Ace Hdwr has a solid color stain,(oil based). I built a porch cover 4 yrs ago out of hem/fir or something close, covered with clear poly-carb panels. Also installed new windows 2 yrs ago and trimmed in blue pine. Painted both with the Ace solid stain. Temps here are -5 to 100+. 12" rain yr. Humidity goes from 20-90% on a given day, usually 20-50%. The stain is still like new on the porch. I am surprised due to the heat under clear panels can hit 120*. The paint on the pine looks new but 2 yrs is no real test. Personally, I will use it again. Dave

I've used an ebony stain on a maple rocking chair and found the task to be really difficult. It took lots of coats to get an even color. The final finish is great, but I doubt I will ever try it again. I love milk paint and have always had success with it. I have an old maple dresser, stripped to bare wood, that I first applied a diluted red milk paint to and then did several coats of black. I rub out each coat between applications. I follow the directions in the link including the oil finish. The dresser turned out better than I ever expected it to. I did a very gentle rub to barely allow the red to show through in normal wear areas. Have you thought of painting the island a different color? You may not get an exact match and a color with a thinned black wash over it might blend the new island with the cabinets without going for an exact match. I've always done construction first. You need to make sure you clean any excess glue as you use it. Stain or milk paint may not absorb if glue is on the surface. I have also used many brands of milk paint and found they all worked well. Just mix what you need and keep it stored in a tightly covered container while you are working on the island. Please email me if I can help in any way. Here is a link that might be useful: never fail milk paint instructions

Hi, my outdoor pergola, not really a pergola, a canopy less architectural extension over the patio attached to the house, mostly 8x12 beams, needs some paint TLC. The original painters mixed color stain with varnish to get a nice deep dark brown finish, my recent painter suggested to lightly sand, paint with oil whatever color I like, then apply varnish, like epiphanes, on top of paint. Both painters want the job, I want to do it myself, but what technique to use? What would you recommend, oil or latex paint, mix stain with varnish, or varnish over paint?

two options go dark or stay light. go with a natural stain like ready seal they also have some rich dark browns that would look nice