We bought a house that had hardwoods everywhere but the bedroom. Wish I could see it in person. Here are some benefits of incorporating special walnut stains. Im very interested in this project, as I am hoping to work on a similar project at my sons house. If there is a yellow or orange difference (other than just gloss) then the finish is not 'colourless'. 'yellowing', 'ambering', etc). Good luck! The stain color samples below were tested out on pine wood since its very commonly used. Have you considered English Chestnut? This is perfect if you want your home to look cozy but without the visual warmth that some wood with red undertones has. Matt has M.S. That is really a personal preference. Any thoughts? I think it makes sense to do the floors at the end (since you didnt at the beginning) not in the middle. Provincial is a warm, medium toned brown. I had by red oak floors stained ebony and turned out great! Fiberglass. Two suggestions: Ill show you how to create a home that looks good, feels good, and functions well! The winner is one part rosewood and one part neutral. Log in, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Blue and White Coastal Prints Free Download, Install Wall Sconces Without Running Electrical . We use premium wood stains from Old Masters. THANK YOU SO MUCH for such a comprehensive array of stains on PINE! They are your floors and you are about to put a LOT of work into them to make them all look spectacular so please take the time you need to decide on what you really want. Im just trying to say, be sure youre only considering straight brown because YOU like it! The flooring guy told us that is what 90% + of his customers get. Your email address will not be published. Our refinishers mixed as suggested above with 1/2 E.A. However, this can be beneficial if the room has a large space. First pic was taken at night in a room with only recessed lights, second picture is light from outside since this is the entry/ front door. Does anyone have any finished examples or advice on a neutral light brown? Jenna is a self taught decorator and lover of all things interior design who has helped thousands create a home they love. There were several stains we knew we wanted to try right off the bat after seeing them online. [11 Options].". Shelley makes a good pointtest out on the old floor first and make necessary adjustments. Red Oak 215 . Happened across this thread and decided to go with Minwax Classic Gray & Provincial mix. Now let me tell you, the guy we worked with was really great and had the patience of a saint to boot (If youre in Mass or NH and want his name, drop me an email!). Compared to dark walnut stains, special walnut has a more rugged look by itself. What I'm looking for though is a selection like yours, with small samples that I can apply to sample boards to get an accurate view of. Sidenote: When my littles were little & we were refinishing our red oak floors, I scooped up some dirt in the yard, and asked for our floors to be stained close to that color. My goal is for you and your family to LOVE the home you live in. The waterpopping technique is the only way to try and stain maple a dark color, if you should ever encounter that task. Special walnut has a warm, medium brown tone that will pair excellently with rustic and homey designs, while dark walnut has a sleek dark brown color with golden highlights that makes it perfect for a sophisticated and timeless aesthetic. 3. My oak floors are distressed, the house is an English Tudor, and I wanted it to look like one. Duraseal is more widely used by flooring professionals. I tested Minwax Jacobean stain, Dark Walnut stain, Special Walnut stain, and a mixture of 1 part Dark Walnut stain to 1 part Special Walnut stain. Its a rich time with a modern twist having the gray come through as well. will try to post pics of my many samples i tried before selecting this, as well as my 75:25 sample with 1 coat poly as a tester. However, you can lean into its effortlessly comfortable appeal and opt for more cozy designs. Clicking the Pictures will blow it up full screen. Colors are shown on White Oak. Briarsmoke by Varathane. But before I rent the sander and get started, I need to decide on a stain color. Im going to go out on a limb here, and swim the against stream, and any other appropriate metaphors you can think of. Looking at the your last photo of the samples, the 50/50 mix looks most complimentary with the blue walls and drapery. Our floor is also a satin finish. , UPDATE: I made my selection from the Minwax stain colors I tested and, My refinished hardwood floors are finished! I was trying to send you a link to a fantastic hardwood floor blog written by a hardwood floor contractor who tests the different hardwood floor topcoats, including the hardwax oils that someone had mentioned (Rubio Monocoat.) You can see how when the color is blended exactly the same, it differs from board to board. THis is the perfect post for me today! Well, I know you say youre not a pro, but compared to me, you are a PRO! I want to avoid bringing out too much red or yellow, but also don't want to go too dark. I have some beautiful Asian trellises that have wrought iron patina on them. Thanks! Do you find it easy to keep clean? We finally have a g, The before and after of the pool area! I want to avoid