A desk that almost got the better of me…

When I started this blog, I worked at my grandparent’s old kitchen table. It has always served me well over the years and not surprisingly, it came through for me then too. There’s just something a little more special about a southern kitchen table. There are kitchen tables and then there are kitchen tables that become anchors for your life.

By the time the kitchen table became my desk, both side leaves had been removed to allow for it to fit in a narrower space. Eventually, I added on a hutch top to give myself more storage.

When we moved into the 70’s Landing Pad, that kitchen table-desk had to lose the hutch. I was knocking things off all the time, but my sentimental self felt if I gave up that table as my desk, that I’d be losing some sort of guidance from my grandparents – as if a part of them still lingered near the table.

After hanging on to it for another year or so, I knew I was being silly. At that point, we also had the farmhouse, which was once my grandparent’s home, so I felt better about getting myself a new desk and taking the kitchen table back home.

But of course, I would need a new desk.

I had seen these beautiful chippendale screen door panel inserts quite a while back and I knew they had so much potential for all kinds of DIY projects, I just didn’t know what yet. But when I started thinking about a new desk, I started thinking about those panels.

I bought two of the panels and started trying to figure out a way to work them into a beautiful, functional desk for my office.

I almost gave up no less than 10 times.

I mulled over countless different ideas for how to work these panels into the desk.

Nearly every idea I came up with seemed to eventually end with a big ol’ STOP sign.

I would go back to the drawing board. Many times, I even went straight to my computer and started searching for a desk to just buy.

I kept coming back to those damn panels though.

And then finally, it all came together. It was one of those light bulb moments, but I like to think it was really my Pap whispering in my ear passing on his woodworking and building knowledge.

And within a few days, I had a desk.

A desk that had nearly gotten the better of me on countless occasions, but none the less, a functional, beautiful desk.

And then, this month, that desk ended up in Better Homes and Gardens.

12 years ago, at 22 years old, my biggest goal was not to graduate college, but to get my house in a magazine. That should have also been my biggest clue that I was majoring in the wrong thing. That’s another story though.

This is now the 4th time one of my projects have made it into a magazine. I’m not saying that to boast; it’s important to note because this feature – it’s the most special one to me.

In the others, I was still finding me. This one though. It’s all me. I built the desk, Dolly’s in the background and my Pap’s writing is on the wall. I mean, I still have no idea what exactly I’m supposed to be doing in this life, but I finally figured myself out. That counts for something, right?

If you want to read more about the desk, you can see how I built it here. You can also read more about the full office makeover here.

P.S. Don’t worry, Burt’s still in my office. Apparently, Better Homes and Gardens draws a line when it comes to nude men on bear rugs. I know, I don’t get it either.