Actually, Linda I made a discovery that I did not see before or get in the pictures. There is a bit of missing veneer and directly adjacent it looks a bit loose on the left side top surface. I shall have to find out how to repair that before refinishing methinks. Definitely a little more than a foot in my estimation, Karin. But I don't guess that would stop someone from sticking a mirror up there and using it as a vanity. lol

My advice is to look for a smaller piece in a quality adult line that she will use for a lifetime. A small french provincial desk or simple sturdy pine table painted white would be charming. An unfinshed furniture store might have something if you are handy. Or hit the yard sales/flea markets/antique shops and find a pretty small wooden table or vanity and paint it white. Look for something unique to turn into a desk if you are having trouble finidng one. There is so much particle board and plastic out there. I think our kids deserve much better than that especially once they get a little older. Good luck in your search. Have fun!

I did look at your whole photo albumn and I must tell you SooV, you sure are one talented lady. Your office and the rest that I saw were exquisite. You have a very lovely home from what I saw in the pics. The desk, I can see you labored hard over refinishing it. May I please ask, what is the rose decal you used for the top of it? I know I'm going to misspell this so I will sound it out when writing it - Is the decal that "tutoupauge" I've seen on QVC? It comes in sections and you use a wooden stick like a popsicle stick to rub over it onto a wall or your piece such as your desk? It has transformed that curb side table into a beautiful, very delicate looking desk. As for the small file cabinet, again, you sure are talented. It's so lovely and fits so perfectly in your office. I awed over the bulletin board made from corkboard and the frame. I have two of those same frames I curb shopped and I wondered what I was going to do with them, now I know. The push pins with the glued on half-marbles, how ingenious to turn something ordinary into something so cute. (I'm running out of words here-LOL.) Your drapes with the petals at the top, matching chair, you sure have a great way of making things look like you spent tons of $$ on them-WOW!! The prom coursages in the glass jars, I'm in awe. I apolgize this is so long and want to say, if I missed describing how beautiful a particular piece turned out please know I actually studied your pics and your talent. Your home gives me inspiration to do more in my own home to make it even more lovelier (I decorate country style.) As I said, now I know with with a little hard(er) work and inspriation you can truly get what you want out of something you found. Thank you. Sal

Paintergirl-Yes, that is what I meant above..I probably wasn't clear. We are going to remove the center drawer entirely and put the beverage cooler in that space. It just needs to be raised 4", which is how I came to think of the idea to just raise it up with a piece of decorative lumber, basically. Adding on a 2X4 to the top of it would give me the additional 4 inches. Then I would just add on a piece of decorative painted molding, so it would just look like a strip of molding underneath the counter overhang. Florantha--There is a whole host of things I would love to do to my kichen, if only my budget would allow! lol We are trying to give the kitchen a desperately needed cosmetic upgrade (for our life and for resale purposes down the line) with a very tight budget. I am planning on using the uppers as storage & display, and then just putting a 33" beverage center in the current open space. I will continue to display my cookbooks there. This space is across from the eat in area in our kitchen, close to the door of the dining room...far away from the sink. I like the idea of putting a coffee maker there too. We do entertain on a regular basis, so I was thinking this would be a great area to have drinks available and some nibbles. Here is a photo where you can better see the overall layout better. All functional kitchen space is behind me. The desk area is barely visible on left, door to dining room is on left, door to family room straight ahead. I've seen lots of beverage centers in kitchens, but nothing with the tricked out moulding like I'm planning to do. Which is what I was wondering if it would look bad.