Before we get into the latest progress on our office, we want to thank everyone who left such kind comments on yesterday’s announcement. Your support has been surreal and deeply appreciated. Now, back to the office updates.
You may recall from our initial planning post that we were still letting the concept simmer. After testing layouts on the floor and reading hundreds of comments with suggestions, we landed on a plan that suits how we work: a floating double desk in the center of the room so both of us can face the windows without having our backs to the door; a meeting table so the dining room can double as a meeting space when needed; and a craft/photography zone against the back wall where sunlight is limited.
To test the idea, we dragged a tiny desk into the middle of the room. Sitting there, cradled by the bay window, confirmed that placing a desk in the center was the right move. (Those fiddle leaf figs from Home Depot were a cheerful touch—here’s hoping they thrive.)
We kept an eye out for a suitable double desk that could float in the room. After many thrifting trips, Craigslist searches, and a few yard sale attempts, we finally spotted a large, solid wood desk with ample storage listed as a curb alert. Lucky timing got us there twenty minutes after it was posted—and on a weekday, when curb finds often last longer.
We folded down the car seats, scooped it up, and somehow got it into the car by a couple of inches. Once home, we set it on a drop cloth and lifted it slightly with scrap wood. The desk had a mix of drawers and a cabinet and showed plenty of wear—perfect candidates for a fresh coat of paint.
We removed the hardware, drawers, and doors and discovered a maker’s tag identifying it as an older “Administrator” desk from 1968. A quick search turned up similar pieces in much better condition, which was a fascinating reminder of how things find new homes.
Next came clean-up: scraping off paint blobs and tape residue, then sanding the surface to remove rough spots. We filled divots with wood putty, sanded again when dry, and wiped everything down with liquid deglosser to remove dust and grease.
We primed the exterior surfaces with a thin, even coat of Kilz Premium primer applied with a foam roller. After bringing the desk inside to avoid damaging the finish later, we painted it with Benjamin Moore Simply White Advance, the same self-leveling cabinet paint we used in the kitchen. Using a foam roller and a small angled brush helped achieve a smooth finish.
Two coats of paint provided full coverage. I sealed the desktop with two thin coats of satin Safecoat Acrylacq for extra protection. We also painted the wooden legs and handle backs in the same Simply White, then masked off and spray-painted the metal hardware a subtle metallic champagne (Rustoleum Champagne Mist) for a refined contrast.
The result is a light, airy desk that fits the clean aesthetic we imagined for the office. Since the desk was free, we can allocate more of our budget toward things like window treatments, a statement overhead light, better storage solutions, and new office chairs.
With the desk in place, the room already feels more purposeful. We’ve painted the trim and are planning to paint the walls next. For organization, we’ll use the wall behind the pictured shot so the storage solution stays out of sight from the foyer and keeps the room looking tidy even when our command center gets busy.
We’re considering a cut-out and trimmed opening in the desk’s back to route cables and possibly adding a wider top later. For now, we’re holding off on irreversible changes so the layout can evolve naturally as the room comes together.
Update: To show scale for two people, we added a laptop photo—the desk is 34″ wide and would be about 38″ with a 2″ overhang. Our previous house’s double desk worked well at 18″ deep, so we’re confident this setup will be comfortable for two.
Have you found any great secondhand pieces lately or ever scored a curb alert? This was our first curb-alert rescue and it was fantastic. We’re excited to keep updating the space and will share more as the project continues.
