Why chalk paint?

Houssaon, I was just trying to think of options

Good heavens don't chalk paint it!!
It looks like a very standard square desk, the dark stain goes very well with your antique steeple clock.
If it's the dark color you object to, you could wipe it with a mix of lacquer thinner and denatured alcohol, and wipe off most of the old finish and re coat with a varnish.
But if you paint it it will look like a 2nd hand cast off that you slapped some paint on.

I work from home and would find a desk this large and dark and heavy oppressive. Most of what I saw in the transitional style is lacking storage - very minimalistic, but I think you could find something in a lighter color with cleaner lines that would still give you both the space and storage that you need.

[https://www.houzz.com/photos/workspace-at-galaxie-modern-midcentury-home-office-phvw-vp~66586947[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/workspace-at-galaxie-modern-midcentury-home-office-phvw-vp~66586947)

Here is a link to another desk that has a great design that I think is unique to MCM - a bar and shelves on the front of the desk (Can be used for something other than a bar)

https://www.etsy.com/listing/488235835/danish-modern-teak-executive-desk-bar?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=teak%20desk&ref=sc_gallery-5-12&plkey=efc6a90592cf76c43e2e5331177c930b5a8075bd:488235835

https://www.roomandboard.com/ L shaped desks and rolling cart storage & under desk storage

I think the painting idea was out of desperation:). The desk if L shaped but now I’m thinking I could look for a regular desk with a credenza or table for the monitors. I need both of those large monitors because I use several programs at a time for work and I also need to view a lot of videos. Saw a gorgeous desk at Crate & Barrel today but it was $2700 which is more than I want to spend. Any other ideas?

Thanks Beth. I was hoping you’d chime in. Do you think it’s worth going through that or should I just keep looking for a different one? I’m not in a rush by any means. Trying to finish other rooms in the house first

it's up to you. if the desk works for you and you don't want to spend the money, then what do you have to lose? pick a medium color like a blue or gray, and give it a go. if you don't like it, you basically have your primer coat done and can go over it w/another paint. the tedious part is sanding. chalk paint can leave a rough finish. if you want smooth, you will have to sand between each coat. I've gotten baby butt smooth finishes w/chalk paint. you can wax the sides and just poly the top. (you can wax the top too, but this will require a bit of upkeep and the use of coasters!) . you can paint it in a day. the stuff dries quickly. you can do it in place if you lay down a large sheet or plastic. sanding can be a bit messy so have a lot of rags and bucket of water nearby to wipe as you go.

Hi Kim,
There are other options rather than painting.. you could get something like below by getting veneer added to back and sides. The leather trim would help with where the chair hits the desk also. Another option may be adding mirror panels, mercury glass would be nice too.

marlene,,great options. but the whole point is she didn't want to spend money, otherwise she could buy a new one.

leather trim, mercury glass + custom work= $$$

beautiful desk and sofa. lots o moola.

I am a manager of a virtual team of data quality analysts. I know the feeling - don't want to spend a lot on a workspace, but if you are like me you are in your workspace 10 hours a day 5 maybe 6 days a week. There is no area of my house where I spend more hours than at my desk. Because I work from home I save money on gas and maintenance for my car, office wardrobe and eating lunches at snack bars or restaurants. I took some of that savings and created a space that I enjoy.

There are a lot of very nice used desks available through Etsy, Craigslist and used furniture stores. Many of the older desks are actually better made than newer ones. Keep your eyes open for a good deal and don't be too frugal. It's kind of like buying a good mattress - you need something that allows you to get a good night's sleep.

You deserve to work in a space that brings you joy.

Beth, those pics you posted are amazing! I’m not exactly very talented at that sort of thing so I need to think about that.

Jennifer, you’re right about saving money when you work from home. It’s great, My desk is actually very good quality and came from one of our better furniture stores but I’m just tired of the traditional look. Good idea about Etsy. I’ll check it out.

Kim, you really don't have to be. I suggest you go to AnnieSloanChalkPaint website and read through some of her tutorials. You can do basic or you can do intricate. I've already given you the run down on how to paint. (get a decent 2-3" brush). really, it's not hard. if it's to thick, thin it with water. it u screw up, sand it down and redo that part. 2nd/3rd coats, thin the paint with water to flow over the existing paint. really. it's that easy. read her site page and get what you need. You can even mix her colors to create something different. it's all on there. https://www.anniesloan.com

(buy your own wax at HD or lowes,,you don't need hers. or just use the poly on the top)

how cool would your desk look if you did an ombre effect in this blue? or green?

or something like this w/the dark parts of your desk peeking through?

or peacock color. i mean, does this really look like a cheesy chalk paint?

