5 Before & After: Playing Favorites

I’m asked on a pretty regular basis to share my favorite furniture flip of all time, and I’ve gotten pretty good at dancing around a definite answer. Just like a mother refusing to admit to her favorite child—but come on. You know they all have one. Sure, the chosen child may change from day to day, but please.

While I’ve had my favorite rehabs, none have captured my heart quite like my latest. Let’s begin with the before shots.

Rescued from the side of the road by my mother and donator of a good chunk of my DIY genes, this little desk was easily recognizable as quite the diamond in the rough.

I actually sort of loved the weathered look of the base coat of the desk as it was, so all that was needed was a good scrub.

Without any salvageable drawers to work with, a little time spent with a jigsaw and a few swings of the hammer, combined the drawers on either side of the desk into one larger opening. 

A little painters tape and few swipes of black paint across the top. I wanted the paint to have that not-too-perfect, streaky dry brushed feel.

And while the one preexisting drawer wasn’t anywhere close to reusable, I wanted to hang on the the fantastic pull, so I attached it to the front of the desk as a decorative accent.

Ready for the after pics and the reason for my undeniable love for this furniture flip?




Maybe it’s the aging charm of the original finish that I adore so much. Maybe it’s the fantastic little drawer pull…and I do love a good stripe…but whatever the reason, it’s love. Real true tug at your heart strings furniture flipping love…and okay, fine. I’ll admit it. It’s just one more place for me to hoard magazines. But what addict doesn’t love a good enabler?