My parents gave me this wonderful oak Amish made dining table years ago. When I updated my dining room a couple years ago I stashed it in the attic. With our kitchen addition nearing completion (blog on that to come) we decided to bring the table down and use it in the breakfast room. I love the table but not the golden oak color so much. That’s where Becky at Rust and Found comes in. She turned us on to a product called Java Gel Stain. This is a photo of the table before the stain:
I wiped on one coat of the gel stain which is incredibly easy to use and this is what I have now:
I love the color now that the golden oak has been toned down. I may add one more coat but right now I love it. This product, General Finishes Java Gel Stain, has a polyurethane with it so the finish is protected without the extra step of poly after stain. The table will look amazing with the vintage oak teach chairs that I have salvaged from about four schools throughout Northeast Ohio over the past 10 years. The chairs all have a bit of age on them and the colors blend perfectly. This is a great way to use what you have with just a quick update. Can’t wait to show you the finished breakfast room and kitchen. What have you done to update a piece of furniture? #gojunk!