I've used the Minwax stain. But over red oak covered by oil-based poly (which adds amber) so the color isn't comparable. If Early American isn't warm enough, you could follow it will a pale gold stain. Being the second stain, it won't penetrate nearly as much as if it was the first.

Hi Sophiegisme, I know it's been a while since you posted this, but I was wondering what colors you ended up using. I'm having my front porch done in ipe, with a stained beadboard ceiling. You used mahogany on the floor, which is similar to the ipe, and I'm curious as to what stain you used on the ceiling. Did you go for the color match with Minwax Red Chestnut, or something else for contrast, and how did you like it? Thanks.

Hi I am looking for grey tones from Behr paint that work well with Minwax Jacobean. Any advice is helpful, even if the paint tones are another brand.

OK...just remember oil based polys turn a strong orangey-yellow. And as they age they get stronger and stronger in tone. With Red Oak, that gets to be very strong colouring very very quickly. To tone down the red you need to work with a green-based colour range. Jacobean is the most common colour used to tone down red oak. It can be used on its own or in a special mix. You will want to get the refinisher to offer sample patches for you. A well versed and well paid flooring professional will have no problem doing this for you. All you have to do is show a photo of the look you would like to achieve and then ask for several colour swatches (all with a coat of finish over top) so that you can choose your floor colour. The good one's will make special mixes for you to view. I always like to see colour swatches created on a Friday so that you can take the weekend to view the colours in all 5 lighting situations. Again, the oil based polys turn orange all by themselves. It will take very little stain to get your floors to look like the Rubio Black in your