Studio Desk Makeover – FINISHED! (Plus, Adding Wood Veneer To A Desktop)

Right here’s a have a look at how the desk taken care of I constructed it just a few years again…

And right here’s what the desk appears to be like like now…

In my final submit on this undertaking, I had completed the desk base. As soon as it was all painted one coloration, it regarded like this…

So I lower strips of 1-inch lumber, ripped to the right width utilizing my desk noticed in order that these strips would cowl the sting of the desktop. After which I nailed these strips onto the sides of the desktop utilizing 16-gauge, 1.5-inch nails.

Right here’s what it regarded like with the strips hooked up to all 4 sides…

Since all of this is able to be hidden underneath veneer, there wasn’t any have to miter the corners…

However only one strip wasn’t sufficient. That solely prolonged all sides an extra 3/4-inch, and I wanted double that. So I added a second strip to every aspect…

Once more, I didn’t hassle mitering the corners. However I did use my sander to ensure the corners the place the boards met have been very easy.

Right here’s what it regarded like with two strips hooked up to all 4 edges.

Subsequent, I gave the highest a fast sanding with 100-grit sanding discs, not solely to take away the paint and glue that have been on the desktop, but additionally to ensure the transition from the unique desktop to the newly hooked up strips on the sides was very easy with no excessive spots.

Then I used to be prepared to connect the veneer. I used a 4′ x 8′ sheet of quartered walnut veneer for this desktop. I began by putting the sheet flat, after which slicing off a 2.25-inch strip from the precise finish of the veneer. This piece can be for the precise edge, however I didn’t wish to connect it simply but.

Subsequent, I lower off a 2.25-inch strip on the entrance fringe of the veneer. That is the piece I glued on first. I hooked up the veneer utilizing Weldwood Contact Cement and a 6-inch curler for easy surfaces. I at all times put two coats of contact cement on each surfaces (the again of the veneer and the sting of the desk on this case), letting it dry fully between coats, after which letting it dry fully earlier than attaching the veneer. I hooked up the strip of veneer in order that it caught up above the desktop about 1/4-inch. At the very least, that was the objective. It wasn’t good. As soon as it was hooked up, I used a ground curler to ensure it was securely hooked up, after which used a utility knife with a model new blade to chop off the surplus 1/4-inch (or extra) from the highest fringe of the veneer.

The subsequent piece that I hooked up was the highest. After coating each surfaces with two coats of contact cement and letting it dry, I positioned strips of scrap wooden on the desktop about six inches aside, spanning the entire desktop, after which positioned the veneer on prime. These strips saved the veneer from touching the desktop earlier than I used to be prepared. I lined up the precise edge and the entrance edge in order that the veneer overlapped about 1/4-inch, after which pressed the veneer into place from proper to left, eradicating one strip of wooden at a time and urgent the veneer into place. After which I used my utility knife to trim the precise edge and the entrance edge.

The again edge and the left edge had an entire lot of overlap. I wanted to watch out in slicing off this extra as a result of, as a lot as I might, I needed to scale back waste in order that I might get the grain on the sides to line up with the highest as a lot as potential. And if I lower away an excessive amount of, and had an excessive amount of scrap between the items, the grain wouldn’t line up.

I ended up dropping about 1/2 inch of veneer between the 2 items as soon as I fastidiously lower off the surplus after which trimmed every one…

You’ll be able to see right here that after I lower off the big piece of extra veneer from the left aspect, trimmed the veneer on the desktop, after which hooked up the veneer to the left edge, the grain nonetheless matched up fairly nicely, despite the fact that I misplaced about 1/2-inch of veneer in that course of.

