Shabby Chic Desk With Chalkboard inserts {Before and After}

A hot chicky-do dropped this desk off at my house with the request to paint it white and shabby chic.... but I'm strongly considering offering HER money so I can keep it!  I'm rather ecstatic at how it turned out and I'm holding my breath hoping she loves it as much as I do!!

She kind of wanted to leave the "leather" or whatever it is on the top, but it was in rough shape.  I tried to stain it dark, but it really didn't help a whole lot so I went with option number which was - chalkboard of course!  You should know by now, when in doubt - it becomes a chalkboard!  I can even write notes with chalk on my kids' bellies.  Jus' kididn'. 

But first we had this little veneer issue to deal with. 

It's really pretty easy.  Cut it to size, iron it on, and trim off the excess.

 My mistake was I should have stained the new veneer dark like the desk because when I distressed the edges with the sander, well it just didn't "distress".  Shucky darn.

For the drawer pulls, I first spray painted them red and then using a small artist paint brush, painted them black, allowing some of the red to peak through here and there.

I feel back to one of my favorite stencils to add some elegance to the edges of the "chalkboard" inserts.

Why haven't I ever used the electrical sander to distress edges before?  Wow did that make the job a cinch!

You'd think I was new to this DIY stuff....  man, I'm a dork.

 And finished product - TA DA!

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