Hello!
I’ve finally made the leap from Blogger to WordPress, and I’m feeling a bit like a fish out of water right now, so bear with me. If you ask anyone who knows me, they’ll tell you that I’m not a big fan of change, so after over five years on Blogger, you can imagine the anxiety this move created for me. 🙂 I hope you’re still following along!
I figured I’d kick off my first WordPress day with a quick furniture redo that I did for a client. I love taking these old orange-y pieces and turning them into something pretty, and this one was definitely dated.
Orange everywhere, people.
And here it is now:
I love how the top turned out – 
The knobs still need to be added, but you get the idea. I used General Finishes Lamp Black for the bottom portion of the buffet, and General Finishes Walnut Stain for the top. I learned a little trick about staining the top – it’s called toning. You mix one part stain with two parts poly (I use the High Performance Polycrylic in a satin finish). It helps to tone down the stain a bit, and I love that you’re already adding some poly to the mix to give the top durability.
So don’t give up hope on those orange colored wood pieces! There is hope!
Do me a favor – if you’re seeing this, leave me a comment so that I know you’re still out there. It would help to put my mind at ease a bit. 🙂 Have a wonderful day!
Jenny
42 Comments
Amanda
January 11, 2016 at 8:51 amLooks awesome!
Lauren
January 11, 2016 at 8:51 amLooks great!
Tessa
January 11, 2016 at 8:54 amI’m right here with you! Beautiful, as alwsys!!
Jenny
January 11, 2016 at 12:35 pmHooray! Thanks Tessa – I’m loving it too!
Amanda Miller
January 11, 2016 at 9:13 amHi there! Beth’s kitchen is gorgeous-great job!
Jenny
January 11, 2016 at 12:36 pmThanks Amanda – I’m in love with Beth’s kitchen. Still need to share the full reveal on the blog – got to see it all put together over Christmas. Gorgeous!
Kelly
January 11, 2016 at 9:36 amThat turned out absolutely beautiful!
Jeanne
January 11, 2016 at 10:01 amLove the black transformation!
Heather
January 11, 2016 at 10:29 amLooks great! Did you use a sprayer? If so what kind do you have?
Jenny
January 11, 2016 at 12:34 pmThanks Heather! I did use a sprayer – since I’ve been doing a lot of cabinet jobs, I invested in an HVLP sprayer with a turbine. The Titan Capspray 95, if memory serves. It gets the job done! 🙂
AliJackson
January 11, 2016 at 10:38 amLove it! Now if only I could get up the guts to do this to my dining table and china hutch – they aren’t the “orangey” color but still that 1990s/2000 oak.
Jenny
January 11, 2016 at 12:37 pmIt’s still totally doable! I really love the General Finishes products and the stains are really great for making over older finishes. You’d never guess where they started by the time you’re finished!
Donna Cooper
January 11, 2016 at 11:07 amLove this!
Jenny
January 11, 2016 at 12:37 pmThanks Donna! Isn’t it amazing how a dated piece can be transformed like this? I love it!
Martina
January 11, 2016 at 12:16 pmThat looks great! Wish I could get finishes like that.
Jenny
January 11, 2016 at 12:39 pmYou can Martina – it’s all about finding and using the right products. I’m really impressed with General Finishes products – their stains are particularly great in that they can change an outdated look so easily. I have an orange-y table and chairs that I’m looking to redo as well, and it’s not difficult, just takes time and patience. 🙂
Christine
January 11, 2016 at 12:50 pmBeautiful job, Jenny!
Leah
January 11, 2016 at 4:15 pmI’m here!! Love it….it looked like my old walls 🙂
Lori
January 11, 2016 at 5:11 pmI have “orangish” bedroom furniture that needs updating. I’ll be hitting you up for tips! You have inspired me.
Colleen
January 12, 2016 at 12:16 pmI’m here with ya darling. Great job on the table – and WordPress! Can I come watch you spray one day? I really want a good sprayer.
Jenny
January 12, 2016 at 1:52 pmAnytime, Colleen! I still want to feature your kitchen remodel too!
Jolyn
January 13, 2016 at 11:37 amFrom this end, the transition was seamless… I know how hard is, once we get set in our ways.
