DIY Bedroom Office Desk...Rustic Ralph Lauren Style!

I've been wanting to redo the little nook in my bedroom for sometime.  It seems I'm always last in this house.  Well...now when I blog or do any work up in my room I'm not sitting on the bed, but rather I'm sitting at my NEW DESK....WOOHOO!  I designed this desk from scratch wanting to try a Rustic Ralph Lauren Style.   I'm REALLY happy with the outcome.  I think you will like it too!  I started this project yesterday around 2:30 and had it complete by today around 12:00 (and YES...I slept)!  So about, 1 1/2 days.

New Desk Hand Built for only $53.00 with Tax

Before...I had just put these old chairs just to get me by until I had time to fix the area!

The Process

First, I measured the area to get a ruff idea of how big I wanted the desk to be!  Then off to Home Depot to find the wood I had in mind.  After I found what I was looking for I started to compare cost and wood type to be sure I kept this desk under $50.00!  I unfortunately went over my limit by $3.00.  Oh well... I could have done worse.

The Wood I bought!

 I purchased:

 2 ~ 4X4's

1 piece ~  Birch 2X4X1

I had nails, table saw and sander at home, last minute I added birch around the sides (but, I had this in my scrape pile)!

I did find the decorative bolts 4 for $1.97 at Lowe's

 

Started building the legs!

   Next, I started building the legs!  At first I was going to try this fancy crisscross design, but then decided I didn't want the desk not to have leg room so I went with the standard leg design.  This does look different thou because the wood I used was 4X4's and they really have an impact.  I wanted a modern Ralph Lauren Design that was timeless.  I really think this was achieved.

 I bolted the legs together from the top down so no screws are visible anywhere on the piece, except for the bolts I added for "THE LOOK"!  Otherwise, this piece has clean lines!

Lilly is always the helper...NOT!

 Next, I added the top Birch piece and screwed this in from underneath as well.  Lilly thought she was helping me make this level.  I assure you she was NOT HELPFUL:)

At, this point I stood back and decided to add a 4" skirt around the tabletop to balance the ultra thick legs. After I finished the skirt, I distressed the top of the!  I took chains and a saw and "Beat" the desk up until I got the desired look I wanted.  Then I sanded the top, lightly so it blended well.

The stains I used!

I decided to get the "LOOK" I wanted I needed to mix a few stains together.  I LOVE the General Finishes Stain because the product is the easiest stain I have ever worked with.  I started with a Walnut water based stain, while the table was still wet I added the Rust-oleum Weathered Grey stain, then added the Burnt Umber Glaze effect over that and touched up with the Walnut stain again.   This seems like a lot but, I assure you it went quick.  After I let the piece dry for 4 hours I added a General Finishes Polyurethane!  Then, let it dry a bit again.  After it was dry to the touch I added the decorative bolts.   And YIPPEE... I have myself a Ralph Lauren Desk.

Here is  close-up

Here is another!

In these pictures below you can see the desk in the bedroom space.  I might add a rug at some point! But, for now I'm ONE HAPPY GIRL!  

I tried shutting the blinds for the picture but this is a hard one to get.

Ahhh. I can work at a desk in my bedroom now!  LOVE IT!

Blog away!

No desk of mine wouldn't be complete without a Tiffany & Co. BOX...lol!

Hope this gives you an idea!

 

Boys Fabulous Bathroom Redo for $500.00

Another one of my favorite's. After moving into this house I decided I needed to redo as much as possible for as little as possible. This whole bathroom cost me under $500.00!

In this picture you can see the floors, oak cabinet and mauve counter tops!

Here I've taken out the oak cabinet and measuring the base perfectly before I start to tile! I can then build the Oak Cabinet up to make it higher in the bathroom.  Most cabinets are too low!

Here, I've dismantled the cabinet and I'm starting the building up portion of the cabinet.  This is prior to the staining process.

In this picture I'm trying to see how high I want the cabinet.  I don't want to go to high but would like this to be a bit higher than this!  I can tell visually, that this doesn't work for me.

