H & Grain

Gotta take the help where you can get it!

New dresser, who dis?

Can’t wait to get started on this bad boy!!

Believe it or not, even in the wild and raucous world of furniture refinishing, there are people with very strong opinions on…everything! Shocking, eh?! 🤫

One of the subjects that divides people most is gel stain vs. traditional stain. Some argue that gel stains aren't "real" because they sit more on top rather than penetrating deep into the wood fibers. I really think the marketing teams have done gel stain dirty with this though!

Yes, gel stain is forgiving if your prep isn't perfect, which is why it gets a reputation for masking the wood. BUT, if you prepare the surface meticulously anyway? You get the best of both worlds: a complete glow-up for the natural grain, plus a beautifully consistent, predictable colour.

I prepare every single piece with the same level of care, regardless of the product being used. Have a look below to see this drawer front taken back to its raw wood, the stain application, and then the satisfaction when it’s wiped back, leaving that glorious grain on full display! 😍

So, here’s to the haters, and thanks for coming to my TED Talk. 🥂

It's been a hot minute since I've posted, but that's because I've been busy…..not doing my own laundry while my mum visited from Australia! That did free up some time though, to complete this beautiful hutch by Krug Brothers Furniture. It's always an absolute privilege to be asked to refinish someone's furniture, especially when it's valuable both in its label and in sentimentality. The owners only knew that they wanted the orange gone and to highlight the spectacular grain of the solid wood. Now it's free of the orange, and the splinters too!

I picked up this old oak table ages ago, but I had no motivation to refinish it, and THEN…I got a new sander for my birthday, and “Hello big flat surface!” I love the way this one turned out!

So the customer that bought the “nice legs, pity about the face” dresser, decided it needed a desk to match. The desk didn’t start out nearly as rough, but it still took a bit of a makeover and work to get those broken drawers moving again!

So I know that these guys don’t look like anything special, but they were a great little side project while I worked on a commission piece. Oak is obviously great structurally for furniture, but getting the tone right when staining it, takes practice - and that’s exactly what these were!

Layering way to bright looking greens with way too dark looking browns, results in a subtle pinkish tan wood grain that is popular for a reason!

Anyway, back soon with more goodies!!

It’s not all about the dramatic before and afters of abandoned pieces. This sweet little coffee table not only had a lot of sentimental significance to my friend, but even into its third generation of use, it was still perfectly functional and used regularly.
I took it back to its bare bones and revived it with a stain that let the grain do the talking. It’s now back home and ready to take on family life, like a good coffee table should!

Well that was….easy!

*collapses in a heap of sandpaper.

“Nice legs, pity about the face”, was how this dresser was described.

Ouch! Don’t you worry though, we’ll get him fixed up 😉