My Work Space is Finished

I know it has been a while since I have posted.  I have completed many projects that I am so excited to share with you.

First I wanted to share my finished work space.  This is where a lot of time is spent getting ideas and is also where blogging happens.  This was a bunch of little projects that came together to create a space I enjoy. 

I previously posted my Sawhorse Pallet Desk and The Painted Chair Makeover.  (click on the links to check them out.) 

Here is the run down on the other little projects that I did to finish off this space.......

First, the large bulletin board.  This one was a little time consuming but I am so happy with how it turned out. 
I purchased the frame last year at a barn sale for $3.00. 

It was silver when I got it.  I thought that I could just quickly repaint it but that was not the case.  Turns out that the silver was painted over the top of gold paper covering the frame and of course it was peeling off.  I knew if I tried to paint over it I wouldn't get the result I wanted. So I started peeling and scraping.  Once I got all the gold and silver off, I then got the remaining paper wet and scraped that off. 

(Finally down to the bare wood and time to paint.)

 

I decided to paint it the same color as the sawhorses to tie it all together.  Then I distressed it a little and the frame was done.

 

Next came the cork board.  I had a piece of wood out in the garage that fit into the frame perfectly.  (what are the chances, never happens.)  Then I attached the cork to the wood.  (tried using spray adhesive but that didn't hold, so I ended up using tacky glue.)  Stacked a ton of books on top and waited for the glue to dry.



 

(an important little tip: make sure you trace the inside of the frame and cut your cork to fit.  If you make it the size of the wood it will not fit in the frame correctly.)

 

I didn't really want it to look like a plain old bulletin board.  Not very fond of that.  So I covered ti with a piece of burlap.  Was super easy.  Just cut the burlap, wrapped and stapled it to the back and voila!

 

Next little part to this was the crates I used to hold my goodies.  This was really easy and inexpensive too.  I pick up these little crates from the thrift store all the time, just in case I need them. 

 

 

(As you can see, I remembered to take the before picture after I started staining the first one.)

 

All I did was stain them the same color as the desk top, Minwax Dark Walnut.  I then figured out where I wanted to hang them and put them up.  I didn't want to make a ton of holes in the wall so I used the little 3m strips (2 on each crate), on all but one.  One of the crates I used screws with wall anchors because I knew what I was putting in there would be heavy.  It is one of my favorite finds.

(This little antique phone.  I found it at an estate sale for $2.00.  It was used on a switchboard at one time.  It still has all the original cords attached with the little plugs for the switchboard. )

It is a heavy little thing.

I made a little sign to go above the bulletin board.  It is made out of wood from an old pallet. I will probably change out at some point.  

 

And just found a few things around the house to fill my little crates.  I am sure as I find other great things on my travels I will change them out as well. 

 

The last little thing I added was this cute little "spinning wheel lamp" I found at a garage sale last summer.  I bought it for $1.00, yes a dollar.

 

It wasn't working, so we took the wiring out of another lamp I didn't want any longer, and rewired it.  Then I took a little shade I found at the thrift store for cheap, and covered it with some straw rope.  Cleaned up the lamp and it is a perfect fit. 

 

There is only one thing missing from this space to make it complete.  Check back in the next few days to see the unveiling of my favorite piece so far.  I am so excited about it and can't wait to share. 

Total cost of this space:  About $30.00 from top to bottom!!!

 

 



Sawhorse Pallet Desk

 

Sawhorse Pallet Desk



 

 

I am so excited to share with you my Sawhorse and Pallet Wood Desk.  

 

My inspiration for this desk came from the "Pallet Wood Desk" made by Donna over at Funky Junk Interiors.  It was love at first sight and I knew I needed one of my own. 

 

So all summer I looked and looked and looked for a pair of wooden sawhorses.  Every garage and estate sale I went to, I would cross my fingers in hopes of finding a pair.  NO LUCK!!!  The frustration set in and I gave up.  I thought that I would never have the desk I wanted. 

Then one day, on my way home from work.....  the freeway was a mess, so I decided to take a different route.  As I was driving down the road, I saw a man putting these sawhorses out by the curb.  I slowed down in hopes he was getting rid of them.  Then I saw the FREE sign.  Trying to control my excitement, I pulled over and threw them in the back of my car.  (They are not as great as hers but they work.)

 

Now that I had found these simple sawhorses, it was time to pick a color.  This was not an easy process for me.  I have to say, I am a little scared of the bright colors.  I have always stayed on the safe side and stuck with neutrals.  That was until I saw this craft room desk made by Kelsey over at Poofy Cheeks.  Donna at Funky Junk Interiors shared it one day.  I fell in love with the colors she chose and knew that was exactly what I wanted.  I looked through my Sherwin-Williams paint chips and chose the color. I ended using Raindrop which I thought was close to what she used. And slapped on the paint.

 

Then it was time to figure out how to make the desk top.  Unfortunately, I did not take pictures of this process.  (Sorry!)  With a little help from "Jones" we built a frame and hooked it to the painted sawhorses.  Then I picked through my stock pile of pallets for the pieces I wanted to use.  After laying it all out, and making the necessary cuts, I put the top together.

It was important to me that it not look like one uniform piece.  I wanted the pieces to be staggered like a wood floor would be. 

 

I sanded, and sanded, and sanded and yep more sanding, until there was no chance that this desk would give me any splinters. 

 Then it was time to stain it.  As you can see from the picture, I used Minwax Dark Walnut. 

 

It went from this:

 

 

To this:

 

I love the way the stain brought out the detail in the wood and I am so happy with the whole thing.

 

 

I am still working on the other details of my work space and cannot wait to share them with you.   

 

I now have a space to look for new ideas, hunt for great pieces 

and share all of my transformed "Unfinished Finds" with you. 

 

What has inspired you?  What does your work space look like?