Additionally, sanding makes all of the distinction in the case of working with veneer. That is one purpose I really like working with actual wooden veneer. For instance proper after attaching the veneer to the left aspect and trimming off the surplus from the highest edge, look how tough it regarded…

However after burnishing it down a bit extra, after which sanding that nook, that is the way it regarded…

After which as soon as I obtained the surplus veneer trimmed off of the underside, that is how that left edge turned out…

And right here’s a have a look at the completed prime, and the 2 completed edges (left edge and entrance edge), at that time…

Subsequent, I added the precise edge piece. This was the primary piece I lower from the massive piece of veneer, however I wanted to connect the highest earlier than including this edge. It’s so much simpler to match up a small piece to a big piece that’s already in place slightly than making an attempt to match up a big piece to a small piece that’s already in place.

After which lastly, I hooked up the again edge (i.e., the desk chair aspect).

And right here’s the way it regarded as soon as all the things was trimmed and sanded.

And right here’s a greater view of the desktop. Quartered veneer usually has attention-grabbing patterns in it, and this piece had fairly just a few. These don’t hassle me, however simply notice that in the event that they do hassle you, and also you’re wanting to make use of veneer on a undertaking, you would possibly wish to search for a distinct lower of veneer.

To seal the desktop, I used the identical product that I used on all the walnut in our rest room — Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C in Pure (affiliate hyperlink). These items is AMAZING. It’s an oil plus a hardener, and it’s extremely sturdy. The entire walnut in our rest room appears to be like simply pretty much as good at this time because it did the day I completed it, and I’ve by no means needed to recoat.

After mixing the 2 components collectively in a 1:3 hardener-to-oil ratio, I wiped it on with a paper towel. Simply notice that that is NOT the right means to do that. It’s a lot simpler to use with one thing like a kind of white spongy applicator issues that received’t absorb (and waste) plenty of oil, and that received’t go away behind little bits of white within the oil. However I didn’t have a kind of applicators, so I simply used a paper towel. It wasn’t supreme, however I made it work. Right here’s the distinction that the oil made within the coloration…

I wiped oil onto the entire floor, let it set a couple of minutes, after which used a clear white rag to buff the whole floor. It leaves a beautiful matte end on the wooden.

And right here’s the oiled desktop. Isn’t that fairly?! I really like walnut. I simply love how deep and wealthy the colour is with out being too darkish.

Right here’s a comparability of the scrap piece of unfinished veneer on prime of the oiled veneer.

And with that, the desk was accomplished.

I’m so happy with how this desk turned out. I really like being within the kitchen and searching into the studio to see a glimpse of the desk, pendant gentle, and pink cupboards. Now I simply want my pink velvet chair!

My mother came to visit yesterday, and when she noticed the desk with its new prime, she mentioned, “Wow! I knew it was going to be fairly, however I didn’t comprehend it was going to be THAT fairly!” 😀

I’ve to agree along with her. I knew it will be fairly, and I might make it work. However I feel the ultimate look far exceeded my expectations.

And I simply love sitting at this desk, with my arms resting on this easy wooden desktop, and searching as much as see that stunning pendant gentle. I’ll be spending many hours right here, and it’s simply good.

In spite of everything was mentioned and accomplished, I ended up not including drawers to the desk. I had one downside after one other with that plan, so I ended up carrying the highest trim all the best way throughout the again (chair aspect) of the desk, after which I wrapped the opposite trim round identical to I did on the underside beneath the leaf panel.

That offers it a completed search for now, whereas additionally permitting for the opportunity of including drawers later if I alter my thoughts.

Anyway, I’m so happy with how this turned out. I used to be very pleased with the unique desk for a few years. It was , sturdy, helpful, utilitarian desk.

However I feel the brand new appears to be like is so a lot better. It matches the studio so a lot better, and it’s rather more “me”.

In order that’s another huge undertaking checked off of my “to do” checklist for this room. I’ve just some extra, together with some electrical work, some trim and door casings, and reupholstering my desk chair.

After which getting this room all cleaned up and arranged goes to be fairly the job. The considered tackling that job is a bit overwhelming proper now.

However at the very least this one is completed. And I’m simply so pleased with the way it turned out!