We are SO excited to announce the winner of this month’s giveaway! The very talented Courtney Cole of Twig & Thyme Design transformed this secretary desk for one of her clients. Courtney is a Northern Virginia native who currently lives with her fiancé and their two dogs in the suburbs of DC. Curating a collection of vintage pieces was always a hobby of Courtney, who collected painted furniture and antiques while working in fashion. So naturally, when she decided it was time for a career change, this seemed an obvious choice! She loves more traditional styles of furniture, with Empire style being a particular favorite. But, like us, she loves to blend the old and new to create her own eclectic style.

Courtney has a true talent for looking past what may look like a dated or tired piece and seeing it’s good bones. She pulls inspiration for her pieces from her everywhere, from her travels to different cities and countries to her fellow artists to help her clients transform their pieces into something they are proud to display in their homes.

This gorgeous drop front secretary was made in 1937 and had been passed down for three generations. So naturally, it had seen its fair share of wear and tear and was a great candidate for a full makeover. Courtney was commissioned by her client to refresh this piece, while still maintaining a more classic look. The first step was a pretty extensive cleaning to remove the built up grime and worn finish. She sanded down some surface imperfections and repaired the drawers, tip trim, and foot to make sure the piece was ready for painting!

To achieve this polished look, Courtney applied layers of General Finishes’ Enduro Black Poly on the exterior, following each coat with a light sand to help achieve this flawless finish. The inside of the pieces was primed with the General Finishes Stain Blocker (which is a great way to prevent bleed through from stains!) and painted with General Finishes Milk Paint in Antique White. To help maintain the classic look of the piece, they left the original hardware and lightly distressed along the edges to highlight some of the lines and details. The final step was applying a layer of the General Finishes Enduro Lacquer for an added bit of protection!

The results are absolutely stunning aren’t they?

You can find more incredible transformations here, or send us yours on instagram using #SPPaintPro for a chance to win another DIY product this month!

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