Thanks Beth. You’re so great at this! Another question: going to sound dumb but I’ve never done anything like this with furniture, when you change the hardware do you look at the same as in kitchens? I.e. knobs and pulls

what's on there now? if you're going to change it to where it has different holes, current ones need to be filled (not a big deal. wood putty, dry, sand smooth). I've gotten new knobs from hobby lobby, etsy, vintage shops on etsy,,,or yes, any regular handle/knob store. depends what look you want.

tried to find a desk like yours,,, you could always put glass on the top too.

another one in white, but look at how she did the rest of the room

where do you live,,i'll transform it and your space for you!lol

Oh wow! Love that white one! A couple pics of the rest of the room. That’s my grandmothers’s hope chest, i had that refinished last year. I’m in Las Vegas

These are the pulls. Can’t get a very good pic because it’s nighttime but you get the idea

I vote for painting a light color.

I didn’t read all the comments or notice if there was a budget, or if it’s a diy project, so thought I would mention other options to update desk. To me inspiration photos on houzz get my creative juices flowing. There are always less expensive options to achieve a look, ie: metallic wallpaper, grasscloth etc. Here is another option. Adding an overlay along with painting could be a great option to tone down the traditional style.
https://www.myoverlays.com

lol,,you're close! we go to vegas every few months. coming up for Super Bowl for 4 days.

I'd leave the hardware and spray it a diff metallic color. gold, silver, whatever. this is sprayed with both gold and silver paints

if you want it to match the hope chest, do it in the Old White, or Old Ochre. the latter has a teeny bit of beige/yellow umber tint. I think I may have showed u the dresser I did in it? this is old ochre. with a clear wax. I did do a light distress because of the french style. you won't have to. but see how smooth it is? that's because I fine sand.

that wallpaper is nice idea. you could do the inside drawers or even the top and put the glass over it. change it out when you get bored.

Beth you’re in OC aren’t you? I spend a lot of time in San Clemente because my boss has a house on T Street beach he lets us use. We’re practically neighbors! Lol

There’s a pull missing so they’d all need to be replaced. That’s a beautiful dresser!

yes,,,north OC. well, if you get started on the paint and need any tips, you know where I am! check any of those other places I mentioned for new pulls. do some crystal ones or something funky.

Thank Beth. Crystal would be cool. I’m going to talk to my handyman about this to see if he can do it because it’s almost guaranteed that I’ll screw it up :)

If your desk is high quality I would buy myself a new desk, have this one repaired and sell it.

I found this one. It’s from the same store as my current desk. I wouldn’t get the hutch of course. Good price on it. Thoughts?

cheesy. lol. sorry. you asked. Can you sell yours? up to you what's easier and more cost effective.

Haha Beth. I actually agree it’s not really my style. I found this one too but it’s cheap and I’m worried about the quality. It’s on both Houzz and Amazon and the reviews were good tho. I could use the computer desk for the monitors. I don’t mind spending money to buy a new one but I don’t want to spend $3000!

Also don’t pay attention to the wall color. I’m planning to repaint the interior of the house in the spring

I realize my picture is not a desk, but I’m trying to illustrate the two tone look. Restain drawers and panels in a lighter color and leave framework and desktop in the dark tone

an alternative to two stains would be paint plus stain.

Here’s a desk, with lighter stains

This desk is not like yours but the two stain look would look very nice on yours. Would not be hard to diy or hire out

OMG - you are in OC CA? Home of the best craigslist furniture around. I found so many deals in OC Craigslist when I lived in San Diego it was crazy! Especially listing from the coast between Dana Point and Mission Viejo. Just took a quick look and found 4 good deals.

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/fuo/d/shape-cherry-desk/6448170085.html

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/fuo/d/law-office-selling-desk/6465409973.html

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/fuo/d/cherry-wood-desk/6461650312.html

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/fuo/d/mid-century-danish-modern/6447619795.html

Take a look at what the last one sells for on Etsy or 1st dibs - it will be close to 2 K or more. OC - $695.

Jennifer, Beth is in OC, I’m in Vegas

jennifer,,yes,,i get most of my pieces from CL,,,that guy in your 4th pic is a big time seller. and you can't really compare stuff on 1st dibs. I was selling the exact same kent coffey piece that 1stdibs had listed for 8K! lol. I got $850 for mine. that mcm desk he has is nice, but not 700 nice. needs to be refinished. I could make it look really nice w/new staining! lol

those other ones aren't real cherry. they're cheapo veneers stained to look like cherry wood.

