Expert: Eileen Cronk - 4/16/2009

Question
I read your post about someone who has whitewashed cabinets and now wants wood -- I was considering doing just the opposite..I have light oak and would like to liven it up..thinking of a whitewash - Tuscan (to me) look. Would I go about it the same way -doing a test strip of stain remover on the back of a cabinet and then whitewashing somehow...from there I am confused. also, how do you get the darker tones in the grooves..can that just be the existing oak coming through some -so do I really need to strip it all that much?!

Answer
Hi Barbie
Nice to hear from you.
I know all the info can be confusing if you are not familiar with this type of thing.
First off I just want to say it will be a huge job doing what you want to do with your cabinets. If your up for it I say Bravo.
In order to do what you want, all the existing finish must be removed.
It has been my experience that the older the cabinets the easier the old finish comes off. The new finishes can be downright impossible to remove so keep that in mind.
Yes you must do your test piece. The back of a door is the best place to try. You need an MC stripper to remove all the finish.
While I don't know for certain about this Tuscan look you want you describe it well.
And I feel you are correct about the darker color in the grain just being the oak coming through.
It could be nothing more than age related. Often with oak, the overall wood darkens but it gets quite black in the grain.
Barbie do your test first. After the wood is stripped, get back to me. I'll help you all I can.
Regards
Eileen