I am blessed to have many people in my life looking out for great finds! Almost daily, I get texts, emails or calls with tips of a free this or that awaiting my creativity. A few weeks ago, one of my fabulous pickers was offered this gorgeous secretary for free.

Okay, so I admit. It wasn’t a looker. The top had chipped up veneer and it was your run of the mill old-school looking dark wood.

I repaired the chipped veneer, primed and painted.

The exterior is painted in my favorite shade of red, colonial red.

The drawers are painted with antique white. The hardware wouldn’t come off, so I painted over and added some distressing so that some of the original metal would peek through.

The inside is painted the same antique white and the entire piece was given an antique glazing to add an authentic aged look.

For sale: $245