In mid-December, a customer reached out to us to see if we could help refresh a family headboard, footboard and desk for her 14-year-old daughter as a Christmas gift.

As you can see, there wasn’t really anything wrong with it per se…it just wasn’t something a 14-year-old girl would love to have in her room.

Once we had the pieces in the shop, we sanded them down and got started.  Based on the client’s vision, we went with Chalk Paint for the pieces in a soft gray and cool white.  The headboard and footboard were pretty straightforward, and followed our general process of checking for and repairing any weak joints, as well as focusing on any scratches or gouges.  We used a 3-step process with the Chalk Paint.  The first coat was the color we wanted highlighted by any distressing to the pieces, which is opposite to most methods of distressing.  The second coat was the main color we wanted.  Chalk Paint dries and cures fairly quickly, so we were able to distress accordingly, using sandpaper, scrapers, some chains, and a few other tools and methods.  We then applied some tinted wax to provide further “instant aging”, and then a clear wax over all the surfaces.

The desk, on the other hand, was  a little more in-depth as far as labor goes.  A beautiful piece with soft, scrolling edges on the desktop, curved front drawers and a 3-section leather inset made for some tricky sanding and steps.  We purchased leather and dyed it, creating an aged look but still giving a fresh piece of leather for the writing surfaces that will last for at least another 30 years.  We made sure that all the big scratches were cared for, then followed the same 3-step procedure with the Chalk Paint and wax.  The final touch was replacing the outdated original Victorian style hardware with fresh crystal knobs.

The pieces were delivered 2 days before Christmas and we anxiously awaited the report from the client on her daughter’s reaction.  Christmas Day we received the news that her daughter was in love with the pieces and thrilled with the entire room makeover she’d received as a Christmas gift.

Just goes to show you that what’s old can always be made new again, and even Grandma’s old furniture can find a happy home with a teenaged girl.