Painted Desk

Other Things You'll Need

  • Waverly Inspirations fabric
  • Mahogany slant-front secretary desk
  • Brush basin
  • Paper towels
  • Foam plates or bowls
  • Craft knife
  • Medium- or fine-grit sandpaper
  • Tack cloth
  • Household glass cleaner
  • Fabric scissors
  • Yardstick or ruler
  • Screwdriver

Instructions

  1. Using a screwdriver, remove all drawer and door pull hardware creating a smooth surface for painting. Set hardware aside.
  2. Clean the previously finished surface with household glass cleaner to remove dust, dirt or grease deposits.
  3. Pour a small amount of Elephant into a foam bowl as a palette or load the brush directly from the paint bottle.
  4. Apply Elephant to the entire exterior surface of the secretary desk using long, smooth brushstrokes. Also paint all hardware Elephant and allow to dry. Clean the basecoating brush with soap and water, then allow both the brush and the painted secretary desk to dry thoroughly for approximately one hour.
  5. Following instructions above, paint a coat of Silver Lining to the interior of the secretary desk including the shelves. Allow to dry one hour.
  6. If needed, lightly sand the painted surfaces smooth removing all unnecessary texture of uneven paint application or messy brushstrokes using a fine grit sandpaper.
  7. Apply a second coat of Elephant and Silver Lining over the entire secretary desk for opaque coverage. Allow to dry thoroughly for approximately 1 hour.
  8. Using a ruler or yardstick, measure the interior back of the display section of the secretary. Cut Waverly Inspirations fabric to match measurements.
  9. Evenly brush a liberal amount of Mod Podge Matte onto the interior back of the secretary. Press the precut fabric onto the wet Mod Podge, smoothing out wrinkles and air bubbles and pressing the fabric into the corners and along edges. The Mod Podge will serve as the glue to attach the Waverly Inspirations fabric to the secretary desk. Allow 20 minutes to dry. If desired, a topcoat of Mod Podge can be brushed over the fabric in place. Allow to dry thoroughly.
  10. Replace all hardware.

TIPS

  • Use stencil or painter's tape as an aid to apply paint evenly where the two colors may meet along the edges of the desk.
  • Sometimes, it may be easier to seal the back-side of fabric with Mod Podge first before cutting it to size. Simply brush Mod Podge over the entire back of the fabric and allow to dry. When dry, the fabric can be cut to size or applique designs can be cut from the fabric without producing frayed edges.