DIY Sawhorse Desk

Date
Jan, 21, 2016

New year, new logo, new makeovers! Here’s how it works; every month I get together with some fabulous furniture flippers and we all create a piece of furniture based on a certain theme. And this month is Shades of White. I thought I was going to have to bow out of this one, because painting furniture has really been the last thing I’ve been wanting to do lately with this giant belly. It’s hard work to begin with, and even harder when you’re 8.5 months preggers. But then I remembered I already had something I could share. The desk my hubby built me for my birthday!

DIY SAWHORSE DESK

DIY Sawhorse Desk

Now he’s no blogger, so there aren’t a ton of process pics. And he was trying to keep it somewhat secret, so he was building it at a friend’s house. But once all the parts came home and I was deciding on finishes, I made sure we snapped some pics.

He built the sawhorse legs out of 2x4s and used a piece of 3/4″ thick plywood for the top. I have this perfect little nook in our spare bedroom where I’m making my little office space and I wanted the desk to fill most of that space, which is about 7.5 feet long.


WOOD

(all 2x4s except the top piece)

4 legs measuring 28″ long
2 cross bars measuring 21″ long
1 middle connector measuring 18″ long
1 top piece measuring 22″ x 7.25″ (3/4″ thick)

*note this is for one base


The legs were cut at an angle and then everything was nailed together and the above is what he brought home to me 🙂

Now if you know me, you know I am the absolute worst at making decisions. I couldn’t decide how I wanted this thing finished. I spent hours on Pinterest looking at similar desks trying to figure out what looked best. One step at a time, I FINALLY decided I wanted the base to be painted white. So the hubs got to work again. This was his project. I wasn’t doing any work 😉

Sawhorse Desk Legs

Painted White Desk Legs

Once that was done it was time to figure out what I wanted for the top. We brought the bottom pieces outside and placed the top on so I could get a better idea of what it was looking like.

Sawhorse Desk DIY

I seriously considered keeping the top raw wood, but being plywood it didn’t really look all that great. So we started with a coat of a light colored stain. But it just wasn’t doing it for me.

Stained Desk Top

Way too light and not enough contrast with the bottom. So we brought in some white wash. I discovered this stuff as I was researching what type of finish I wanted. Usually I make my own white wash, but why do that when you can buy it already made?!

Whitewash Stain for Desk Top

I was a little nervous as he was putting it on…

Whitewashing Diy Desk Top

I’m sure he enjoyed me standing there, judging his technique and questioning how this was looking 😉

Whitewashing DIY Sawhorse Desk Top

You don’t want to leave this stuff on for too long. Make sure you pretty much wipe it off immediately. It will still give you that white washed look.

After that, I still wasn’t happy. Now it felt washed out again and too close in color to the bottom. I literally stood outside staring at it forever trying to figure out what the heck I wanted. Told ya I’m bad at making decisions 😉

I liked the look of the white wash, but it needed to be more saturated. I think if we had started with a darker stain for the base then it would have been perfect. But we didn’t. I had some Minwax Grey stain I never really had success with before. It never really did much for me and I never really liked the results. But I thought maybe putting a coat of that on top of the white wash would get it just where I wanted it.

Bingo.

It darkened it up just enough, while still maintaining the look of the white wash and giving it the perfect finish. Pretty sure the hubs wanted to punch me after all my indecisiveness, but he was a champ and I have to say I was pretty impressed with his DIY skills. He did an awesome job and I couldn’t love it more. I loooove how big it is and all the space I have.

DIY Sawhorse Desk

Large DIY Sawhorse Desk\Whitewash Sawhorse Desk Plans

 

 

Now this is just a little peek into my office. I didn’t want to give it all away quite yet 😉 I’ll be sharing the full reveal next week!

And don’t forget to check out all the other Shades of White makeovers below. Enjoy your weekend!

Large Whitewashed DIY Sawhorse Desk Plans

brepurposed

43 Comments

  1. Reply

    Heather Maddox

    March 5, 2017

    I love this and your style! I am so going to copy this for my new home office. Would you mind sharing where you got your desk chair? Thanks!

  2. Reply

    Heather Maddox

    March 5, 2017

    I love your style! and I am so going to copy this for my new home office. Would you share where the desk chair is from? Thanks

  3. Reply

    Helen Holley

    January 23, 2016

    Great job on the desk!
    Thanks for sharing,
    Helen Holley

    • Reply

      brepurposed

      January 24, 2016

      Thank you so much!

  4. Reply

    Shanna Gilbert

    January 22, 2016

    You and your hubby make a great team! I love how it turned out! Such a pretty office!

    • Reply

      brepurposed

      January 24, 2016

      Thank you so much Shanna!

  5. Reply

    Wendi @ H2OBungalow

    January 22, 2016

    This was the sweetest gift! Your new look, logo and office are all perfect for you! Love the fresh clean white too:)

    • Reply

      brepurposed

      January 24, 2016

      Thank you so much Wendi!! I’m totally in love with this space 🙂

  6. Reply

    Nancy @ Artsy Chicks Rule

    January 22, 2016

    Oh that is just fabulous Bre! I love it! And your office too. (my office does not look like that….empty! 😉 Mine is too full and in need of a makeover!)
    Can’t wait to see yours!
    xo
    Nancy

    • Reply

      brepurposed

      January 24, 2016

      Thank you so much Nancy!! It’s about time I have a real work space haha.

