Refursbishing pine writing desk?

[BeachBabe182]

I have an old pine writing desk that I found on the side of the road a few months ago:



(Excuse the tools on it, it's being kept in our garden shed)

It has a kind of bread box sliding curved lid thing which is what the two handles at the top are for. I'm planning on just knocking that out coz I hate it, and I love those little compartments at the back for me to put knick knacks in.

I really really want to paint it white and decoupage some pretty paper on the drawer fronts and the backs of those compartments. But everywhere I go people tell me that I should just stain it a darker colour because it will be too hard to sand it back and paint it white. You can't really tell from the pictures, but it's only a really light coating of stain, you can see the individual brush strokes. It's like the people who did it have just done it lightly to give it a bit of an antique look.

I just really want it to be white because I want to place it in my spare room and the rest of the furniture is white. Plus I think it will look so pretty in white, with the nice paper to give it a bit of colour.

 Can anyone advise me what I should do? Like how to get rid of the existing stain, what type of primer to use etc. Would it be okay to paint it with a semi-gloss spray paint, coz I can tell it's going to be hard to get into the nooks and crannies.

Thanks heaps,

Taylor

[aethelberga]

How could anyone throw that out? it's stunning! (Unless it is falling to pieces and I can't see it.)
Personally I would give it a light sanding and just paint straight over it, but that's me. Try it on an inconspicuous spot. As for what paint/primer to use, go to a local paint store (an actual paint store if you can, and not Home Depot or your local equivalent). When people deal with paint day in day out they are pretty knowledgable. I have gotten plent of good advice from my local Benjamin Moore.

[BeachBabe182]

Nope, it's not falling apart =) it's in perfect condition, apart from that stain which I don't like... I did go to a paint store, but the lady there was so negative about everything I wanted to do with it, and she kept on telling me to get all this expensive stuff.. I kept trying to tell her that I wanted to do it cheaply, but she wouldn't listen so I ended up just walking out. Lol.
That's why I thought I'd come on here and ask people who've done it and have a better idea.
Thanks heaps for your advice, I didn't even think to just test it in a small spot, so I'll do that!