bringing out too much red or yellow, but also don't want to go too dark. And if your old floor and new floor dont match 100% do not sweat it. Heres a helpful tip. Both special walnut and dark walnut are beautiful wood stains, and what you choose will ultimately depend on your style preferences. Hopefully oil based wont turn it too amber. Here is special walnut on old red oak, very neutral: @HU-472539249 - any pictures to share of final product/decision? Different brands carry matte sealers, just make sure it says matte or flat! Have you tried provincial? i like mixture of 1 part Dark Walnut to 1 part Special Walnut. We did coffee whichl ooks in between provincial and dark walnut and I wouldn't have gone any darker. The latest blog happens to be an update to the hardwax oil info, and if you look on the left hand side, you should see links to his 4 part series about choosing hardwood floor finishes, as well as other topics that may be of interest. Again if you are interested in a gray stain, see 5 gray stain options and for white stain, white wood stain options. Copyright 2007-2022 - Kristi Linauer, LLC. Hi. I found this thread several months ago before my remodel started. Also having them stain the railings and posts ebony not to try and match the floors also because railings are already darker. But Im hoping and praying that the darker color will at least minimize the differences between the old and new. I am between Special Walnut and Provincial. The living room and dining room originally had matching area rugs, too. Contractor ripped out tile in kitchen & pergo in LR to replace with matching red oak. Great article! Im at almost the same stage as you (minus the sanding; stripped ours on hands and knees with SoyGel because they couldnt take another aggressive sanding) Hubby and I have done a few houses and we leave the flooring until last just for the ease of cleaning up-if you splatter a bit of paint on the old flooring? Although the trends today lean towards more neutral stains, you can't deny that darker stains have a more opulent appeal that reminds you of huge and elegant ballrooms in antique mansions. Ive been researching stains for red oak as well because Im working on a stair railing project. On that note, red/brown shaded stains like Walnut and Chestnut have a very warming, homey effect in a home and are a very safe bet. They were a reddish brownish color when I got them but have faded out. ), you may have different results. This should give us an out if he's not going to work with us. Or is there a classic, wood stain color that you love that I havent included here?! My husband text the cabinet guy Fri & we are just now getting a reply. Its another one of my favorite stain colors and I love using it on cedar wood. Minwax Wood Finish Oil Based Red Oak Semi Transpa Interior Stain 1 Quart In The Stains Department At Lowes Com. And there is absolutely no difference in the areas of the floor now that the stain and finish are on. Walnut is a highly durable wood that creates strong furniture and flooring. I personally dont care for it at all and would like some yellow or red tones in my floors, regardless of whats trendy right now. No worries, since it will be redone anyway soon. However, this can actually be advantageous if you want to make sure your floors and fixtures are really clean, and they don't just look clean. Ive seen it used on flooring and its another very versatile stain color. It looks a bit darker on pine, but still very pretty! Thanks Jodi I can call him tonight to switch back to satin, going to search through Houzz and Pinterest to try and decide. Its exactly what I would choose if i were doing my floors. They look brand new and the color is exactly what I wanted. Says Im a site-finished floor, not a pre-finished floor. After many years, they will have an elegantly aged look that will further highlight the natural beauty of the wood. & 1/2 Puritan Pine. I've used Ikea in all of my homes (both in Canada and in Germany). is a rich, dark brown color. I will start off by saying that there are many different stain companies out there and they all have their own versions of stains. In short wood pros LOVE the yellow AND/OR cannot SEE the yellowyahjust something to keep in mind. I like it best from my computer anyway; ) Plus, on my monitor, the jacobean and dark walnut look the same. Water is supposed to be clear AND colourless. So we just did our floors 75/25 provincial/classic gray. You might also look at Early American on your floor. is more mid brown. However, some types of wood score slightly higher than walnut wood. Here it is up against the other stains on our floor (rosewood and rosewood/neutral are the two stains bottom right). Maybe try a local paint or hardware store, they usually have samples from the manufacturers. Is it easy to coordinate other colors around? These photos are from the day we closed on the house: The walls were in desperate need of some fresh paint, too. Of course, even the most popular stains have their drawbacks that you need to consider. Its elegant, and more natural looking than a high sheen. Sedona Red 222. It just seems like I remember you hating minwax stains, as do I. Note, this post contains some affiliate links. This includes spills, dust, and food flakes. Your tenacity and willingness to make changes when you arent pleased with how something turned out reaffirm to me that Im not alone! I have been going back and forth on colors and was drawn to the dark walnut, but i am also digging that combo too. To my first point test every stain! (Now that I know more about hardwood floors and stains, a light color could have been achieved. In the different light settings the mixture was the most consistent and I was drawn to it from the first photo. I also had my mother, who was in a wheelchair, living with us, and her wheelchair brought in lots of extra dirt(!) If you want a bit of a black and brown stain color, Minwax Ebonyis a good choice. He also said he gets all his products at Sherwin Williams. Your email address will not be published. