A Splash of Color with Ace Hardware

This post is sponsored by Ace Hardware.

I bought this desk a few years ago during the Parsons desk craze. While not a Parsons desk, it came quite close and was much more budget friendly. But it lacked the lacquer finish needed to achieve a glam look. I added a coat of lacquer paint and within a short period of time, the desk began to attract stains like magazine ink and coffee rings. Paint even rubbed off on the edges. When Ace Hardware contacted me about partnering together for its “31 Days of Color” campaign, I knew this was the perfect chance to give my desk a facelift.

I visited Ace Hardware’s online Paint Studio (http://www.thepaintstudio.com) to get color inspiration for my project. In fact, every day in March Ace Hardware is uncovering the Color of the Day and a chance to win a $10,000 paint makeover or daily gift cards.

My desk is located in my bedroom, which has a palette of navy, yellow and grey. I knew I wanted to add color to the desk, and yellow always makes me happy. So I opted for Asian Tea by Clark + Kensington, today’s Color of the Day. This particular yellow has golden undertones, which make it extra chic.

For this project, I decided to give the desk a midcentury modern makeover by adding hairpin legs, available here (similar). By painting them in Asian Tea, I thought it would give the desk the colorful twist I sought. I also had an idea brewing on how to liven up the desk with a secret pop of color.

I visited my local Ace Hardware in St. Louis with a general idea in mind. But I needed some extra guidance. The very first person I talked to was able to help me with the exact products I needed. In fact, he had just completed a similar project for his daughter, so he knew the tools to buy and tips to follow. His friendliness and enthusiasm for my project boosted my confidence. After getting my paint mixed, I was ready to go.

Once I set down my drop cloth and removed the original legs from my desk, I set to work on removing the layer of lacquer paint I had applied years ago. To do this, I needed the following products:

First I donned chemical-resistant gloves, critical for handling paint stripper. I used a brush to quickly apply the stripper all over the surface of the desk. After 15 minutes, I scraped the paint off the surface with the putty knife. To fully remove the paint, I did this process twice. Make sure you remove as much as possible to ensure a smooth surface. Use the stripping pad to scrub off any excess paint. It will come off in wet clumps. This process cleared the desk of all those pesky stains and such from before. Let the surface dry for two hours before applying any paint.

In the meantime, I used a brush to paint the new hairpin legs in Asian Tea with two coats. Allow at least two hours before painting a new coat. After I painted the legs, I returned to the desk and painted it with two coats of Clark + Kensington Paint + Primer in One Semi-Gloss Enamel, which I thought provided plenty of coverage.

For the fun part of the project, I decided to paint stripes inside the drawers. That way whenever I open the drawers, there would be a fun surprise to brighten my day. I laid down painter’s tape vertically across each drawer to prevent bleeding and ensure straight lines.

Finally, I drilled holes under the corners of the desk and screwed in the hairpin legs. Make sure you use plenty of elbow grease. It’s definitely a good arm workout!

Here is the before and after:

A peek inside the drawers:

 

Another angle:

I’m excited to enjoy my new desk. With the wheels, I can move it around too! I love the way the Asian Tea legs complement the chevron rug. What do you think?

Another day, another color to inspire your home projects. Every day in March, Ace is unveiling a featured color and giving you a chance to win a $10,000 room makeover! To learn more, visit thepaintstudio.com.

No purchase or payment necessary to enter or win.  Open to legal US residents residing in the contiguous United States and the District of Columbia who are at least twenty-one (21) years of age and who are homeowners.  Sweepstakes will run from 3/1/16-3/31/16.  Full rules located here:  http://www.thepaintstudio.com/31daysofcolor/pdf/2016AceHardware31DaysofColorSweepstakesRules.pdf

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