A space for ME!

I have been wanting and wanting a new desk/office space for a while now.  My old desk, while in good condition, was just one of those prefab Office Depot kinds, you know, there are like a million of them.  At the very least, I've been bugging my husband to take the hutch off because it was just too big.  Well, this weekend, I got my wish!

I found this desk on Craigslist and was able to negotiate a $25 purchase price.  It's a bit smaller than what I wanted, but it's pretty.  So, I caved.  Here is how she looked upon pick up:

I don't know why, but I always go gaga over those kind of drawer pulls. Yeah, I'm a dork.

I couldn't wait to dig in and paint her up.  Choices, choices, choices.  I'm really loving my ASCP Louis Blue, I could paint everything that color.  My husband, notsomuch.  I decided on 3 different looks since I couldn't make up my mind.  I sanded the heck out of the top and restained it a glossy antique walnut.  Then, I painted the base of the desk my own version of Chalk paint.  Homemade receipes are all over blog land.  I chose the latex paint mixed with unsanded grout since, well, that was the easiest to find at Lowe's.  I've used it before and liked it.  But, let me digress a moment...homemade chalk paint, while nice to work with, is no ASCP.  Sorry to those who think it is, maybe I'm doing it wrong, I don't know.  While it's a good alternative, it isn't the same.  It still gets kind of peely when sanding, not as much as regular paint, but still does.  So, I made my own creamy white chalk paint and painted away.  Then, I painted the drawers Louis Blue.  Let me digress a bit again about the chalk paint...darker colors make it worth it, but in my opinion, the lighter whites still take several coats and you really need to prime first.  Darker colors, even a Louis Blue, goes on like a DREAM, you hear me?  A DREAM!  The drawers only took one coat.  That's it.  You see how dark that desk is?  One coat.  So, here she is:

I have to say, that my husband doesn't really like it.  But, you know, I've thought long and hard about it.  The verdict:  I really don't care.  I love it and it's staying.  Maybe I'll change my mind in a year, a few months, or when I come across something a bit bigger.  But, for now, I'm keeping her!  And, again, look at those pulls...

Not to mention, the very chippy distressing.  Something that good ole (and expensive) ASCP offers.  I ended up (because it's all I had in my house and I just.could.not venture out again) spraying the drawer pulls with a flat black spray, then distressing and scuffing them up with sandpaper.  I like it. 

Then I remembered, VOILA!  I had a mirror in my storage room that has been there forever.  It's nice.  It's big.  But, it's gold and brassy.  So, one coat (ONE-you hear me?) of ASCP Louis Blue and it's back in style.  Plus, my sunroom/office area looks twice as big now with the mirror.

Here is my space before:

Here it is after:

I need to find something to cover the computer that is now sitting on the floor.  Perhaps a small white stand or something? Any suggestions? I also need to find a nice (and cheap) vintage chair I can makeover instead of our beastly black leather office chair.

For now I'm happy that I did something for myself.  This winter I'm also going to be redecorating our living room.  Besides the sofa and chair or loveseat (I hate buying those things used...) I will be redoing everything else.  I'm even going to try my skills at pillow and curtain making.  So, stay tuned...