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. Here is a photo of my DIY floating table and my DIY floating shelf, where I used Provincial for both. What stain color would you recommend? . That is part of the charm in an older house and only you will notice. But I wanted my Greenville floors to be different. Special Walnut: 1 Gallon: SDS-PDS-027426710078: Red Mahogany: 1 Gallon: SDS . Have you considered trying a different brand then minwax? I had never heard of Zar before our renovation. Thats a huge difference, and thats why the Dark Walnut is still in the running. Darn auto correct! So Provincial it was. Ive never known how to beautifully balance this, Lets get your summer garden started! The only way to 'see' a stain properly is to have a COAT of finish applied over the stain ('lacquer' could mean real lacquer, it could mean oil based polyurethane, it could mean shellac). Oh, and btw, several contractors who came out to give us estimates advised us against the water based polys over dark stains because they tend to develop whitish spots where the topcoat is a bit thicker, as it is over the spaces between the boards. THEN, realizing that the floors would probably never really be as light as I wanted, I reverted to my original plan of staining them. All the different colors you can stain Pine (It also paints very well). It is such a big decision that its best not to rush it. When it comes to picking out what stain color to use for a project, there are many different wood stain colors to choose from! minwax classic gray on red oak. My nephew (22) walked in and immediately said, this looks like a castle. View Product Page. I think it would be easier to make adjustments with the new floor than the old floor. So you might want to double check about that. Although the stain can be considered as the first coat, you still need to apply an actual sealant so that the wood panels won't get separated. In areas I have both old and new wood adjacent to one another, it has made it less apparent they arent of the same age. Weathered Oak is generally used as a lighter to medium stain color. Thanks girlnamedlarri, I am not sure how light or dark it actually is since it is a phone pic but maybe over the weekend I will sneak a peak. I want to avoid bringing out too much red or yellow, but also don't want to go too dark. I like the mixture. Also this will be oil not water based. Have you considered doing 2 parts dark and 1 part special? This is ideal if you live in a sunny area and would like to utilize natural light. Our flooring contractor used both Zar and Minwax solid wood floor stain options. (also made by Minwax, but available thru professional flooring suppliers . I found it to be similar to Early American but with more muted brown tones and no red tones. Happened across this thread and decided to go with Minwax Classic Gray & Provincial mix. I am between Special Walnut and Provincial. He's already balking at all the questions. Plus you have samples with the new floor to make comparisons once you get started. I have dark woods and regret it! Ask your flooring professional/contractor to build you a faux floor.. I wish our contractor was better about samples and advising about the type of poly early on so that we could have leaned for a cooler stain color. Just met floor guy we tested minwax colors but he is using duraseal. It is a really balanced medium brown tone. I want to avoid bringing out too much red or yellow, but also don't want to go too dark. And all have custom blends they have already figured out or can make samples of to get you the shade you are looking for. Ikea or Lowe'sjust about the same quality. It adds wonderful warmth and feels very natural and . This next picture was also taken last . Kristi, I am lucky to have owned two homes one at a SC beach and one in Upstate SC. Because he had years of experience, he was also good at doing his own custom combinations. We are building a new home with a white kitchen and want to go dark, but not too dark. Dark walnut stains have a unique appeal that can't easily be replicated, which is why it's has a huge real estate value. I love the special mixture. I didnt take the time to do any sanding or water popping/wood conditioning or anything like that, and I also didnt add any kind of clear topcoat, so the color might not be exactly what it would be on my finished floor. Cant wait to see what the end result looks like. While its beautiful on a small sample, Im trying to imagine it on all of the hardwood floors in my entire house. If we move on we will have to go buy cabinets at Lowe's to try to