This is a story of a sweet little desk.
I actually came across this piece much by accident. I had driven across town to pick up a bread box type desk from a very kind man. When I got there to load up my purchase, I saw this little gal sitting over in the corner all by herself. My eyes lit up (and I tried not to drool). I asked him, "What's this piece here?"
"Oh, that" he said. "I am getting rid of this for a friend, but haven't had a chance to post it yet. Would you like to buy it too?"
I walked over to the little desk and lifted the lid...
I actually came across this piece much by accident. I had driven across town to pick up a bread box type desk from a very kind man. When I got there to load up my purchase, I saw this little gal sitting over in the corner all by herself. My eyes lit up (and I tried not to drool). I asked him, "What's this piece here?"
"Oh, that" he said. "I am getting rid of this for a friend, but haven't had a chance to post it yet. Would you like to buy it too?"
I walked over to the little desk and lifted the lid...
Inside was an old phonograph! (For all you 21st century babies, they were used to play records on.....Records...kinda like overgrown CD's)
The man didn't know whether it worked or not, but it was too cool to pass up. So, we loaded up my two newly acquired pieces and went home.
The man didn't know whether it worked or not, but it was too cool to pass up. So, we loaded up my two newly acquired pieces and went home.
Unfortunately, once I got home and plugged in the unit, I discovered that nothing worked. I still knew I had to do something fabulous with her, but I wasn't sure exactly what. So, I pushed her to the back of the shop, covered her with a sheet, and left her.
In the meantime, I decided to do a little research on my little gem.
I found out that she was manufactured in the late 1960's by a company called "Voice of Music". I even found an original marketing promotional ad for it. Pretty cool, Huh?
Repair and replacement of the nonworking components was cost prohibitive, so I knew I had to do something altogether new to her. I wanted to bring her into the 21st Century. I just had to figure out how I was going to carry this out.
I found out that she was manufactured in the late 1960's by a company called "Voice of Music". I even found an original marketing promotional ad for it. Pretty cool, Huh?
Repair and replacement of the nonworking components was cost prohibitive, so I knew I had to do something altogether new to her. I wanted to bring her into the 21st Century. I just had to figure out how I was going to carry this out.
Finally, the day came when I knew that I just had to get in there and take her apart. Geesh! I sure can make a mess! On the floor you can see the two speakers I removed and the ugly fabric covered fronts for the speaker boxes.
I tore out all the electronic components, ripped out the interior frame that held it all in, then built
I tore out all the electronic components, ripped out the interior frame that held it all in, then built
new box for the interior. I decided that I was going to change it into a USB charging station and was going to build in new speakers into the speaker boxes on each side so that the new owner could use it to play their mp3 player or to hook up any phone/tablet or device to play music.
I found a lovely cream colored upholstery fabric that had an embroidered tone on tone paisley design; just the subtle touch that I wanted for the speaker covers.
I found a lovely cream colored upholstery fabric that had an embroidered tone on tone paisley design; just the subtle touch that I wanted for the speaker covers.
I painted the desk and the stand in Benjamin Moore Advance paint color Mascarpone, my go to color for a warm, soft white. Then, I stripped the original desk top, restained it in General Finishes Candlelite gel stain (another favorite of mine), and added a paisley design With a stencil from Cutting Edge and a Hickory stain.
Now, all that was left was to put on the new hardware from D Lawless and put her back together.
The final touch was to line the desk bottom with a rich chocolate brown velvet.
I think that she is light years away from the gal I started with. One of my facebook customers saw the progress pics I posted on my page and snatched her up before I had her all done. She went home with Renee a few days later.
Let me know if you'd like to see more transformation stories here, or if you have a piece that you would love to see redesigned.
If you have any questions, feel free to message me on my contact page here, or through facebook at www.facebook.com/designsbydee4u
Now, all that was left was to put on the new hardware from D Lawless and put her back together.
The final touch was to line the desk bottom with a rich chocolate brown velvet.
I think that she is light years away from the gal I started with. One of my facebook customers saw the progress pics I posted on my page and snatched her up before I had her all done. She went home with Renee a few days later.
Let me know if you'd like to see more transformation stories here, or if you have a piece that you would love to see redesigned.
If you have any questions, feel free to message me on my contact page here, or through facebook at www.facebook.com/designsbydee4u
Proudly powered by Weebly