Giving new wood some character

In an effort to fill the space left by a removed bide in our girls’ bathroom, I had a carpenter make me a table that fit around the bide pipes perfectly. Good and cheap carpentry is one thing I like living here!

But then to make a new wood table match the decor… I decided to try a part water/part paint wash on a scrap piece of wood and it was too light. I decided upon painting the table with full strength paint and wiping it off with a rag.

While that dried, I practiced applying a top stain in various ways, but decided the wipe off method would work again--a great use for a trashed t-shirt! This time I wore gloves!

I learned you have to work in sections to not let the stain get too dry before wiping it and to be careful of stain collecting on the other edge of where I’m working and not noticing it.

Finished work…

…in it’s new space.

I’m participating in the following “parties”: