When a friend gave me this cute cabinet, I knew I couldn’t keep it like it was. I loved the style of it and the “library card catalog look.” Full disclosure, it’s not real wood and not a high quality piece of furniture. It also came with a handful of bad stains. So what now?
I knew I couldn’t ruin it, because after all, it was already in bad shape- so DIY project to the rescue. I originally planned to paint it, but then I saw a fun new stain that mimics real wood. It’s an Heirloom Tradition All-In-One stain! You know I’m no stranger to Heirloom Traditions paint. In the past, I’ve only used their paint and needless to say, I was super pleased. I gladly decided to try this new highly pigmented stain and give you my full paint review.
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The Farmhouse style cabinet before stain
Here is the cabinet BEFORE stain. It has quite a few imperfections, is NOT real wood, and has seen better days. It’s even missing part of some hardware. First things first, time to get the Krud Kutter out and clean it well.
You can see it’s even missing some hardware.
I think the top of it was probably in the worst condition.
Let’s talk about stain, shall we? There are a handful of different stain products on the market: light wood stains, colorful wood stains, white wash stains, penetrating stains, exterior stains and gel stains just to name a few. This particular product is considered an all in-one gel stain in an oil based finish. It is a highly pigmented stain that sits on top of the surface, so it acts a little more like a transparent paint than a stain. The particular color I’m using is called Toasted Oak, and it mimics a natural wood stain appearance. Let me share all about this product with a quick Heirloom Traditions All-in-One stain review.
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What is Heirloom Traditions Stain?
Heirloom Traditions All-In-One stain offers full coverage and a quick application for hard surfaces, making it perfect for restoring your furniture pieces (or even genuine leather) to their original glory. This stain can easily clean up with mineral spirits, and its unique stretch factor ensures a smooth finish that’s available in an convenient 16 oz size and 32 oz size for all your DIY projects. This is a great stain that creates quick coverage on a furniture piece with no additional topcoat or even primer needed! I wanted to elevate this cabinet from a shabby farmhouse look to a super chic look with more modern colors and finishes.
Like I said, the color of the stain I used is called Toasted Oak. It mimics a natural wood finish, especially if the surface you are applying it over has a wood grain already! It has hints of a warm gray and warm brown (definitely a very light brown) mixed in with a matte sheen to it. You will love this stain if you want a warm toned natural wood look.
First thoughts about the Heirloom Traditions gel stain
When I opened the can, my first thought was how thick the stain really looked! It reminded me so much of the Valspar One-Coat Exterior Solid Stain product. Seriously, it looked like a paint product more than a stain. Like the Valspar stain, I knew this product would probably only require one coat as well. I purchased the 16 oz can, and like with any thick paint or stain, it doesn’t go very far. As a matter of fact, I was a bit worried the 16 oz can wouldn’t cover my cabinet (it did though, no worries).
Previous Heirloom Traditions projects:
Painting Cabinets Black with Heirloom Traditions All in One Paint – Check out my moms awesome kitchen painted in a warm black Heirloom Traditions color!
Things to know Before Using Heirloom Traditions All-In-One Paint- Honest Review – See how I painted a few end tables and a dresser with their antique white paint.
Applying Heirloom Traditions Stain in the color Toasted Oak
The directions say to apply it with a brush and then use the true applicator to wipe the excess off of the surface. This way you minimize brush strokes. So that’s what I did!
I used a chip brush to apply a good bit of stain all over the surface and then wipe it off with the sponge. On the drawer faces that were too small for the sponge, I simply wiped the excess away with the brush. You can also use a lint free cloth or a foam roller (I used the foam roller method when I painted my moms cabinets). Once I covered the surface, I let it dry for about 8 hours before handling it. The dry time is 4-6 hours.
Believe it or not, I was happy with just one coat…well for a short time that is. Honestly, this stain has really good coverage and the heavy pigmented formula really does minimize the need for multiple coats.
I added new hardware and then sat back and admired for a day or so.
As far as being happy with just one coat…like I said I was pleased with the coverage and how I couldn’t even see the old finish. BUT, it still looked a bit unfinished to me. I decided to try the old “pottery barn” finish by grabbing a deep brown stain (Unicorn Spit) and trying to “glaze” the top of the surface to give it more dimension. I initially used a broom and scrub brush, but it was a disaster. I quickly grabbed a wet paper towel and wiped the finish away, and as I did, I started to love it! Sometimes my best furniture finishes start with a huge mistake. Can you relate?
My transformed Cabinet with Heirloom Traditions Stain in Toasted Oak
So now I have a beautifully stained cabinet with a few hints of dark brown accents. I think I can finally call this piece finished.
The top looks so much better now don’t you think?
What do you think?
Lindsey**