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Photos of staining Numerar incl.a white wash for blue island

12 years ago

Ok we did our first coat last night on Beech Numerar countertop

We are testing the following on beech sections of the countertop:

1)Waterlox

Minwax

2)Colonial Maple

3)Cherry

4)Ipswich Pine

5)Natural

6)Pecan Gloss (polyshades)

7)Whitewash Pickling (this one is looking interesting).

We are possibly considering a light stained perimeter counter with white cabinets, and then a light blue island with the whitewash counter (but I'm extremely nervous). It's for the beach place so thought it could be fun.

There was not a huge difference after 1 coat of stain vs. the waterlox-the cherry was obviously darker and a little blotchy.

My plan is to add another coat of stain to 1/2 of the block and then leave the other 1/2 block with 1 coat stain +multiple waterlox coats as I have seen it darkens with waterlox.

So I didn't do side by sides yet of any except the white wash since this one is so different. It is intriguing but I definitely would want a whiter look-right now it looks more like raw wood.

And here are some of our inspiration photos along with the current space in progress. Not sure if I will chicken out of the blue with white counter or not.My husband likes a more powerful blue(like key west) while I am thinking more subtle will be easier to coordinate with.

Would love your thoughts.. ps it is for a 'beach house" for those that haven't seen my other posts!!

I didn't capture all yet, but front to back on the right is #1-4, 5-7 runs back to front on the left. I promise to get better pics after there are more coats on!

White wash vs. Waterlox (1 coat of each)

Our work in progress:

Possible ideas for blue island. YES OR NO???? remainder of kitchen is all white/beech counters

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Comments (14)

brianadarnell
12 years ago
Rav,

I love the idea of the blue island for a beach house. I also love the white washed wood. Looking really great. I think a fun blue color would be great (especially with those pendants). I think you could go bold!
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coastal_modern_love
12 years ago
Love that idea, but would go a bit darker than the whitewash on BB. Cabot interior stains have some really beautiful custom tinted colors, but very hard to come by. I have only located one retailer in my area.

I think I know where you got the inspiration pics above. I added a link incase you haven't come across this one yet. If I had room for an island in my beach house kitchen I would have definitely done it with blue painted cabinets like the one in my link. If there is one place you wont get sick of blue cabs it would be the summer house. Go for it.

Here is a link that might be useful: blue in kitchens
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writersblock (9b/10a)
12 years ago
I really like the first blue island pic. I think that would be just beautiful.

Disagree that the bb needs to be darker, unless you happen to like darker better.
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ravmd
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks for the reassurance...the blue paint for the cabinet is going to be hard to pick!

I just added 2nd coat to the wood counters and I am still intrigued by the white wash, but am also concerned it may not be quite enough white . I just looked up Cabot retailers and there are a few close by!. Will pick one up today to add to the project! I did see that link at one point with the blues, but I can not keep them organized so thanks for posting! I had lost track of it.
writersblock.. I argree, I definitely do not want them dark-just maybe a tad darker than Waterlox, but the Waterlox one is looking pretty good. So may even stick with that.

I will post a picture after these coats dry and maybe add the bamboo floor color. I don't want to go darker than that for sure.
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happycook2
12 years ago
Love the blue island - a really nice contrast to the white and I think the pale blue is perfect for a beach house - lucky you!
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remodelfla
12 years ago
I think it's a great notion and can't wait to see the pics.
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ravmd
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks... maybe we will get the nerve. leaning towards the blue island with white counter , just have to get some swatches. We got wainscoting to put up around the island that we can paint and then we have to determine if we can paint the Ikea Ramsjo drawer fronts or return them and order from Scherrs.

Fro the rest of the countertop,
Here is photo with 2 coats of stain. The bottom quarter of each piece is 1 coat stain +1 coat Waterlox. There is not a huge difference between the stains at this time, and we are starting to think the Waterlox alone gives a decent finish so why bother, but will see how the rest of the experimenting goes.

