When I walked through the back door, I knew he would either be in his recliner or at the kitchen table.
If he was in his recliner, there was a 50 / 50 chance he had fallen asleep with a cigarette in hand and either Bonanza or In the Heat of the Night blaring from the television.
If he was expecting me and it was morning, he would most likely be at the kitchen table, facing me when I walked through the door, flipping through a magazine he had pulled from the stack that was a foot tall and rising.
This kitchen table was more than a table to me.
I sat on this table and ate my first birthday cake and drank milk from a mustard bottle.
I sat at this table and watched my grannie make me milkshakes.
I sat at this table and watched my pap try to make those same milkshakes after Grannie died.
I sat at this table and said my first curse word as I stuck a fork into a potato.
I sat at this table as he told me he would work on the tractor and I would mow the grass. I may hurt myself on the tractor.
I sat at this table with every cookbook of my grannie’s open, looking for that one chicken spaghetti recipe that my pap wanted so much to make.
I sit at this table now and write this post.
This table has been around as long as I can remember. Its solid, its sturdy, and if there is one piece of furniture that I want to work at every day, its this one. Its got a good history.
And we all know a piece of furniture with a good history is the best.
How to Build a Desk Using a Kitchen Table
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This table actually has two leaves that go with it. They fold down, but when they are folded down, they block your knees and its uncomfortable. Because of this, I just unscrewed them from the table.
The top part, the hutch, actually came with that dresser I paid $10 for at a yard sale and turned into my buffet. I didn’t really need the hutch on the buffet, so I just took it off, but knew I would end up having the perfect project for it one day.
Once the table was in place, we set the hutch on top of it, then Grunt Labor found a stud and secured the hutch to the wall with a screw.
I painted it all glossy black to match the moldings and other black accents in the guest bedroom. Then, I “dipped” the feet with gold spray paint.
I kept my Jonathan Adler inspired chair in the room as my office chair.
And added a fun pillow to keep me workin’ hard.
And I love it. I seriously love working in this space every single day. I smile every time I look at my new office space.
Its functional, its stylish, it was affordable, and most importantly, it has a history.
My history.
Loved this one? Be sure to see these projects too then…
DIY Chippendale Desk – a gorgeous, easy to build desk with beautiful chippendale panels on the ends.
DIY Kitchen Island – made using old porch posts and barn wood!
DIY Ottoman Coffee Table – turn a coffee table into an ottoman or bench!
A Dress-Up Station Made from a Bookshelf – perfect for kiddos and an easy project!
You know you don’t wanna miss any of this crazy.
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Terri Hughes says
Beautiful……nothing like great memories. Great job!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks so much, Terri! I couldn’t agree more – nothing like memories!
Abby says
Awesome desk, love the creativity! Pieces that have a story are the best sort to keep around. The black and gold look very chic together, nice paint choice.
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks, Abby! I love the black and gold as well – one of my favorite combinations.
BrocanteuseRose says
Love the history of this piece! Awesome idea to add the hutch to the table to make the desk. 🙂
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks!! I’m a sucker for history!
angela says
Love every little detail of this! Awesome repurposing!
Angela @ Number Fifty-Three
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks, Angela! Repurposing is the best!
Dad says
Honey, I miss Pap & Grannie too. They would have been so proud of you & absolutely adored Miss Landry Eva. Your post brought memories & tears to my eyes. Have a great day. Love you. Give my precious girl some lovin’ from Granddaddy. Dad
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thank you, Dad.
Desaree Martin says
Awe I love the story and the fact that you get to sit at their table everyday! It also doesn’t hurt that you did an awesome job and it looks fabulous!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks so much, Desaree!!
Selene Galindo says
You always have such great stories behind your furniture!!! Love this one!! And your office space just screams, “I’m sexy and I know it!” So awesome!!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
I’m sexy and I know it!???!!! Ahhhhhhhhhh!! I love it! Ok, that is going to have to be a quote somewhere in here!! Thanks, Selene!
Trina @ Let's Just Build a House says
i like the little gold feet the best 🙂
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks, Trina! I gotta have some gold somewhere!!
Stacey says
The desk is amazing! Such a good idea to marry those pieces. I would never think to do something like that!
Thanks for the sweet comment about my dad’s house. 🙂
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thank you, Stacey! Your dad’s house was amazing!
Chelsea says
It’s absolutely perfect in every way, Jenna. Perfect. I love the story of it and it reminds me of so many happy moments I’ve spent with my grandparents too. Love the desk – the gold feet are fab and the pillow… work like a boss. Love it.