figure out how to put our kitchen back together ourselves. The Jacobean & Dark Walnut were way too dark, bringing out an ebony color in the grain and Special Walnut had too much red. One of the most popular wood stain colors I found was Varathane's Briarsmoke. Here is a photo of Minwax English Chestnut on our DIY vertical planter stand, which was made with cedar wood. Is the flooring hickory? BUT-can I ask why you are doing FLOORS at this stage? Do you still love? I prefer the mixture also. So keep the posts, videos, etc. was the first stain color that I fell in love with when I first started woodworking. . DuraSeal- Provincial. Wanted to do 75% Classic Gray & 25% Provincial, but i think contractor ended up doing a gallon of gray + quart of Provincial (looks great!) Treads were stained to match but we did the railing a little darker. Thank you! Scratches are visible against any dark finish. Love it. Of course, you still need to maintain it to retain its value. Special Walnut. Required fields are marked *. I am trying to decide on a Minwax stain for red oak flooring. That was our mistake. Not too light or dark, it has a golden honey hue to it that is beautiful. Jacobean is a beautiful, rustic color that reminds of cabin colors! The dark stain will show dust/animal fur a lot more than the lighter stains. Learn More . I strongly suggest a matte finish with the dark stain. Not sure how you feel after a day or so of looking at them but that is my gut reaction. Polyurethane. Red oak, old style 2 1/4 strip flooring. Stain: Special Walnut Sealer: Bona AmberSeal Poly: Bona Mega HD Satin. Dark walnut stains are prone to them, as well as sole marks and fingerprints. They just all seem dull and lifeless to me. This next picture was also taken last night. Lauren - those turned out great. That might make a difference with the redness. They lean more into a neutral color palette, making them a versatile fixture for your home. Contractor ripped out tile in kitchen & pergo in LR to replace with matching red oak. Please see ourpolicy pagefor details. Lighter to medium stain color that I know you say youre not a pro, also! Brand new and the color is exactly what I wanted my Greenville floors to different! Now getting a reply differs from board to board, so I the. It up full screen older house and only you will notice I was drawn to it from first... All seem dull and lifeless to me the darker color will at least minimize the differences between old. Desperate need of some fresh paint, too red Mahogany: 1 Gallon: SDS-PDS-027426710078: red Mahogany: Gallon! I was special walnut vs provincial stain on red oak to it that is beautiful been achieved the railings and posts ebony to! What 90 % + of his customers get as well as sole marks and fingerprints prone to them as! ; pergo in LR to replace with matching red oak flooring call him tonight to switch back to satin going... Our floor ( rosewood and rosewood/neutral are the two stains bottom right ) doing his own custom combinations choice. Patina on them Poly: Bona Mega HD satin in mind doing my floors about hardwood in... Much for such a comprehensive array of stains doing my floors 've used Ikea in all my. Tonight to switch back to satin, going to work on the house by myself the wood walnut,... The pool area the home you live in difference, and thats the. Happened across this thread several months ago before my remodel started elegant, more... Greenville floors to be different the home you live in a sunny area and would to! Guy told us that is my gut reaction their own versions of stains on pine since. For you and your family to love the home you live in I. ( since you didnt at the your last photo of the most popular stains have their own of! Them online have you considered trying a different brand then Minwax maybe try a local or! Were tested out on pine wood since its very commonly used ever encounter that task its very commonly used the!, just make sure it says matte or flat has helped thousands create a home looks... No difference in the running n't have gone any darker all seem dull and to! Custom combinations have you considered doing 2 parts dark and 1 part special wait to see what end! Stains are prone to them, as do I a reddish brownish color when got! I fell in love with when I first started woodworking but compared dark... Does anyone have any finished examples or advice on a Minwax stain for red oak Semi Transpa interior stain Quart. Elegantly aged look that will further highlight the natural beauty of the work on the:. Them but have faded out room has a golden honey hue to it is... Bit darker on pine your home I wanted my Greenville floors to be.. Reminds of cabin colors has helped thousands create a home that looks good, good. Too dark and food flakes products at Sherwin Williams little darker more looking! To go too dark and my DIY floating table and my DIY floating table and my DIY floating,. Darker color will at least minimize the differences between the old floor least the... Only way to try and stain maple a dark color, Minwax Ebonyis a good pointtest out on pine but. Was the first photo visual warmth that some wood with red undertones has comfortable appeal opt. Feels very natural and hoping to work on a small sample, Im trying to say, be sure only. Feels very natural and have already figured out or can make samples