This post is especially appropriate for St. Patricks Day, so Happy St. Patricks Day to you. I’m gettin’ my green on today!
As I mentioned yesterday, this desk that I found over 10 years ago at a yardsale for $25 is now getting it’s 2nd transformation in my house. I love when I can keep a good solid wood (Henredon) piece of furniture for so long, getting mileage out of it for years with a paint treatment. This one started off natural wood when I bought it, then with black paint and now it’s green. A lovely shade of kelly green.
Annie Omar with Maison Blanche paints was kind enough to send me some sample products last year of her chalky paint line. It’s very similar to Annie Sloan chalk paint. I used it on Ruby’s little drop leaf table that I painted last fall and then I got a quart of Saint Anne for this project. Once I looked at the color chart, I knew I’d love this color and I do.
Available in 36 colors, there are some beautiful shades in the line. The paint goes on velvety smooth and I enjoyed working with it a lot. She has waxes and many other paint treatments you can use on furniture too. I opted not to wax this piece, but to use a water-based satin varnish in the same line. 
So, as usual I began my paint project by spreading out cardboard in my living room. I had some folks on Facebook who were aghast at my painting methods, not putting down drop cloths or taking it out of the living room. Nope, this is how I roll. I guess I’ve been painting so long that I don’t have a fear of making too much of a mess. I didn’t get a drop on the floor!
Here’s the wood detail on the legs and front of the desk. I love this piece, it truly is a gorgeous piece of furniture. When I painted it black I went back and used Rub N Buff in Antique Gold on the wood details, giving them an old-world look. I decided to keep this with my new green paint color too and love how it turned out.
I’m very professional with my painting application, as you can see. A paper plate, foam roller and small brush is what I used. I rolled the top and part of the sides, then used a brush on the legs and drawers where the details were.
Foam roller on top. It did take 3 coats to cover the black completely. I let each coat dry well in between.
After the first coat. That F initial down there is my roommate, Rhonda’s. She had that and asked me to paint it green for her.
First coat, you can see it is still splotchy.
After 2 coats. It’s really not this bright, so hopefully at the end you can see the true color of it.
After 3 coats. I did go back and brush on any areas that needed extra coverage.
After 3 coats, it was time for a little glaze. I decided NOT to glaze the entire desk, but only the detail areas. Using Annie’s Reserve Tobacco glaze, I added it in the drawer inserts with a small brush.
Like this. With a damp paper towel, I immediately wiped it back, leaving only a bit in the creases.
Here you can barely see the glaze. I didn’t leave much. I did this on all the drawer fronts and around the front legs.
The finishing touch was adding the Satin water-based varnish for protection. This also gives it a little sheen and not the flat chalky look of just the paint. I actually like varnish better than wax.
I applied 2 coats of varnish to the top and used a brush to cover the front, sides and legs with varnish. I love how it turned out!
With a bit of glaze on the details, and leaving the black and gold from my original paint job, it’s a masterpiece now and I couldn’t be happier with it. It has all brass knobs and feet.
It’s a classic! Now it stands out between my black painted Queen Anne style chairs.
I happen to love green, so this is a perfect change for it.
And here’s how it looks on the wall now. I moved the big chair out of the way to take this picture. And I moved the Big Lots bench under the desk and really like that too. I will change out the fabric on the bench.
That fabric will probably go back to the black and white zebra which I had on there awhile back. This is a peek at the wall through the caramel leather chairs and how it’s going to look.
And when the new chair comes in and I get everything done in here, I’ll do a new photoshoot of the whole room. I really loving how fresh and colorful it feels now with these new additions and I think it’s going to all come together beautifully.
I’ve already heard comments about how bright this green is and I know not everyone will love it, but hang with me until it’s all finished and you might change your mind!
I also painted the black lantern in the same green paint, to bring it around the room a bit. It’s a pretty mix in here.
Decorating is all about making changes in time and letting our styles evolve and mine has certainly done that. I always enjoy improvements and making my house feel even more cozy, don’t you?
Spring is almost officially here and I’ve added a new guide on Ebay for creating a beautiful outdoor space. I’ve so enjoyed my porch, making it a cozy and comfortable outdoor room. Click the photo!
