I just used Old Masters Gel Stain in the Dark Walnut color to stain my fiberglass front door. I'm very happy with the color and how it gives my front door an old wood look. But unfortunately the door frame is not made out of the same material. I believe it's some sort of non-maintenance vinyl or pvc, is smooth with no wood grain look to it, and is gray in color. I'd like to get opinions on whether it's possible to use the gel stain on this non-maintenance material. I'd love for the frame to match the door. Does anyone think it's possible to do this?

navi_jen, sorry for the late reply, as I just found this thread again. I'm sorry to say I didn't take a picture of the Brown Mahogany. When the second coat went bad (basically randomly lifted off portions of the first coat, exposing the original stain), I was too mad to take photos. I wish I had, because it would have been more useful trying to figure out what went wrong. The attached photo is one of my favorites in Houzz. My desk wasn't quarter-sawn oak, but the color from the Brown Mahogany was reminiscent of this wood. I regret applying the first coat with a sock, even though everyone raves about it. I think it went on too thick and there were definitely streaks from the sock's ribs. Maybe I didn't wipe it off well enough or wait long enough between coats. Anyway, by the time I came up for air, I had stripped and sanded the desk down to bare wood. I called General Finishes and a nice man told me that since I was at bare wood, he would stain it the conventional way. That's what he would do. So I did and I'm a happy camper. However, the color isn't as nice as the gel stain Brown Mahogany. It's a mid brown, but definitely not java. Here is a link that might be useful: [color similar to GF brown mahogany[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/master-suite-bath-traditional-bathroom-seattle-phvw-vp~302707)

Although this is an older thread, I thought I'd share a solution I came up with for future DIYers who might be stumped. I spent many hours googling, looking for an answer, and I couldn't find one that worked. I am staining yellow pine stair treads that are a little beat up, oak rails and trim, and maple newel posts. I needed something super dark that didn't show much grain so all these woods would blend. After several coats of stain (Minwax Espresso) it just wasn't happening. I had recently painted our brick fireplace a very dark brown (Behr in Dark Cavern) so I decided to try a paint wash over top of the stain. It worked like a charm! Using a slightly damp (and I mean slightly) rag I dipped it into some paint. Then I just wiped it on. Simple! It was pretty easy to wipe on without leaving streaks. (You only need a little.) You can do a second coat if you'd like it even darker. Even if it looks slightly streaky when wet, it will be very hard to see when dry. Then, just poly over it all. Make sure it has plenty of time to cure first, though. Here is a photo showing the difference. The top two are oak. The left had been stained twice, the right only once. The bottom is the pine tread which was also stained twice. You can see the darker areas that I paint washed. I'll post a final photo when we're all done. :)

Technicolor - After reading your original post again, I never thought about porch and floor paint but that would make sense. What brand (Ace?) were you talking about? Oh, and wouldn't you still need to sand - at least scuff sand and use a (bonding) primer like Zinsser first? *NOTE - Just a general heads up, I don't recommend anyone using SW Porch and Floor paint. Total crap. I supposedly got a 'bad batch' (it never got past tacky and I went above and beyond to do that job right.) and had to redo my stair project which was MISERABLE. They gave me a new gallon of paint and threw in some tape and sandpaper but that still didn't fix my stairs. I was told they were discontinuing the product but I believe it's still available. Your kitchen sounds really pretty. And I like red - have a bathroom painted BM Moroccan Red. You think bb around my DR side too? "My senses tell me it is the dining room that is making this so difficult for you. I know you don't want to change it, but the styles are clashing regardless of color." I almost hate to ask, but can you be more specific? I look at it everyday and I'm sure can't 'see' it like someone else. I'm assuming it's too formal/stuffy for the kitchen side? I've been trying to get away from that a bit, tho the rug didn't bother me enough to make it a replacing priority right now. I figured I'd have a better chance of stumbling across art I liked first. Even if I had more money, I don't know what I'd pick or replace first. Ha, it's a little tough to change anything if you don't have a clear game plan. It's interesting, in the past when I had a project, I'd throw ideas out and go back and forth, back and forth with what I wanted to do and I always have to WAIT, sometimes months, until I figure out what's going to work for me. I wish I knew how to speed the process up. I'll post a photo with the new hardware on when it comes.