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:

Paint stripper, chemical-resistant gloves, putty knife, stripping pad, brush (not shown)
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
The inside of the desk is so colourful. I can see why you decided to paint the draws
Wow this looks so amazing! Love it! xo
http://www.aimeroseblog.com
So much fun! I love the stripes you added inside!
Wow! your working table is really cute! i love how minimal looking it is 🙂 so lovely!
xx
Rica | http://www.sassycebuannachic.com
I love what you did!!
Christina :: Simple and Delish
I can’t believe you did the facelift yourself, it’s gorgeous! I wish I’m good in DIY like you are but I probably mess things up big time. LOL!
Shireen | Reflection of Sanity
Haha Shireen. I totally made a mess of a few things during this project. But it’s all about managing the mess. It’s ok to get some of it wrong. It’s a process where you learn and the best part is the sense of accomplishment you gain when it’s finished. I think you should totally try a DIY project you’re curious about. Start small and go from there!
Looks great. Really a Inspiration.
Thanks for sharing with us.
Love,
xx
http://www.kelpasdiary.com
Wow, you did SO good! I love the yellow, really bright and fun! Good job!
xo, Lily
Beauty With Lily
What a great desk, and i love the new legs and pop of color. It looks like a totally new piece now!
http://www.livinginsteil.com
The look of the inside of the drawers is such a delightful surprise!
Angie | Chocolate & Lipstick | Beauty, Fashion & Lifestyle Blog
Your desk looks brilliant and how practical that you can now wheel it around!
WOw, you did an amazing job with your desk, the color and design look great. Thanks for sharing!
http://www.mintnotion.com
Nice! This color is so happy!
oh my goodness, this desk is so cute! I love all of the colour you brought to the piece, especially the interior of the drawers.
https://forsevenseasons.wordpress.com
Love how you changed your desk by adding a little color to it 🙂 Looks amazing!
xoxo
Novelstyle
Wow you did an amazing job! I love how bright your room is and all the yellows and grays. What a great way to brighten up your desk drawers too. LOVE!
coffeeslag
COFFEESLAG Skin Care
You’re a great writer, i enjoyed this read. Im also imprEssed with your creativity and love for color. My favorite part is the inside of the drawer and the bright yellow legs.
http://laceandpearlsblog.com
Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed the read and the project. It’s nice to open up my drawers now and have something that really catches my eye!
wow love it
http://carrieslifestyle.com
Such a cool transformation, I love how it turned out! My workspace has yellow, too (with white, black and a bit of gray). Definitely a happy color indeed 🙂
XO,
Izzy
http://www.nearnoise.com
This is adorable! The striped drawers are such a cute touch!
Love the decor so much, ace hardware is one my escape too lol.
– Lily S. Widjaja
http://www.glowlicious.me