There is something so special about working on family heirlooms. This beautiful secretary desk had been in my client’s family for a very long time—it originally belonged to her grandmother. While the sentimental value was priceless, the look was a little too dated for her current space.
She came to me with a vision: she wanted something sleek and elegant. She wanted to honor the history of the piece but give it a modern sophistication. Here is how we transformed this family treasure.
Step 1: The Prep
As with any furniture flip, a good finish starts with a good clean. This piece had years of life on it, so I gave it a thorough scrubbing with White Lightning. This is my go-to cleaner for removing old grime, built-up dirt, and oils that can ruin a paint job. Once it was squeaky clean, I removed all the old, dated hardware to make room for the new bling.
Step 2: The Exterior
For that “sleek” look, we chose Bunker Hill Blue by Dixie Belle. If you haven’t used this paint yet, you are missing out! It is honestly so easy to work with. It is self-leveling (which means minimal brush marks!) and dries super fast.
I applied two coats of Bunker Hill Blue, and the coverage was fantastic. It instantly took the piece from “antique” to “modern chic.”
Step 3: The Interior (And a Lesson on Pigment!)
For the inside of the desk, I wanted a bright contrast, so I used the color Fluff by Dixie Belle.
Here is a little paint science for you: White paint almost always takes more coats than darker colors. This is because white paint lacks pigment—the more pigment a color has, the fewer coats you need. Because Fluff is such a clean white, it took three coats to get that perfect, solid finish. But the result against that navy blue? Totally worth it.
💡 Pro Tip: Painting Secretary Desks
If you are painting a secretary or any desk with a drop-down front, you have to be careful! When you open the desk flap, it usually rests on wooden support bars.
Here is the secret: If your paint hasn’t fully hardened (cured), those wooden bars will leave an indentation in your fresh paint, or worse, peel it right off. To prevent this, place a sheet of wax paper between the support bars and the desk flap. This creates a non-stick barrier while your paint is curing!
The Finishing Touches
To get that elegant vibe, I replaced the old arm mechanism with a shiny gold chain to secure the desktop. I also updated the drawer pulls with modern gold hardware that pops beautifully against the Bunker Hill Blue.
Finally, I sealed the entire piece with two coats of Clear Coat in a Satin finish to protect it for years to come.
I am so happy with how this turned out. It’s still Grandma’s desk, but now it fits perfectly into a modern home! If you would like to try this transformation, you can get all the products I used here at my Amazon Shop – Click Here