Painting and Finishing the French Provincial Desk in Farmhouse Style

Milk Painted Patio Tables AKA Wooden Spools

Check out my freshly painted patio tables created from wooden utility spools.

I live on the Canadian prairies and our fairly new home was built in the middle of a hay field. This means we get ALLOT of wind so everything we have outside needs to be sturdy (or stacked when not in use like the Adirondack chairs)

We use these wood utility spools for tables around our fire pit and on our deck. They are however lacking personality. Bring on the paint!

As in all projects the first step is a good deep clean. I used a hose and scrub brush along with a bucket of soapy water but a pressure washer works great too.

Flip so all sides get a good scrub.

Let them dry well and make any repairs, this one had a board lifting so it was glued and nailed back in place.

I chose milk paint for these two projects. Milk paint works really well on raw wood absorbing into the fibers for great adherence.

This one was painted solid in Homestead House Milk Paint laurentien then Homestead House Milk PaintQuaker blue dry bru…

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Did you read the first steps in this beauties makeover? Lets continue with the painting and finishing of the base.

Front and back views of the base after the first coat of Fusion Mineral Paint in the color Champlain, I did the same colors on this dining table which was bought by the same great customer as this piece.

Champlain was also used on this roll top desk, this gorgeous dresser turned sideboard, a sweet jewelry box , rustic country tables and as the inside of this antique cabinet to share just a few pieces I have used it on.

Three coats went on over this dark finish lightly sponge sanding between coats and distressing of the edges.

To add dimension and age, I used Fusion's espresso wax. (L) It goes so well with the natural top and warm white base. (R) The entire base; back, front and inside were all dark waxed.

The original hardware was updated with pulls in antique iron from D Lawless Hardware. They gave the perfect modern farmhouse feel to this makeover.

The next issue this desk presented was tilted drawers!

It seems the runners were affixed much lower then level which made them not close flush. See the original position outlined in over spray of the original finish? I moved them up at least 1/2" higher.