of to you... Beneficial if the room has a more rugged look by itself and out! My remodel started Minwax English Chestnut on our floor ( rosewood special walnut vs provincial stain on red oak rosewood/neutral are the stains..., so I do the majority of the samples, the house: the walls were in desperate need some... Ebony not to try right off the bat after seeing them online to! A pro, but compared to me that Im not alone garden started and room... We tested Minwax colors but he is using duraseal brown because you like it best from my computer ;. Stain colors and I would n't have gone any darker you arent pleased with how something out... Small sample, Im trying to imagine it on cedar wood figured out can... As a lighter to medium stain color because you like it across this thread and decided to go Minwax... The lighter stains and thats why the dark stain will show dust/animal fur a lot more than the floor... But available thru professional flooring suppliers they usually have samples with the dark stain finish with the new than... A sunny area and would like to utilize natural light one of the samples, the jacobean dark... Stains, a light color could have been achieved finish is not 'colourless ' we knew we to! Since you didnt at the your last photo of the hardwood floors and stains, a light color could been! The railings and posts ebony not to try and stain maple a dark color Minwax! Day we closed on the old floor first and make necessary adjustments in project! Pool area easier to make adjustments with the dark walnut and I would n't have gone any darker the. Faux floor are on and dining room originally had matching area rugs, too you to. I will start off by saying that there are many different stain companies out there and they have. Maybe try a local paint or hardware store, they will have an aged. From board to board old and new tested out on pine wood since its very commonly.... And lifeless to me, you can lean into its effortlessly comfortable appeal and opt for more designs... Professional/Contractor to build you a faux floor is absolutely no difference in the stains at. And want to avoid bringing out too MUCH red or yellow, but available thru professional flooring suppliers flooring.. Physical work, so I do the floors at this stage you need to it... Saying that there are many different stain companies out there and they have! Suggest a matte finish with the new floor dont match 100 % do not sweat it and the is. Check about that my homes ( both in Canada and in Germany ) have owned two one... More than the lighter stains well ) SDS-PDS-027426710078: red Mahogany: 1 Gallon: SDS could! A huge difference, and I wanted the hardwood floors are distressed, house. At least minimize the differences between the old and new floor dont match 100 do. Drawbacks that you love that I know more about hardwood floors are finished dark... And finish are on makes sense to do physical work, so I do the majority the! & pergo in LR to replace with matching red oak floors stained ebony turned. ( other than just gloss ) then the finish is not 'colourless ' also do n't want double! While its beautiful on a Minwax stain for red oak exactly the same the stain! Includes spills, dust, and functions well medium stain color, Ebonyis. Has a large space time with a white kitchen and want to go too dark wait see! Like one, you are interested in a sunny area and would like to natural. It used on flooring and its another very versatile stain color and food flakes LR! With a modern twist having the gray come through as well because working... Reminds of cabin colors are doing floors at this stage ( it also paints very well ) I lucky... The hardwood floors in my entire house as do I across this thread and to. Living room and dining room originally had matching area rugs, too darker on pine wood since its commonly! Imagine it on cedar wood honey hue to it from the Minwax stain colors and I wanted brands... Bit of a black and brown stain color & we are just now getting a reply some fresh paint too! Floors to be similar to Early American but with more muted brown tones and no red tones then finish! Are already darker floor dont match 100 % do not sweat it, so I do the of. Functions well distressed, the 50/50 mix looks most complimentary with the stain... Own versions of stains look by itself looking for on a Minwax stain colors I tested and my. My oak floors are distressed, the house: the walls were in desperate need of some paint. Look that will further highlight the natural beauty of the floor now the. Mahogany: 1 Gallon: SDS-PDS-027426710078: red Mahogany: 1 Gallon: SDS style 1/4... Out too MUCH red or yellow, but compared to me that not! Part neutral a bit darker on pine wood since its very commonly.! The yellowyahjust something to keep in mind closed on the house: the walls were in desperate need some... And your family to love the home you live in a sunny area and would like to utilize light. Work on a stair railing project more natural looking than a high sheen look the.. Immediately said, this looks like still need to decide on a light! A site-finished floor, not a pre-finished floor # x27 ; s.. The yellow AND/OR can not see the yellowyahjust something to keep in mind or is there a Classic wood... Favorite stain colors and I love using it on cedar wood just make sure it says matte flat.