I have a serious problem, which leads to constant jokes from both family and friends. I like to paint everything. If you've been a reader of this blog for 6 months or more, you've seen some of my projects. I painted Dave's stained bookcase white and turned it into a desk. (By the way, for Christmas this year I gave him a new desk, as apparently it is a big deal for men to have a "space" in the house that is theirs alone!) I painted my maple stained kitchen table lime green and then when I got tired of that, white to match the bookcase. Then my chairs looked a little wierd next to the painted table, so I painted them "Benjamin Moore Highlighter Yellow".
My latest project I have been working on this week is refinishing an old dresser. I have plans to turn it into a TV stand. The piece really is kind of cool, it's an old thing I inherited from Dave's great aunt. I decided that instead of painting it with my favorite toy, the Ingersol-Rand paint sprayer, and get to use my birthday present, which was my very own air compressor...I would STAIN it a dark brown, kind of like a pottery barn color.
So, I carefully stripped the old varnish. Sanded and sanded it down to perfection...and stained it. and...I HATE IT! I hate that you can see the grain of the wood through the stain. It looked like I ran down to some Amish store and bought it there. It came out the wrong color. And the worst part is, it looks like an eyesore in my house next to all my cottage-like stuff.
I don't know what to do. I feel like painting it would "upset the integrity of the piece", at least that's what they say on those home decorating shows I'm so fond of! I really, really am tempted to get out my paint sprayer, but Dave say's,"that's taking the easy way out." I'm not sure what that means, but we had a good laugh about it.
Am I strange, who hates stained wood?
Let's Connect.
Ceci
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5 comments:
Sorry CiCi, I cannot relate I LOVE woodgrain and would rather remove the paint and let the wood sing in triumph! Unless it is a botched stain job or a cheap piece of furniture of course. If the piece is an antique it may look better with a lighter stain, even a wash which would give you a lighter look and a more cottage-y feel. There are even lots of colored washes out there that still let the grain show through. Take your time with the piece and remember that true cottage is an eclectic look - it is good to mix natural woods and painted together.
Have fun!
Hi Ceci,
I can't say I "hate" wood grain, but I definately prefer the cottage style painted look. I was single until I was 30 and had furnished my house in very cute painted furnisher. I have a an antique white coffee table and armwaur (sp) that closes and hides the ugly black tv and stereo, Martha Stewart Green end tables and a dining room table with a light fruitwood grained top and antique white apolstered chairs. When I married my husband, he wasn't too fond of it. He prefers seeing the wood grain. We got a cherry bedroom set, which I like, but would have prefered something painted. He has been very gracious, however. I think it all has grown on him. He even let me furnish our nursery with a white crib and changing table.:)
Hey,
I dig what you're saying. I'm not big on Amish style either, and what I mean by "not big on" is "HATE!" So I can see what you might be worried about. But I would say you could try a lighter stain with a color added. That gives a nice cottage look. Of course that requires stripping it again, but if you're committed to not "taking the easy way out" (as Dave says), you could try that. I'm sure that Lowe's would have some wood samples that show what the colored stain looks like on different types of wood, if you want to check it out. Or Ikea has some colored stained peices too. You might be able to take a look online.
Good luck!!
Oh, by the way... I have no intention of ever doing anything like this myself. I'm a backseat stainer. So let me know how you do, and I'll let you know if there's anything that you can do for me. :)
I am so with you girl! Wood grain is out!!!
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