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Ahhhh, thank you! You know I gotta have a little touch of gold and inspiration somewhere!
Amy says
Simply FABulous girl! Love, love, love! Now I need to find a table to transform into a desk. Our office will be getting a makeover in the next 6 months I hope!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks, Amy!! It was so simple, but I can’t believe just how great it turned out!
Nancherrow says
Such sweet memories and what a way to take them and spin them into something new, black, and tres chic! Would love for you to share at Fridays Unfolded!
Alison
Nancherrow
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks, Alison! I love turning something old into something new, but still keeping all those memories!
Abby @ Just a Girl and Her Blog says
Ooh it’s so classy and beautiful! And I love all of the history behind it! Pinning for sure! Thanks for sharing, Jenna!
~Abby =)
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks, Abby!! I love a piece with good history!
Angela (Life in Velvet) says
Thank you so much for linking up at Thursday STYLE and for supporting our party!! I absolutely adore your desk…it’s genius as always. You have such a vision to be able to create this from two separate old items. I love the gold feet especially! Of course your fabulous gold sequin hangers look amazing next to it too. Have a great weekend!!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks, Angela! I’ve got to have some gold somewhere!
Erin @ DIY on the Cheap says
I absolutely love this! I love keeping heirlooms around and I love furniture with a story behind it. How awesome that you gave this table a new life! I know it holds a lot of special memories for you!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks! I’m the same way – I love old pieces of furniture with a story!
April Hoff says
What a great story and piece of history! So inspired by how you put this all together!!!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks, April!
Heather {Woods of Bell Trees} says
I love a good story! I also love this awesome desk! 😀
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks so much, Heather!
Jamie says
I love this story! And the desk is fab!
Hugs,
Jamie
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks, Jamie!
Krista @the happy housie says
Stunning Jenna! I used an old table and old hutch to make my craft desk too- but it certainly doesn’t look as elegant as yours. It hardly even looks like a work space it is so pretty!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Did you Krista? I love this combo -its pretty and functional!
gail says
Love your new desk Jenna!
I would have loved to see a “before” of the table….. from the old days.
gail
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks, Gail! I know – I had actually painted it once several years ago pre-blogging and of course, didn’t take a photo!
Marie @ The Interior Frugalista says
Love that story Jenna and I bet your grandparents are looking down with pride that their table is still being used day-to-day by their granddaughter. I love the makeover you gave it and adding the hutch is such a smart idea. Now that cute pillow of yours – lov’n it too! Your desk caught my eye over at the Inspire Me Tuesday Party.
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Marie, that is just one of the sweetest comments I’ve ever gotten. Thank you!
Dee Williamson says
I seriously would love to work in a space like that too!!! Love this.
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks, Dee!! Working is much easier when you are in a space you love!
Dee Williamson says
I’m patiently waiting to redo my own work space. Thanks for the inspiration.
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
You are so welcome, Dee! I’m glad you like it!
AlyssabethsVintage says
Ok, I totally love this! Creative, frugal and looks great!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thank you!!
Marty@A Stroll Thru Life says
How fabulous to turn an heirloom into something you can love and enjoy every single day. Such beautiful memories. Your desk looks amazing and so creative to add the hutch top. Love it. Thanks tons for linking to Inspire Me. Hugs, Marty
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks, Marty! There was no way I was parting with this – I had to find a way to make it work!
Cindy@Diybeautify says
What an amazing upcycle! It is so classy and unique and I love the price, lol! I have a double drop leaf collecting dust in my garage…I’ll have to watch out for a discarded hutch top now 🙂 Thanks for inspiring me!! Pinned!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
The price is great, isn’t it?? haha! Thanks so much! Hope you find a hutch soon!
Katie Goldsworthy says
SOOOO Fabulous! I love it! I love how sometimes using what we have turns out to be the coolest stuff ever! Thanks for linking it up at Monday Funday!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
So true, Katie!! Thanks!
Cathy says
Love this Jenna! Classy, sassy…just like you! The only space I have for my computer desk is one end of our living room and I really need to clean/organize/jazz up the area… This is a wonderful idea, even more wonderful that you get to keep and utilize something that holds such memories for you.
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks, Cathy!! Yes – I could never part with that table, so I had to make it something that would work for me! I think something like this would be great in a living room. It doesn’t look too “desk-y”, its more like furniture. Know what I mean?
dria says
I love the history of the kitchen table, too sweet! Beautiful job reinventing it!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks so much, Dria!
veronica says
That turned out beautifully. Love that it is black too
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thank you, Veronica!