Wood table makeover help?

Help/Suggestions needed. After stripping, sanding, little bit of bleach, and pre-stain wood conditioner I have a wood table with 3 different colors and possibly a trim that might not be wood. Want to keep a natural wood look. Wood conditioner turned it darker. Not sure what to do do with the piece of trim that does not look like wood. Any feedback would be wonderful. Thanks

Before

After

Close of questionable wood trim.

  14 answers
  • Em Em on May 16, 2020

    Manufacturers use different types of wood scraps when they stain the wood dark. It hides the fact that the wood is not all the same. You can re-stain the piece a deep color, sometimes 3 coats of stain makes it all blend in. You could chalk paint it, leaving parts like the legs or the drawer fronts stained wood. Chalk paint the piece you think is not wood.


  • Nan W. Nan W. on May 16, 2020

    Bonnie: Yes, a dark, dark stain would help "disguise" the wood differences.


  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on May 16, 2020

    What a beautiful piece of furniture, you did a great job of stripping it. I would make a focal point of the top shelf, really bring out the grain. The "V" formation is very attractive. You might consider new hardware. Looks like drawers, frame and bottom shelf are all different woods. Paint might be a remedy for you, take a look at some of these ideas:


    https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?rs=ac&len=2&q=refinish%20dresser&eq=refinish&etslf=13602

  • Cheryl A Cheryl A on May 16, 2020

    Bonnie

    You could paint it, you could remove the glass and put a rustic wood on it instead. As far as not real wood trim, it can also be painted - you could strip it and stain it as well -


  • I think you will have a problem matching it perfectly. All wood absorbs stain differently so matching them all together will not be easy. Why not just make a feature of that piece.

  • Cindy Cindy on May 16, 2020

    Hi Bonnie. I would keep the table as is. You could make the glass a feature. Put glass knobs on the drawers. Also put small glass wheels on each foot. People will see the uses of glass and the different colors of wood will look intentional. Good luck Bonnie. Stay well.

  • You may want to consider a combination of paint and stain. Choose the wood that you want to keep and finish it. Then use paint for the rest and the part that isn't real wood. Black paint is one way to accent the wood parts.

  • Janice Janice on May 17, 2020

    Hi Bonnie, you did a really nice job of stripping and prepping the piece. You could paint the (questionable) trim pieces in white or black glossy paint which will then accent the natural wood stained in whatever color you chose. Very nice piece, especially the "V" portion. I'd keep the glass and as someone else suggested purchase glass knobs for the draws or consider painting them in whichever color you paint the trim. Great project!

  • William William on May 17, 2020

    Wood conditioner is generally used on wood that has different grain patterns so stain will be more even. Tight grain takes less stain and wide grains take more stain. Wood conditioner balances that. Should not be used used on veneer like the the herringbone pattern on the top shelf and bottom shelf. It caused the veneer to turn darker. But it looks amazing. The drawers may also be veneer. What you could do is use gel stain on the frame and the trim piece. Leave the top shelf, bottom shelf, and drawer fronts alone. No stain. To get a good stain match for the frame. Take a damp cloth and wet the veneer top shelf, bottom shelf, and drawer fronts. That would be the stain color to get or close to it. You want the frame to match the veneers.

  • Dee Dee on May 17, 2020

    What a beautiful piece. I like it the way it looks and would just use some matt lacquer or varnish on it. Will probably make it a shade darker.


  • Cynthia H Cynthia H on May 17, 2020

    I think it looks gorgeous! A clear water based sealer would protect it as is, or you could stain it before sealing. Good luck and stay safe!

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on May 18, 2020

    You could try the stain over paint variety to "paint" it but it will look like wood.

  • Ana Bacallao Ana Bacallao on May 20, 2020

    I would stain the unit except for the questionable wood which I would paint in a color to your liking. It would add a pop and then you could use knobs that could tie it all together.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Mar 10, 2021

    Hello there,

    Paint it a base colour that would resemble a wood colour, then use a darker paint and dry brush a long it as you would see the grain of the wood. Then Varnish it to seal it in. Hope it works for you. NB. Practice the effect before starting on your piece to be sure you are going to like it!