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Thursday, August 9, 2012

{Craft Room Corner Desk}

I realized the other day that I have not posted the how-to for my craft room desk.  I find that a bit weird because it's a really important part of the room.  So here's how it came to be.
If you look at the photo above, you will see my craft room desk.  You can't find it through all the clutter, huh?  Well, it's behind the white stool in the corner.  It has the Audrey Hepburn picture on it.  Do you see it now?  If you still can't, that's okay.  It's a bit pitiful and covered with junk.  It consisted of two filing cabinets with a board over the top of them, and there wasn't much space for working on that thing.  When I decided to make over my craft room, I knew I had to have something bigger and prettier to work on.  So I started by painting the filing cabinets from the original desk white.  If you want the how-to on painting laminate, I discuss that {HERE}.  Once they were painted, I added some new drawer pulls I purchased at Hobby Lobby.
I knew I needed a new top for the filing cabinets, so who did I turn to?  Anna White, of course!  She had the PERFECT corner table top plan that fits over two filing cabinets!  Click {HERE} to see the full plans.  With the help of my dad--well, I actually just helped him--we built the table top out of MDF.  (It was our first time using MDF, and I would MUCH rather use wood!)  I wish I had more pictures of the process, but I was on deadline to get this thing done, and I didn't have time to take a lot of photos.  Anna has great plans, though, so just follow those.  :)  Once we finished building the top, we put it on my newly painted filing cabinets, and here it is.
For the finish on the table, I primed it with Zinsser primer, and then I painted it with the same paint I used on the walls in the room.  Looking at this picture, though, you can tell that the desk top is really plain.  And if you follow my blog, you know that I don't really do "plain."  So I decided to add a little something to the table top--a white stripe around the edge.  Here's how to paint a perfectly straight, crisp stripe around the edge of a table top.
  1. Tape along the edge of the table top following the straight edge.
  2. Tape another row of tape right beside that tape, making sure NOT to overlap the tape.
  3. Tape another row of tape right beside that tape, making sure NOT to overlap the tape.  At this point, you should have three rows of tape going along the entire edge of your table top.
  4. Carefully remove the middle row of tape.  Now you have a perfectly straight border to paint.
  5. Paint over the inside edges of your tape with the same paint you used on the table top.  This will keep the border paint from seeping under the tape and messing up your straight lines.  Then use a pouncer or a foam roller to apply the stripe paint within your taped border, being careful not to overload your brush with paint.
  6. When your paint is almost dry, remove all the tape.
After I was finished painting, I applied three coats of Polycrylic to my table top to protect it from all my crazy crafting!

You can see that just by adding the white stripe around the edge of the table top, I was able to give the table top some definition.  It stands out much better now against the walls.
If you compare the new desk to the old desk, well, there is no comparison!  I have so much more room now, and since the desk is lighter, the room seems lighter.  You can see the full room reveal {HERE}, along with links to all the projects I did in the room.  My craft room is definitely my favorite room in the house now!
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43 comments:

  1. Love this idea, how did you make the table top? If that just painted plywood?

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  2. WOW. What an incredible transformation. I love your bright, clean and inspirational crafting corner. I never would have thought of adding a stripe to the tabletop but it's the perfect touch. It's subtle yet provides definition. What a beautiful area.

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  3. WOW! Amazing! I never would have guessed you started with a plain, rectangular desk and turned it into this! Very well done and super cute creative space! Love it! Have a great weekend!

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  4. Your corner desk turned out amazing! I would love to make something similar for my daughter's room! Thanks for the inspiration. Have a wonderful day!
    Amy@homehappyhome

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  5. What a pretty space! Love the colors!

    Jen@ sewfabulous-now.blogspot.com

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  6. Holy Moly - great do-over! It looks awesome and so much less cluttery. Quite impressive!

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  7. The entire thing is adorable! I love the color combinations you used. I'm now your newest follower. I'd love if you followed me too!

    Amy@ www.garbagetoglam.blogspot.com

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  8. Wow! That is amazing. Thank you for sharing. Visiting from Hubby Made Me. Would love it if you would share this at my Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com/2012/08/make-it-pretty-monday-week-9.html Hope to see you at the bash! Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

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  9. Love it! Awesome tute. The white border was genius. I'm not a "plain jane" either! here from The Grant Life party.

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  10. Completely Gorgeous! I just adore all of it.. and the fabric on the stool and the frame are beautiful.. Sooo jealous right now.. if only I had a craft room!

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  11. Wow! That is one gorgeous desk. What a brilliant design (and I am so happy to learn how to paint laminate. I have a lot of Ikea Beaverpuke furniture that needs an update one day). Thanks for the inspiration!

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  12. LOVE this! & love that chicken wire frame!

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  13. Wow, what an amazing turnabout. It's stunning, and practical.

