I am beyond thrilled to be a new member of the Themed Furniture Makeover Day group. This group of talented furniture reimaginers come together once a month and transform a piece of furniture based on a theme. This month the theme is French.

Recently a friend called to tell me about a small desk that was up for grabs and wanted to know if I would be interested. I couldn't pull up to the driveway fast enough. Being a woman who loves all things French, I knew this would be the perfect piece to makeover for this challenge.

Meet Marie Antoinette: a Queen Anne Desk with Parisian Flair.

Queen Anne Desk Makeover With Parisian Flair

This is what the desk looked like when I acquired it...


The original plan was to paint the desk in a combination of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint™ in Paris Grey and Old White. I started the makeover painting the entire desk in Paris Grey and then called it a day. The following morning while taking a shower, inspiration struck; think Bombay meets Restoration Hardware.

Back on the shelf went the can of Old White chalk paint and out came the color, Graphite.  I randomly dry brushed it all over the Paris Grey, dabbing the excess paint off onto a paper towel first. I just kept playing until it felt right.

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Using my finger, I applied Gold Gilding Wax along the edges and around the drawer fronts. The jewelry on this piece is the gorgeous silver and gold mercury glass knobs. I had them in my stash and thrilled with how they look with the two-tone gray paint colors.

So why did I call it Marie Antoinette? For two reasons; one is because that was my Mémère's name and while working on this piece she was on my mind a lot. Second, I painted the inside of the drawer with the color Antoinette by Annie Sloan Chalk Paint™.


I lined the bottom of the drawer with some pretty French Postscript Scrapbook Paper from my stash.


Now for the fun part, adding the Français. I envisioned the Marie Antoinette desktop looking like a Parisian postmarked envelope from a love letter.


The address is stenciled with Old White and Graphite and then distressed a little with fine sandpaper.


The French postmark was traced from a decal using carbon paper behind it and then hand painting the details using a script liner art brush.


A French desk wouldn't be complete without pretty stationery and a fountain pen with which to write a steamy love letter.


One of my favorite furniture pieces to makeover are desks and here are two other French-inspired desk makeovers. A Desk Makeover With Parisian Flair that sold rather quickly and a curvy French Provincial desk for a client. 

Here is a Curbside Desk Rescue that I did for my neighbor.


I hope you're as excited as I am to see how my talented friends added a French spin on their furniture makeovers this month. Please pin directly from their blog posts rather than the links below.




I shared this project at these inspiring link parties.