  7. Reply

    Amy | Canary Street Crafts

    January 22, 2016

    That’s such a great work space! The table turned out so good and I’m in love with your chair too!

    • Reply

      brepurposed

      January 24, 2016

      Thanks so much, friend! xo

  8. Reply

    Lucy @ Patina Paradise

    January 22, 2016

    Your desk is so sleek and streamlined and looks great with your modern style. You are blessed to have such a thoughtful hubby!

    • Reply

      brepurposed

      January 24, 2016

      Thank you so much Lucy!! He’s pretty great 🙂

  9. Reply

    Katie @ Little House of Four

    January 21, 2016

    It looks amazing, Bre! I love that you kept the top stained and painted the legs white. Great job!

    • Reply

      brepurposed

      January 24, 2016

      Thanks Katie!! xo

  10. Reply

    Jen @ Girl in the Garage

    January 21, 2016

    I love your desk! And how sweet of your hubby to secretly build it as a birthday gift! Can’t wait to hear news of your little one’s arrival soon…. 🙂

    • Reply

      brepurposed

      January 24, 2016

      Thank you so much Jen!!

  11. Reply

    Jeanie @ create&babble

    January 21, 2016

    Such a sweet and thoughtful husband you have – and talented, too! I love how the desk turned out – the colors are perfect. I’m looking forward to seeing the rest of the space!

    • Reply

      brepurposed

      January 24, 2016

      Thank you Jeanie!! Can’t wait to share the rest of it tomorrow!

  12. Reply

    Jessica [Havok]

    January 21, 2016

    Love this desk! It’s simple, but there’s so much room for things and activities and oh it’s perfect! And yay for not only having a Mister that would build it for you, but also that he would work so well with you to choose the colors! 😀

    • Reply

      brepurposed

      January 24, 2016

      Thank you so much!! I love all the space for activities 😉

  13. Reply

    Marie, The Interior Frugalista

    January 21, 2016

    Talk about a thoughtful husband! It looks like you’re carving out a gorgeous office space and the table looks amazing. Swooning over your hanging succulent plant holders too. Looking forward to the reveal next week! And the nursery Reveal. And Baby Berto’s Reveal. Girl, you have a lot to share with us coming soon ☺

    • Reply

      brepurposed

      January 24, 2016

      Ah don’t remind me! haha. So much lined up, I can’t wait to share it all! xo

  14. Reply

    Kimm at Reinvented

    January 21, 2016

    Oh I love it! The entire space is perfectly light and modern. What a great place to work!

    • Reply

      brepurposed

      January 24, 2016

      Thank you so much, Kimm!! <3

  15. Reply

    Christy@Confessions of a Serial Do-it-Yourselfer

    January 21, 2016

    The finished result is absolutely perfect! Hubby did a great job on the build too. 🙂

    • Reply

      brepurposed

      January 24, 2016

      Thanks Christy!! I might need to have him build me some more furniture 😉

  16. Reply

    Laurel (@abubblylife)

    January 21, 2016

    this is awesome and i love the planters!!

    • Reply

      brepurposed

      January 24, 2016

      Thanks Laurel!!

  17. Reply

    Kristi

    January 21, 2016

    It’s absolutely perfect Bre! LOVE the way the top turned out!!!

    • Reply

      brepurposed

      January 24, 2016

      Thanks girl!! He did a fantastic job 🙂

  18. Reply

    Amy @ Highstyle Restyle

    January 21, 2016

    Nice work hubby! The size on the desk is awesome…I might need to hit up my hubs for a crafting table now. 🙂

    • Reply

      brepurposed

      January 24, 2016

      Yes, you totally should!!

  19. Reply

    Lindsay Eidahl

    January 21, 2016

    Such a pretty desk with room to spread out! I love it!

    • Reply

      brepurposed

      January 24, 2016

      Thanks Lindsay!!

  20. Reply

    Susie@TheChelseaProject

    January 21, 2016

    My son is graduationg college and moving into his new life and space this summer. I do believe this desk would make a terrific addition. Planning to copy your terrific idea. Great job!

    • Reply

      brepurposed

      January 24, 2016

      Oh it definitely would! Steal away 😉

  21. Reply

    Larissa ~ Prodigal Pieces

    January 21, 2016

    What and awesome hubby and gift! I hear ya on the belly woes, it can be tough! 🙂 Best wishes to you as you await your little arrival.

    • Reply

      brepurposed

      January 24, 2016

      Thanks Larissa! I’m so ready for her to come out!

  22. Reply

    Paula@SweetPea

    January 21, 2016

    What a sweet husband you have to build a desk for you as a surprise. I know you really love having such a large work space.

    • Reply

      brepurposed

      January 24, 2016

      He did a pretty great job! And all the space is amazing!

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Hi, I’m Bre! Follow along as we renovate our current home and share modern DIY ideas.
 

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