Woodwork Stain Color
We’re in the process of stripping acres of paint off of wainscoting, fireplaces, window surrounds, doors, etc. in our 1880’s home. We’re not doing all of it – personally I like the look of white-painted trim in some rooms – but in the hallways, stairs and one or two rooms we’d like to have stained…
We’re in the process of stripping acres of paint off of wainscoting, fireplaces, window surrounds, doors, etc. in our 1880’s home. We’re not doing all of it – personally I like the look of white-painted trim in some rooms – but in the hallways, stairs and one or two rooms we’d like to have stained wood. But we’re having a hard time picking a stain color. We’d like something fairly period-accurate, but it appears that the original finish was a very dark varnish that is a little too Addams Family. Has anyone used a stain that they particularly love? And would you recommend sticking to one consistent stain color throughout the house?
Also in Bed Stuy, very far East, where the wood work is not fancy.
Our 1890s trim is a combo of pine and poplar. Originally it was faux grained oak, but it was semi-transparent and the real grain was allowed to shine through.
In some spots, the finish appears to have been faux mahogany.
These faux finishes were achieved by mixing up shellac with a bit of pigment.
Also in Bed Stuy, very far East, where the wood work is not fancy.
Our 1890s trim is a combo of pine and poplar. Originally it was faux grained oak, but it was semi-transparent and the real grain was allowed to shine through.
In some spots, the finish appears to have been faux mahogany.
These faux finishes were achieved by mixing up shellac with a bit of pigment.
Big thanks to all for the advice!
Commodore & cyrka66 – I am not a white walls kind of girl. Nor am I averse to dark wood in the right circumstances. But we tried Brown Mahogany on a big poplar window surround (3 part window with arched top) and it looked unbelievably dark, especially with the sun shining behind it. It felt like having Darth Vader in the room. I had seen Brown Mahogany on some oak exterior doors where it looked lovely, but on the poplar it just looked oversaturated. So I think we’re gravitating toward something a bit warmer.
Now we’re experimenting with some Mohawk products (from Abbott Paints in Greenpoint – nice to see repeated endorsements of that place!): deciding between Fiddletone Cherry, Dark Fruitwood, and some kind of glaze product added to tung oil that gets darker with successive coats.
The Commodore has a good point. Dark finished wood looks creepy when it’s all worn and beat up, but when renewed and pristine it can be very stylish and even contemporary.
So much expertise to be had here! It’s great. But it seems to me you were asking more about decor choices more than products. It would be very smart to have your decoration style worked out before you go any further than the stripping. As was mentioned, the paint-grade woodwork in your house was almost certainly faux-grained in its day, but plain-painted woodwork was common too. (I recommend my friend Inez Foose for all paint treatments inezfoose.com)
I would strongly advise steering clear of dark woodwork if you have a white walls sort of look in mind. (And I hope you don’t.)
Dark woodwork looks great with deep color schemes, whether wallpaper or paint.
The Addams Family look is great in houses of the BedStuy period. Don’t be scared of it! It’s what we expect in late Victorians, and it just feels natural. I have found that even trying to deliberately make what I thought would be a somber, faded look, it has all actually turned out turned out to be rather attractive and almost fresh looking. Gomez and Morticia would be displeased.
just saw your second post on poplar.
I have found that you really have to go dark with poplar. However, again, back to Charlie at Abbot Paints, he will know which product – be it oil or alcohol based will work best with poplar. He will be able to offer some tips in surface prep as well, to open the grain and take in the stain. Poplar is a funny wood to stain and I try to stay away from it.
Tell him Steve from Stetson Farr ltd. sent you.
Steve
Stetson Farr Ltd dba The Tinker’s Wagon
Second the post on Abbot Paint in Greenpoint. Talk to Charlie Hoey at the counter. In addition to the alcohol based product recommended above, ask about Mohawk’s oil based stains. They are much faster drying and much more forgiving than Minwax products and I suspect the color range may be greater.
Steve
http://www.thetinkerswagon.com
Devils advocate, here. I stripped my poplar and while it doesn’t look as nice as the oak, I really like the natural wood finished only with tung oil. Different strikes, I guess…
Poplar is actually a great wood to paint, especially after stripping back down to a smooth surface without all the drips, chips and dings. Poplar all by itself tends to look green in color.
You can find W. D. Lockwood water soluble wood dyes at the Tools For Working Wood showroom in Brooklyn, 32 33rd street, 5th floor (between 2nd and third avenues). They would be able to recommend someone. Lot of furniture/wood carvers shop there.
I did my Poplar wood library in “cherry”. Just transparent enough to show the grain and with a flat finish for protection.
It looks fine, but not as good as the real thing.