Beth, what do you think of this one? It also has a return that I can use for my monitors

Hi Kim, I finally found this.

well, I understand that you want a change.

But in my book, quality trumps variety any day.

A lot of things are not made as well as they used to be.

Before you get rid of what you have to buy something new sight unseen, make sure you actually get your hands on what you are buying and make sure it is the same quality as what you have.

If you don't want to paint what you have, you can always pay someone else to do it.

Places that sell raw furniture will paint furniture as will furniture restorers, and auto body shops will paint furniture and give it that high gloss finish which you might like if you really want something different. Sometimes the guys that that work in a small lumberyard have a side business doing carpentry and they do this kind of thing, too.

Loobab, I never knew that. I’ll check it out. What do you think of that white desk I posted just above your comment? It’s from the same store as my brown desk so the quality should be good. It’s actually a cottage white, so it might look well with my mom’s chest. TBH I had dark wood in my home for years and I’m just tired of it. I’ve been working on redecorating the whole house for the past year to give it a more light, transitional feel

Just because two items come from the same store doesn't mean they are of the same quality, they could be made by different manufacturers. Even the same manufacturers don't necessarily make the same quality product they made years ago.

If you are satisfied with the quality of your current desk and just don't like the color, just have it painted.

The odds are it will still be cheaper than buying new, and you are 99% guaranteed a quality product at the end.

Loobab, good point. I’ll check into those painting sources you mentioned

I was looking into chalk paint which I've been hearing a lot about lately, and found out Annie Sloane chalk paint is supposed to be one of the best brands, and according to her on her website it can be painted over anything and is very durable. I found her paint on Amazon & also on her website, she is in the UK though. She also has 'waxes' which are tinted and/or created different effects on the overall look. I am planning to buy some too so I can repaint a small nightstand I have white with it I can't wait to change the color.

Here she explains how to use her paint.

Artsy, thanks for the tip!

Your welcome! It's a little pricey though, but everyone seems to rave about the stuff.

These were the prices last time I checked on Amazon before the holidays.

*All Annie Sloane paints are $39.99 for a quart & $14.99 shipping,
the also sell a smaller ‘project pot’ for less about $14.00 & then $14.00
for shipping.

Artsy,,,I've used hers and many other chalk paints over the years. I would forgo using her wax, as plain old clear wax you buy in the store is just as good, if not better. $7 at Home Depot. You can also make your own chalk paint for about $5, and that's enough to do an entire dresser. I've done that more times than I can count.

CeCeCaldwell, American Paints, are some other brands. ShizzleDesign sells some of those other chalk paints and are just as good and cheaper. She's in Michigan. Check out her blog as she has a ton of tutorials as well.

I've also bought CeCe's paint and love her colors too

http://cececaldwells.com/colors/

I might be in the minority here, but I think the desk works. IF you are working from home full time, you need the storage and space to keep everything you need. PERSONALLY. I would add color to the office, the walls + carpet + desk make me want to fall asleep..

. If this is about workflow , what you need is a well supported shelf anchored to the wall OR monitor brackets directly to the wall so you can free up the space on the desk to work. Thats where the inefficiency is. I liked the chalk paint idea. Remove the drawers from your exec desk and paint both near side (sitting side) and top of the desk and the wall behind the monitors. (use blue tape)

What desk you have is sufficient for show. What people don't see shouldn't cost you extra. I don't know where your entrance to this room is . Wherever that is, the front of that exec desk should face it or be most prominent like it is in the photo. .A wrap around section is easy to make on your own . Plywood from homedepot set on 3 file cabinets.. A glass piece on top of each desk serves to freshen it up. Also , edge the nearside/bothsides of plywood with PVC 3"/4" pipe so your pens don't go rollin all over the place. If thats the route you go. paint the whole section the same flat black primer for continuity and then the chalkboard paint as necessary.

I'm sure Houzz has some nice office decorations , Chia pet and *empty peanut butter jars for highlighters. *The best location is screwed into the desk at about calf or knee height. Just bore the hole through the outer wall of the jar so the drill bit and screw can be sunk into the near side. Knowing your workflow helps you plan the space for accomplishing your workflow.

My husband and I both have old oak teachers desks. I painted mine white. You cannot beat the quality, they are huge and very solid. If I were you I would paint yours. It's so hard to find "real" furniture theses days. Good luck!

I’m planning to paint the entire interior of my house soon. Probably something along the lines of accessible beige. I’ll be hiring someone to give me a color consult so I think I’ll wait on the desk until that’s decided. Thank you for all your help!