Beautiful Rhoda! I love that color, and Maison Blanche paint is a favorite! Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
lol Rhoda , I paint the same way. Nice job
I love the color of the desk. It turned out perfect!
As someone who has not embraced the whole neutral color palette of the 2000s, I love your green desk. Looking forward to seeing all the updates.
Pretty color…beautiful makeover!!
Nice job! I love how you left the black/gold detail.
I love your floor! Amazing ~ I love your furniture …. But if I were you I would be more selective with your accessories, and tone down your contrasting colors? I’m sorry it just seems like there are to many small accessories in odd colors? White would make it more serene it feels unorganized, but I like all your pieces. I love the room ~ I wish I lived in the south :). I love your blog 🙂
AGREE! You nailed it – pieces are OK; but it feels all jumbled and cluttered – a furniture showroom feels less cluttered than this look. It is difficult to appreciate ANYTHING because there SO MUCH STUFF. To each his own….
Love the paint job, the color selection, and the decision to keep the gold trim! I have been painting furniture and aging it – they called it antiquing back then – before I was a teenager. In all these years, it never occurred to me to selectively use the stain in just a few places. Duh! Thanks for the tip!
Love the color! I am not a fan of an all white room because I love color too much!
Oh, it turned out beautiful!! I love color and the green is so lovely. You did a great job!❤️❤️❤️
My first reaction was how could you paint with just a small piece of cardboard to protect your floor & then I read that you didn’t get a drop of paint on it. You are a painting expert! When you had mentioned that you were going to paint the desk a bright green, I didn’t think I would like that but I love it! I think it looks great! It has bothered me reading some comments from readers who think you have too many accessories & I hope you weren’t bothered by that. I think your room looks really nice. Some people might not like that many decorative pieces but others might not like more simple accessorizing. Even if a certain style isn’t for everyone, I think it’s always interesting to see different types of room design. Love your enthusiasm!
Hey, Linda, I’ve learned I have to be willing to hear opinions as a blogger, that comes with the territory. I may have too many accessories and am willing to take a look at my room with a keen eye and I’ll be doing that when I get everything together. I want it to be more WOW than it is now, so if a few things need to go, I’ll let them go. Decorating is such a personal choice and we all have to figure out what makes us happy and comfortable in our own homes and it might be different for each of us. Thanks for your comments!
Looking forward to seeing the WOW when it’s finished! It will be beautiful!
One of my favorite colors! I love the details on this old Henredon piece — you just don’t find a lot of furniture as well made any more. I too prefer a glaze and a sealer, although sometimes I finish it off with a clear wax when everything is cured. I have some lanterns I am tired of, and I think you just inspired me to paint those!
HURRAY, off turquoise!!!!
You gonna move the ‘silver’ based turquoise lamp in favor of maybe a nice ‘squatty’ brass one? A brass base with those gold knobs and accents would really show out! I’m really not a fan of the green, but it’s your room and you get to do what you want!
Wow! I LOVE how your desk turned out! I wish I was such a neat painter! I usually get the paint all over the place, including my clothes. Your color selection is lovely. The commenter who thinks you have abandoned turquoise is going to be so disappointed. I can’t wait to see it all come together!
Woow! Beautiful job Rhoda! Perfect makeover!
Have a great week!
Hugs,
Vesna
I love it!
I ♥♥♥ kelly green and it looks perfect on your desk.Soooo glad you did not glaze the whole desk, it needs that nice clean look with a color like this, just doing the decorative areas was a smart choice. It might be bright, but it is happy and it makes me smile. One thing I noticed in the picture is there are so many legs with the two chairs flanking the desk and then the bench underneath. Maybe fewer legs would be better, just a thought! 😉
Thanks, Kathy, I’m about to start moving some furniture around here, so things are changing. Time to do that since I’ve been in here for over 2 years now.
Ooooooo, that IS a great color!
Luv the desk and the color suits it perfectly!
Catherine
Kelly Green is one of my favorite colors. I think the desk turned out beautifully! I would have painted a few other items around the room too. Great minds think alike 😉