Lisa
January 13, 2016 at 11:39 amGot your email. Love your blog. The email you sent out contained this story as well as a lot of your most recent blog posts. Just an FYI in case that wasn’t what you wanted in the email. Change is not fun, but I love WordPress. Good choice!
Meghan
January 13, 2016 at 11:56 amI see you:)
Maggie Cooper
January 13, 2016 at 12:09 pmWonderful!
Vel
January 13, 2016 at 12:15 pmCan’t tell the difference just yet Jenny, but I’m sure you’ll get the hang of it in no time. Nice job again on this piece!
Lisa @ Shine Your Light
January 13, 2016 at 12:57 pmI’m glad everything worked out with your move!! You will have to fill me in on that when I get around to it. This piece came out great!
Pamela Gray
January 13, 2016 at 9:10 pmgorgeous!
Lisa
January 16, 2016 at 11:33 amStill here!
Judy
January 17, 2016 at 4:17 pmLove it!
Kathy V.
January 19, 2016 at 2:43 pmGreat job! I’m intrigued about the process you used,especially the “toning”. I tried the General Finish stain for the first time last week and am not completely satisfied with the results. But I strongly believe that’s due to user error and not the product itself. Any help or ideas where I could get more information would be greatly appreciated.
Oh, and the new blog looks great!
Jenny
January 19, 2016 at 5:11 pmI really love using the “toning” technique on furniture pieces. It gives you a little more leeway with the color, and I like having some poly already in the mix on the tops of furniture pieces when I’m refinishing them. I do spray my stain/poly mix, and I feel like I have more control over it as a result. I’m going to have to play around with other methods and put some sort of tutorial together! It’s a really great technique.
Kathy V.
January 19, 2016 at 7:40 pmThanks Jenny. Both my husband and I will be watching for the tutorial.
I’m thinking of updating his HVLP to a newer turbine unit. Do you have a review of yours on the blog?
Sorry for all the questions. It’s just so helpful to see and learn from real users. My hubs is a great woodworker/cabinet maker, but hates the finishing process because if that goes wrong, all the hard work is for naught. I’ve been able to share your insights with him (he’s following you now, too!) and we’re both having a lot of “aha” moments as a result. Thanks again for sharing.
Jenny
January 19, 2016 at 8:20 pmKathy – I haven’t reviewed my turbine sprayer on the blog, mainly because I figured people wouldn’t be interested! Maybe I need to rethink that! Overall, I’ve been happy with my sprayer – I had to replace my hose, which was a bit annoying, but overall, it gets the job done and takes a beating and keeps on going. It was an investment, but I’ve definitely gotten my money’s worth out of it. I’ll have to put a review on the blog though.
linda
January 26, 2016 at 10:39 amI’ve just recently discovered your blog. The table looks beautiful! I wonder when you add the stain to polycrylic if you are making a better version of polyshades. I haven’t had such good luck with polyshades. I’ll have to try this!
Jenny
January 26, 2016 at 10:24 pmI have had great success with this method, and the guy at the refinishing shop (that I visit often) shared the technique with me. A great place to learn!
Lori
July 4, 2017 at 12:28 pmQUESTIONS: First off I love the after! This may be a stupid question but I’m a novice at this. Do u have to strip the top? Or can u use this toning right over the orange top? I have a dresser at my lakehouse that is shaker style and ugly orange just like this. Really want to copy this.
Jenny
July 4, 2017 at 11:03 pmI didn’t have to strip it, but I usually prime everything that I paint (unless I’m planning on distressing it, which I don’t do often). You should be able to do the toning right over the orange top – it just takes a couple of coats to cover it.
Jan
November 13, 2017 at 3:37 pmHi Jenny, this looks great. A question– djd upu uue clear poly. After the timtef and did you sand between coatd? Thanks Jan
Jenny
November 14, 2017 at 11:21 pmI did use a clear poly and do a light sand in between coats.
Megan W.
March 29, 2018 at 2:35 pmHi Jenny,
I am back pedaling to this older post for a current project I am working on. ( I pin’d it for future projects.) How did you apply your stain and the lamp black. I know you are a huge fan of power spraying kitchens, curious about this project? Thanks….I am an avid student of yours, love your style both in inpersonality and artistry.
Jenny
March 30, 2018 at 10:20 pmThanks so much Megan. I did spray this piece as well – as you know, I spray just about everything!