In this picture, I've added the first coat of stain but have not tiled yet.  I've figured out the height and now just need to tile.

Here you can see the floors are completed with new baseboards...I'm feeling good at this point!

I'm REALLY happy now!  I've got the floors, cabinet and baseboards complete.  I just need some counter-tops and I can move on!

 

I found this cute cabinet at T.J. Maxx and it was perfect for the Swedish look I was going for...Ah..

Found these hooks at Tuesday Mornings and I thought they were cute considering we live in Colorado now!

I went with Stainless Steel counter-tops because it was under $100.00...these are perfect for the boys !

Found the mirror at T.J. Maxx for $30.00 which completed the look!  I especially like the cabinet color I chose for this room!  It's General Finishes Walnut Stain and I applied a Burnt Umber Stain over top!

Here are the After Photos!

I Really Love how this turned out for my boys!  This cost me total $500.00 and took 1 week!

Fireplace Redo... The Building of a Mantel!

After moving into a house you dislike it's important to try to make it "your own" on a budget. I couldn't stand this fireplace so I was on a mission to make one I LOVED:)

Here is the picture of the fireplace-YUCK! I hated the green tile and the cutout (SO 80's), I also needed to get rid of the brass!

 I first had to cover that ugly cutout above the fireplace. I located studs and went to work framing it in. Next, I dry-walled, sanded and applied the knockdown (which was NOT FUN), but, once I applied the paint I was happy.

 I'm a very Messy Girl sometimes...lol!

 Next, I changed out the light fixtures.  These I found by digging in a back room at a fancy lighting store.  They were $600.00 for 1.  I paid $30.00 per piece...woohoo! SCORE! Then I went to work building a mantel that aesthetically was pleasing to my eye.  Once, I felt I nailed it...I stopped!  The key to great decorating is keeping it simple and not going overboard.  I also, changed out the tile and painted that ugly brass black.

 Then I grabbed my favorite can of Stain and went to work.  Three coats of stain and two coats of Polyurethane.  Make sure to read the directions.

Here is me applying the lovely stain:)

Here I have finished both the stain and the poly, so I removed the blue tape!  I know you kinda liked it?  Just joking!!!

 AHHHHH. YEA It's completed!  Now, it's time to decorate:)

I then hung a mirror and duded it up for Christmas! After all my Dad was coming for Christmas last year and with his Cancer diagnosis and I wanted him to sit by a pretty fireplace with his coffee and rest.  Every daughter LOVES there DADDY:)

Have Fun Designing... It's the BEST PART:)

OFFICE BEAUTY! Build a Console Table and Up-Cycle a Desk to Match!

What to do when your office is drab? Up-cycle and add on! Why not? I decided to up-cycle a desk that was given to me by my Aunt and build a side table to match, to hold printers, paper, books and more.   Take a look:) This only cost me $89.00!  And I think... I ROCKED THIS ONE:) 

I started by measuring my wall to see how long I wanted the table. Then I measured to see how tall I wanted it! 

 

Then I added a shelve so I could fit more on it! 

 Next I added these cute little X design to give it that decorated and fancy feel...AFTER ALL I AM A GIRL! 

 Here is a picture so you can see the basic steps!  Make sure to measure your wall first so you know how high you want your Console Table.  

Then I added 3 coats of General Finishes (Java Stain) and 2 coats of Polyurethane!  Remember, to leave enough drying time in-between coats of stain and poly!

Here is a picture of the stain!

Ahhh... A Women's work is never done:)  But, I'm happy with this! I think I'll up-cycle that desk my Aunt gave me.  

Here it is...I took the old desk and added the same X design I used on the console table! I used the same 2X2's which cost all of $4.00!

 

 I had to strip and stain this to match the side table. But, up-cycling for $4.00 is WAY WORTH IT! 

 

 

 Look at this room now!!! I feel so rich when I walk into the office now...even though I'm NOT:) Hope this gives you all an idea.