We just flew back from Boston and wanted to share a quick Reader Redesign before diving into other projects. While we normally post full room makeovers, this furniture rescue stood out for its creativity: Beth and Nick saved a battered buffet from the burn pile and used wood stain in a uniquely artistic way. The result felt too good not to share. Here’s Beth’s description of the process and inspiration.
Hi everyone! I love drawing with charcoal, and I decided to try the same techniques using wood stain instead of charcoal on paper. The effect turned out so well we had to share it.
We rescued this buffet from a burn pile, repaired the burn damage and addressed a structural issue, then prepped, primed, and painted the body. For the top, I sketched flower petals lightly in pencil and began staining with Minwax Ebony. I started with the center petals and stained each one from the center outward toward the tip.
I intentionally didn’t stain all the way to the petal edges because I wanted the outer edge to remain the lightest part of the shading. Using a dry cloth and my finger, I wiped away from the stain to create a smooth gradient from the stained center to the unstained edge, producing a subtle shaded look. I repeated this method on each petal as I worked outward from the center of the flower.
I’m really proud of how it turned out. Hope you love it! – Beth & Nick
This technique is a great example of how stain can be used like a drawing medium rather than just a finish. If you prefer wood tones over painted surfaces, you could leave the body stained and apply this decorative staining method only to the top. The precision of the petal shading shows that more geometric motifs—stripes, triangles, or tiles—should be possible too, especially if you use painter’s tape for clean edges. If you want more images and a step-by-step breakdown of materials and technique, check Beth and Nick’s project write-up for full details, and if you’ve experimented with stain-driven designs please share how yours turned out.