Sometimes, you just need to make a change in something you see every day. The goal this time: transform a piece of inherited vintage furniture into something I really loved.

This “Dr. Lid Desk” welcomed visitors to my parents’ home as long as I can remember. The front piece – or “lid” – folds down to create a sizable writing surface. We always referred to this item as “the Secretary.”

“Dust the Secretary.”

“It’s in the Secretary. Top drawer.”

“Look behind the Secretary.”

When I was a child, the top drawer was where my mom kept the books of Disneyland tickets. The “E” tickets had all been removed from the ticket books, of course, having been used on a trip to the theme park, but sometimes a coveted “C” still remained. That’s about as magical as it got. The interior, behind the lid, has always been something of a catch-all. I think the only time I remember seeing someone using it as a desk was when my mom would put the lid down to create a surface to write a check or sign a note for school. One drawer held a large Tripoley game board, and another held vinyl or plastic placemats.

I’ve had possession of the Secretary for about 20 years, when my widowed mother downsized from our beloved family home to a somewhat depressing condo. She didn’t have room for the piece, so it came to live with my sister and me. I’ve kept up the traditions of slathering it with Pledge, dumping random things behind the lid, and yanking the drawer pulls off of their stripped screws. I keep tablecloths and fabric napkins in the drawers, with the top two drawers full of gift bags, wrapping paper, and ribbons. Never really loved the Early American design of the Secretary. I’m surrounded by it in the pieces I inherited from my parents and various other relatives, but I lack the resources to purchase new furniture and I have a hard time getting rid of items made from Real Wood in favor of lesser-quality particle board. It was overdue for a makeover.

The original order slip was still stapled to the back of the desk. The date of order – September 1953 – meant that this preceded my parents’ marriage, and was apparently purchased by my maternal grandparents. No wonder it’s in my earliest memories, and seen in our earliest home movies!

This is a perfect manifestation of the creative exploration and practice that has been occupying my mind and my time while on furlough. While I could have just refreshed the color and replaced the missing pieces, I have decided to change the look of the piece significantly. Sanding is complete and stripping is underway, and the new drawer pulls have arrived. (I love them!!) Patience and elbow grease, plus my wife’s fun array of cordless tools, are making progress possible. My previous makeover effort can be seen in the photos. The red furniture was originally natural eucalyptus, and the construction was flat and simple. On this new project, the detailing and the factory-grade varnish on the Dr. Lid Desk are definitely providing new challenge! Stay tuned…