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  14. Such an incredible transformation and your craft room is still one of my faves!

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  15. LOVE!!! Looks amazing!!

    I featured you on my blog today, come check it out :)
    http://www.artsyfartsymama.com/2012/08/pinteresting-features-n-shtuff-44.html

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  16. LOVE the makeover! Come over to my house please ;)

    I am your newest follower from Sundae Scoop. Love for you to stop by and return the follow when you can. Hosting Mom's Monday Mingle later today. Love for you to link up!

    www.thenaptimereview.com

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  17. Soooo cute!!!! Love the use of color and space. Your chicken wire frame is to die for too!!!
    Thanks for sharing

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  18. Wow Bethany! That's an amazing transformation! I love that you added the stripe - it really does take it to the next level in the style department :~) I bet you feel so much more creative in the new space too - fab job chickie!

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  19. This is really beautiful! I need a sewing table and I just know we can make one that is better and more cost effective than one we can buy (in budget.) Thanks for the insipration!

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  20. Your desk area is so very pretty, love contrast of the white against the aqua of the bench! Love the fabric and how you added to wire frame, very pretty. Your desk area is so pretty it has to be inspiring! Thanks for sharing your creative inspiration with Sunday’s Best – you helped make the party a success!

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  21. I AM FREAKING OUT ABOUT HOW AWESOME THIS IS! Sorry, you just have to use caps lock when you really mean it. Holy cow chica, you did a beautiful job :)

    xoxo, Tanya
    http://twelveoeight.blogspot.com/

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  22. This looks great! I'm asking people to link up their craft space posts to my Craftastic Link Party this week since I'm sharing a craft room tour of my own. Would love for you to link up yours:)

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  23. Terrific idea! should have thought of this myself for my room:)
    JoAnn

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  24. Love you your corner desk/craft table turned out! Love Ana!

    thanks for sharing at catch as catch can!
    gail

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  25. Hello Bethany! I just found your blog today and I'm loving it! That craft table is beautiful! I'm definitely coming back! ;)

    Talitha
    www.lovepomegranatehouse.com

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  26. This is gorgeous, Bethany. I love your decorating style. You used such a beautiful color combination too! The painted table top is genius! I featured you at this week's Throwback Thursday party! Come by and grab your button if you want it and I hope you'll join the party again this week! :) http://www.hubbymademe.com/throwback-thursday-no-6/

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  27. Oh my goodness! If I had a craft room I'd love it...but if it looked as gorgeous as this...I'd never leave it! Never! Thank you for sharing at our
    Pinteresting Party!

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  28. What an amazing idea to create a corner desk! I also love the stripe!

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  29. Bethany, your desk is totally dreamy. Love it!!! I'm featuring you tomorrow. XO, Aimee

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  30. What a great idea! I love look and all the space you have now! Thanks for linking up. :)

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  31. That Ana is so clever and you {and your dad} are so talented! It's awesome! Beautiful job! We're going to have to do something similar in the apartment renovation (for our daughter) because the stairs are too narrow for a real desk!

    Thanks so much for sharing!

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  32. Bethany, I LOVE the craft corner.. like REALLY REALLY REALLY LOVE!!!

    Thanks so much for sharing this at The DIY Dreamer.. From Dream To Reality!

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  33. I love this space! The colors are awesome and I love that fabric!

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  34. Nice!! Thanks for sharing at Show & Share, featuring you tomorrow!

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  35. Featuring YOU today! :)

    Ginger @ gingersnapcrafts.com

    http://www.gingersnapcrafts.com/2012/08/take-look-at-you-my-favorites_23.html

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  36. Amazing job on your desk! I'm loving the mirror too!

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  37. I loved these post.Thanks for sharing this informative post…

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  38. This is just great. I've just discovered your blog today and am a new follower. I really need to give my craft room a make over too!!! Love Katie xx

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  39. Hi,
    Your blog is looking too attractive and too nice.I really like your blog very much.

    Nice Sharing!!!

    NinjaTrader

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  40. Your blog post is looking too attractive and awesome.I would like to see you once again.

    ninja trader

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  41. Hi girl,

    Long time no write. I hope you are doing well. I just got my very first craft room and I gotta ask you, where are all your supplies? It looks so uncluttered and neat! I love that look, but also find I need things out or I forget what I have. . . Any suggestions?

    Thanks,
    Maureen

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  42. Gosh, I hope I am not duplicating my comment. . . I love how your room looks, and since I am just setting up my very first studio (YEA) I am wondering where all your supplies are? I love the clean and uncluttered look you have, but I need to have my supplies out or I forget what I have, any suggestions?

    I miss you and would love to hear from you when you have time,
    Maureen

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Thanks for taking the time out of your busy day to leave an awesome comment! :)