In June 2021, I gave this side table in my breakfast room (now used as the living room) a makeover by stripping the heavy factory finish from the table to reveal the natural wood.
I was going to protect the whole with my favorite clear coat, but General Finish A high-performance topcoat with a flat finish. However, almost two years later, I still have not been able to apply a protective coat to this table.
Because it’s been two years since I stripped the table, and I’ve learned about two new products for wood. Rubio Monokote Oil Plus 2C Color Purewhich is what we used for all the walnut wood in the master bathroom. Watco Danish Oil in Dark Walnut, this is what I used for my walnut WaterRower at my home gym. Rubio Monocote is a clear finish and dark walnut Danish oil darkens the wood. Decided to try the Danish oil at the table.
We’re not 100% sure what this wood is, but when we stripped down the table in 2021, many seemed convinced it was made out of cherry. So, I didn’t expect the color to be as deep and beautiful as my Walnut Waterlower. Let’s take a look at the front of the table before the Danish oil is applied…
And here is the top drawer and one leg with Danish oil..
The whole process took about 30 minutes. I applied the Danish oil on a paper towel, let it sit for a few minutes, then wiped off the excess oil with another paper towel. The oil gave the wood a beautiful medium brown finish. (Bonus points if you can spot my cat in the photo below.😀)
I am very happy with this result. And now Matt is happy to have some protection over the table so it doesn’t completely ruin it.
The tabletop has a single piece of wood that is significantly lighter than the rest of the natural color. It wasn’t very noticeable when the whole thing was bright, but now that it’s all dark, the one light strip at the edge of the tabletop is even more noticeable. That’s the nature of real wood finishes. Not all pieces are created exactly the same.
I have become a big fan of Danish Oil and Rubio Monocote for a natural oil finish. The oil finish has a very natural beauty to it as opposed to the polyurethane finish and I found myself looking for more opportunities to use the oil finish. And I don’t know how any of them work. If I can turn this room back into a breakfast room and have a dining table here again, one of these products You may be tempted to find a table you can finish yourself so that you can try on the . that.
People regularly ask me what finish they would recommend for their dining table. Hopefully future Christies will have the chance to find out!
Addicted 2 Decorating is where my husband Matt and I share our DIY and decorating journeys as we modify and decorate a 1948 Fixer upper that I bought in 2013. Do the housework yourself. You can find out more about me here.
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