For the island , we still like the whitewash look and it did improve with the 2nd coat. Will do another one to compare. I couldn't get the Cabot as they only had gallon cans, but will try another store.

So in the photos these are:
Front to back:
1)Waterlox (2 coats)
Minwax -2 coats stain
2)Colonial Maple
3)Cherry
4)Ipswich Pine

(Left to Right)
5)Natural
6)Pecan Gloss (polyshades)
7)Whitewash Pickling (this one is looking interesting).
Next to Waterlox

and White wash (bottom 1/4 has 1 coat stain+1 coat waterlox, top has 2 coats stain) vs. Waterlox (2 coats)

The waterlox did not spread nicely on the white wash on the bottom that had just the 1 coat. I don't know if it was not dry enough or if they do not react well together or what. Hoping this doesn't happen after I add the waterlox to the top section. You can see how it smeared the bottom section :(
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dianalo
12 years ago
I like your blue island with whitewash counter idea, but think the whole room should be with the whitewash counters. I think the other samples if used nearby would look out of place for one counter or the other. If you do the whitewash, commit to it!
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ravmd
Original Author
12 years ago
Hmmm, had not considered that. I had seen so many islands done with a different counter than the perimeter and different cabinets, that it seemed to make sense.
I think if you didn't think it would look right, I would rather all in the Waterlox rather than all white counters.. we have so much white going on (walls, cabinets, family room furniture). Just thought if we did the island with white counters and blue island , it is more like a piece of furniture.So ti didn't have to match the other counters?
Have to give that some more thought...
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tceye
12 years ago
For what its worth i LOVE the look of the whitewash you've done. It will be wonderful for the island and even the perimeter if you want. I remember when the Ikea catalog came out i spent ages trying to find what the countertop was on p 119. It looked like a grey/white linear wood grain. I think it was probably the lighting that made it look like that but by golly you have replicated it with the whitewash. i wish i had been as creative as you!!!
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Fori
12 years ago
Are all your neighbors getting cutting boards for Christmas this year? :)
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coastal_modern_love
12 years ago
I really am liking the whitewash now that it has been coated twice! I also came across a pic you might like. I know it doesn't have the same look as your kitchen but just wanted to share. Not to steer you in a completely different direction, but have you seen a blue stained BB top? Cabot has a couple of blue tinted stains. Easier to change down the road than cabinets. Although I still love the idea of a blue island and wish I had one!!
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formerlyflorantha
12 years ago
What? no experiments with red stains? Chicken!
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ravmd
Original Author
12 years ago
Florantha.. Yes very chicken! Blue is really stretching it..definitely no talk of red!! Coastal..I think even blue countertops would be stretching it for me but I love the photo you posted and who knows ..maybe next time around I will go more bold !
Fori..really funny you asked that as I told my husband to save me any leftover pieces after he finished cutting the countertops. Well I just arrived at the beach lastnight and he presented a 2 inch cutting board! Thats how close we were on the other sections. Phew! It was so close. We bought 5
of the @96" long pieces of counter and there is nothing left!! So guess I will have to sand down the test samples when we are done and use those.Gifts are a neat idea! Was hoping for a larger piece for myself though. Guess he could join them when he has nothing else to do!
Tceye..I don't have the catalog with me but it is probably the same piece
that inspired me in the storewas they had a white washed looking sample
and I showed my husband. He said he liked it but would prefer real wood.I think it was a laminate piece and had a metal trim on it. But it would have

worked great in our space and saved a lot of work, so hopefully in the end we will be satisfied.

update on the progress: the rest of the counters are cut but not treated and the base for the island is done. We had a white cover panel that was miscut so that is serving as a temporary counter and it looks great. Seeing it with the rest of the unfinished butcher block makes me think we will not stain the perimeter.just water lox it.
I will try to take a picture on my phone and post it today. It's feeling more like a kitchen already!
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