If you build it...

It will help inspire all creativity and magically produce extra minutes in the day where I can sit and write, write, write. Wrong.

Here is the desk post. The post about the dream of having my own space in my house that will be clutter free and kid free and that will hold all my precious possessions that I don't want to get lost in the chaos. 

I scoured the internet looking for THE desk. The desk that I would turn into all of the things above, and that hopefully didn't come with a hefty price tag as I would be spending a fortune on all things required to makeover said desk. 

The inspiration for the desk came from an old desk at the cottage. It has sat under the stairs always and originally was given to my grandparents as a gift from my grandfathers parents. I love its 'bones'. I love how the wood smells and the design that no longer exists with desks being made now. As much as I'd love to turn that desk into my new love, I learned long ago to let family heirlooms remain in their original state. Long story for another day. 

I happend to come across this desk and for $80 it became mine, ALL mine.

Inside the desk all I found was $100 in Monopoly money. It made me love the desk even more.

 Under the desk I found the original tag. It provided me with the the manufacturer of the desk so I could do some research. I discovered Krug Bros Co Ltd. Turns out they are very local to the cottage where my inspiration for this desk began. The last family member Bruce passed away this year ending the line of brothers who ran the family business. For this reason, I have named my desk Bruce.

I spent many many hours sanding with my mouse sander and with my hands for detailing. I made one small adjustment switching out the original handle in the middle drawer to a glass knob. That required wood filler and drilling a new hole. I then put two coats of primer and two coats of paint on the desk. I put two coats of ebony stain on the desktop and two coats of sealer. For the existing hardware I spray painted them with a rust-oleum glossy spray. I also decided to line the drawers to create character where it wouldn't be expected. And finally.......

I love it. 

Bruce and I haven't had a lot of time together as I'd wished, but one day. I know he will wait patiently. 

I enjoyed every minute out in the garage working with my hands. Might be because it was a new challenge? Might be because I was getting in some 'me' time? Either way I'd do it again in a heart beat. There were endless challenges with Bruce - he was not entirely solid wood, the curved drawer had warped and didn't function properly, it took forever waiting in-between applying coats etc. He was worth it in the end. He is in no way perfect, and being my largest critic I see the flaws, but I see them as new found character to an old desk. 

Next up a rocking chair for A. It was mine as a kid and I don't love it currently. The detailing on it terrifies me, but she'll cherish it forever, so I'll sand away.