Thursday, January 14, 2010

Vintage School Desks

Several months ago, I purchased two vintage school desks at an auction.  I think I paid $5.00 a piece for them.   

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My niece wanted them for her children’s playroom. 

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I sanded each one and  used a gray primer.   I started painting them red as you can tell in the picture below.   I painted the top of the desk with a magnetic paint and then painted over top of that with a chalkboard paint as you can see in the picture. 

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I used my Cricut  and the School Book cartridge to cut the lettering for their names and numbers.  I Mod Podged their name and a number on each desk.033

I left the seats and the back of the desk as they were.  I still wanted to keep some of the vintage charm. 

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My niece told me that BrayLee who is four years old loves her desk.  She said that Trey who is one tries to climb up in the seat.  I’m glad they’re enjoying them because I enjoyed working on them.  And to think that these vintage desks are now being used by a new and precious generation.

Gail

P.S.  I’m linking this post to Funky Junk Interiors for Sat Nite Special.   Thanks Donna for hosting such a fun linky party.

39 comments:

  1. how beautiful!! i love them they look wonderful!
    the colors are great and i really like how you left them as is on the seats! charming!

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  2. Those are really neat. Great job on them.

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  3. Oh, those are darling. I had some of those years ago when I began homeschooling my kiddos; and they weren't that cute.

    I only paid $1 each for mine and had four.

    It was like a little prison for my son-- he "hated the chair" I soon grew tired of wasting so much time on the school room at home idea...and set them out to the curb one morning.

    They were gone by lunch!

    Yours are precious. I love the chalkboard on top...great idea.

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  4. Gail,
    I love the desks. Great choice on the color I love the names and numbers you added. The kids are going to be using these for a long time.
    Jane

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  5. I love these, I love these, I love these!!! I had one like this growing up and I wish my Dad had kept it around. These are beyond cute.

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  6. You have done a great job. It turned out beautiful. I love them and thanks for sharing.

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  7. Wow, they came out great. You do really nice work!

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  8. What an excellent idea...and a great bargain. I bet the kids love 'em!!

    My Show n Tell is posted now. Do come visit if you can find some time today. It's...

    HERE

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  9. Oh how precious!
    Seeing those wee desks brought back a flood of memories. :o) I had one as a child and would "play school" in my bedroom with my stuffed animals. :o)
    - Trish

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  10. Oh wow! Someone gave us an old school desk and I really like what you did with your's! I see a makeover in my near future!

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  11. $5.00 a piece?!? That is an amazing price for that style of desk. What you did with them is just perfection as well. I bet the kiddies are going to absolutely love them. Beautiful work, Gail!

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  12. WOW, I really really love what you did with them, and what a steel for $5.00 a piece! I love that they are magnetic chalk boards, how wonderful!!! They are going to use these for years!
    Thanks for sharing!

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  13. What a great find! They turned really well & I love that you left the seats to their aged look!

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  14. I love this I am so inspired, I have one of these in my attic I will be sending my hubbs after it to redo this weekend!

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  15. Gail,

    What a fantastic idea! I know a little man that would LOVE one of these. Your niece and nephew will treasure these desks. Everytime I come to your blog my project list gets longer. You are so creative.

    Deborah

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  16. How nice. They turned out wonderful and it is nice to see the old stuff reused by a newer younger generation. I have one in the basement that needs to be redone once it warms up a bit.

    tammy

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  17. Gail, you never cease to amaze me! Old school desks have been spotted at a thrift store in town and I have given them more than one glance. Now I'm thinking....

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  18. Love the idea of the chalkboard paint on the top! Great idea!

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  19. I bet they are just loving those! How cool that they have chalkboard paint on the top. I want to come to one of those auctions with you:)

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  20. I love those! They came out great and what a great price :)

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  21. Great steal on those! I just love chalkboard paint! Wonderful!!

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  22. Terrific job and so talented. I can't believe you only gave $5.

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  23. Now I can add school desks to my list of what to look for ....they are adorable.

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  24. I love old desks. We have several... hiding somewhere in the attic. Ugh.

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  25. I did something very similar for my son, just be warned the design of this desk is very tipsy, so warn them not to try to climb over the desks because they tip over easy!

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  26. What a fantastic idea! And they look awesome! I've seen old school desks like these from time to time, but never knew what I could do with them. I think they would be a great project to do for my niece and nephews! They would love them! Thanks for sharing!

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  27. AH! Those are adorable...and personal...and colorful...and useful!

    So cute. Great job!!

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  28. Wow, those turned out great, I bet the kids just love them. Great job!

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  29. LOVE the desks AND what you did with them! The red and black is such a fun pop. The chalkboard tops are genius, girl.

    Thanks for linking them up to SNS!
    FJ Donna

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  30. Great re-do! Good idea on the chalk board tops.

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  31. This is a wonderful idea! I love it!! Thanks for sharing! -April

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  32. So cute!! I had an old desk like this when I was little- I wonder if I could find another on Craig's List.... I love the idea of chalkboard paint on the top!~ So much fun! The possiblilities are endless with that stuff!

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  33. LOve the chalk board paint on top.... so cute! I have a desk painted red... Hmmm??? Lezlee

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  34. These turned out super darling! I will have to keep an eye out for vintage desks!

    Chelsea

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  35. These are adorable! I love the chalkboard top, I would have loved that when I was in school (I am a doodler).

    The names and numbers are great.

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  36. your school desks are wonderful! I re-did a school desk for my grand daughter. It got a lovely red paint job and I decouapaged a vintage pic on the top. It was in my kitchen but it is going upstairs in my craft room so they can tinker too while I do my crafting.

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  37. These are too cute! I am actually working on redoing some old desks for my boys and I was looking around for inspiration. I spray painted mine. I also added the kids' names and the numbers in the same spots you did:) I guess great minds think alike! I'm considering adding some stripes somewhere just to make it more fun!

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  38. Just got one free off of CL! Hope you don't mind Im going to copy you :) Great idea! Also married to military so many thanks and prayers for your son!

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