Warm up with wood this winter
Shorter days and cool temperatures offer more time for indoor pastimes and hobbies. It’s a perfect opportunity to start up a project, something that speaks to your creative side and presents a challenge, large or small, that you can lose yourself in for a few hours.
There are hundreds of hobbies from which to choose, and you may already have your favourites lined up. But I turned my attention to one of the most essential materials on the planet — wood — to see what I could do with that.
Introducing pillars or columns into a room is an easy and elegant way to add or build on classic style. Visit your lumber store and check out the stock columns that are readily available in round or square shapes, with a choice of details you can add to produce the design you want.
Columns can flank an entranceway or a wall of shelves. They can be finished to match the walls, or stained in a shade that gives them a modern twist, from deep sea blue, burgundy and mustard to subtle hues of slate and parchment. Columns can also be cut down to make a table base or a stand. Top with a circle of wood or combine materials and top with thick glass, tile or funky plastic.
I have always enjoyed refinishing wooden furniture. It’s particularly pleasing to retrieve some pieces that are a bit the worse for wear, (and) not only larger items such as a table, chair or bureau.
Once you have some ideas to spur you on, take some time to learn about finishing wood with stain so that it will remain protected and beautiful for years to come. Here are some helpful tips you can find at Minwax.com.
All stains require the wood’s pores to be open to allow for absorption. The size of the pores varies according to wood types, so know your wood before you begin. Open pores by sanding. If there is already an old paint finish on the wood you may want to remove it first, then sand.
To improve the finished appearance, apply a wood conditioner before you stain.
The natural colour of the wood and the size of the pores determine the final colour, so always test on a section that is not in view. Use lighter colours on wood that shows uneven absorption so any unevenness will be less noticeable.
Apply water-based stain with a brush that has synthetic bristles. Always brush in the direction of the grain. Use a soft cloth to apply stain to contoured surfaces such as mouldings or spindles.