the lock still works ( I even still have the key. )

The hardware was half torn off and still had the old paint on it but the lock still works ( I even still have the key. )

Skipping past my prep agony (see notes below) I found some old wallpaper that I hung on to to line the drawers with.

Skipping past my prep agony (see notes below) I found some old wallpaper that I hung on to to line the drawers with.

It’s not perfect but I knew that since it’s mine I say “good enough”

It’s not perfect but I knew that since it’s mine I say “good enough”

The top of the desk is the original wood that I hadn’t touched except to oil it with Hemp oil. Adding the oil to the whole unit added a soft sheen to the matt paint and brightened up the colour a little bit more. Let it cure 3-4 weeks!

The top of the desk is the original wood that I hadn’t touched except to oil it with Hemp oil. Adding the oil to the whole unit added a soft sheen to the matt paint and brightened up the colour a little bit more. Let it cure 3-4 weeks!

letter desk project

  • prep (what I did): sanded the gloss off and a wash of TSP Alternative.

    (what I should have done): Use Ultra Grip after TSP Alternative wash to properly bind paint to a naturally oily wood

  • paint: Midnight Blue with Goddess Asgwagandha inside the desk

  • coats: 3 coats to fix my mistakes

  • finish: Hemp oil

  • time it took me: felt waaaaay too long but all totaled, approx. 5 hours

  • brush: StaahlMeester #40 Oval brush

  • new: reclaimed brass drawer pulls

additional notes:

Disclaimer, this is my own piece and therefore I tried to speed through the process. Not recommended! After my initial minimal prep of sand and wash, I immediately started painting and found all the fresh paint separating like the surface was still oily. I sanded it even more thinking that would do the trick. It didn’t. I just kept going and added 3 coats of paint. ( I know it’s going to wear off in time) I later realized that its Teak and naturally oily.

To remove the paint from the old hinges, I just boiled then in a pot of vinegar and the old oil paint just came right off.

Ask us how we can transform your pieces (better that this one) or how you can do it yourself!