An Antique Secretary in Gray

Buckle up. I'm pretty sure this one's gonna knock your socks off. I did this antique mahogany and mahogany veneer secretary custom for a client who has, I must say, impeccable taste. I don't know what I would have chosen for this piece, but there's no way it would have been as gorgeous as the two subtle shades of gray that she selected. The exterior is a chalk paint made from Benjamin Moore's Pikes Peak. The interior is a chalk paint from Benjamin Moore's Feather Gray. The secretary is right next to me while I'm typing this, and it's distractingly beautiful. I have to keep glancing at it.

I sanded the exterior and interior of the piece to prep for paint, and very carefully removed the glass panes in the doors. Even with all my cation I managed to slice my thumb on one when I was putting it back in this morning. No pain no gain! The darker gray exterior has been distressed and finished with a dark wax. The pale gray interior has been distressed and finished with a clear wax. We swapped out the fussy brass pulls for wood knobs. The piece even has the original key, on an antique leather key fob, and all the locks work perfectly!

Now I want one for myself. I need a bigger house!!

Before and After

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