Black (Wood) & White Sideboard & Tour of the Dome, Florence

The famous Florence Duomo is frescoed with these EPIC images from Dante’s Inferno and it’s the largest fresco in the world! ⛪️ Definitely take a minute to zoom in, because the detail is unreal!! 😍 The bottom shows all the demons and satan in hell. 🔥 You can see angels proclaiming that Christ is on the judgement seat. 👑 Around the dome’s center the apostles look like they’re about to fall off the painted ledge! 😱 INCREDIBLE!

Materials

• Weatherwood Stain's PINING Stain
• Weatherwood Topcoat: White Maintenance Oil
• 2 Lint free, white rags

Directions

1.] WOOD: Here's how you can get the look, first make sure you begin with sanded white oak. 80 grit sandpaper will do the best job.

2.] STAIN: Use a wide paint brush to apply Weatherwood's Reclamation stain. The stain is reactive, so apply a heavy coat and allow the wood to absorb it. As the wood dries, it will turn colors.

You'll see what I mean in the above timelapse. We stained both sides of the door, even though this is going to be used as a headboard. 

3.] HIGHLIGHT: Once the wood is dry it will be dark, apply Weatherwood WHITE Maintenance Oil to highlight the wood grain. Just wipe or brush on and wipe off. Apply per the video above or the bottle's directions.

You can save 10% on Weatherwood products, like you saw here, with code WELCOME10. I hope to see you at tomorrow's party!

Corporate Bullies?

Hello architects, designers, industrial designers, contractors, painters, DIY-ers, weekend warriors, and close friends. We had a very interesting week. Not sure how you're all handling COVID, but three of our employees tested positive. As if that weren't dramatic enough, WeatherWash received a "cease and desist" from Sherwin Williams.

Why did we receive a cease and desist from a company that makes $56.3 billion a year? We were wondering the exact same. We've attached the letter so you can read it for yourselves. 

It would seem that the hundred year corporation is threatened by our tiny company using their hashtag on a project that used both Weatherwash and Minwax! Well, not theirs as in Sherwin's hashtags. Minwax's hashtags. Didn't know that Sherwin owns Minwax? Well, now you do. I imagine Sherwin needs to watch those hashtags after loosing a major distribution deal with Home Depot. I mean, the ad budget for Minwax is probably a couple of hundred million, but that's not where the value is. It's in for SURE in the hashtags... and we have been legally warned.

If any corporations legal departments have contacted you, please email us. We are very interested in getting to the bottom of these inquires. Of course, we want to give Sherwin's legal team the benefit of the doubt here, and explain why they're targeting a female Cleantech entrepreneur. 

On the surface it seems like they feel threatened by her massive Instagram social media following, which is four times theirs. And since they can't compete with an earth-friendly product, they're trying to chip away at market share any way they can. But that's just surface talk. We will hope to deep dive with a phone conference and will write a follow up! So stay tuned.

Zack Lovelady

Simple 1 Hour DIY & The Brancacci Chapel

This chapel is often referred to as the Sistine Chapel of the Early Renaissance. The fresco interior was done by the artist Brancacci in 1425! The artwork tells the story of Saint Peter- including his time with Christ and his miracles. Michelangelo came here as an art apprentice to learn from these same frescos. You can see the female Satan / snake  in this work is similar to Michelangelo’s own on the real Sistine chapel. Incredible to see where a master drew his inspiration!

Pine is the least expensive and most abundant wood species for most Americans and when you purchase unfinished wood pieces it's often made of pine. So I created the PERFECT stain for it! This little plant stand was made from pine scrap and it's getting a new look!

Materials

• Unstained furniture piece (can be new wood or stripped, this is made from PINE scraps.)
• Sand paper and palm sander
• Wood Stain: Pining from Weatherwood

• Weatherwood Stains' Varnish 

Directions

1.] SAND
Begin with either new wood or strip previously finished tabletop. Start with a rough grit with a 120 grit.

2.] STAIN
Brush on 2-1 coats of Weatherwood Pining stain to weather pine to a pretty grey brown color. Brush on and allow product to air dry natural.

3.] PROTECT

Seal the table with 2-3 coats of Weatherwash Varnish, we used Satin.

You can save 10% on Weatherwood products, like you saw here, with code WELCOME10. I hope to see you at tomorrow's party!

Fireplace Refresh & The Medici Tomb

Michelangelo is a true master. Walking through his town, over 500 years later, I couldn't help but imagine what it would've been like for him. To be growing up in Florence, the end of the 1400's! You would've seen people walking in renaissance garb, oil lamps burning, children and animals in the streets. In some ways Florence has changed but it others, it never will. Towards the middle to end of Michelangelo's life, he returns to Florence to work on the crypt of his benefactors and Florence's rulers, the Medici! We visited the crypt which was styled after the Pantheon. Check out the post below, you won't want to miss it!

You guys are going to LOVE this fireplace refresh from our friend Kelly at Street Flea Style! She turned her outdated red brick fireplace into a modern and updated space! The previous mantel began as a nearly pink color! But don't worry, wood is forgiving and it's 100% gorgeous again.

Materials

• Weatherwood Salavge Stain
• Red Cedar
• Paint Sprayer or  Sponge Brush

Directions

You can use this same staining technique on FAUX BOX BEAMS -like this post- or on solid wood beams, like I'm going to show you today. You can stain any wood, but we're working here with cedar. That's a super common wood for this type of project. 

1.] You will want to stain the red cedar with Weatherwood Salvage stain. We strain the stain and then put the stain through our gravity sprayer and applied it to the wood in even coats. We apply a heavy coat of stain and let the wood air dry for 30-40 minutes.

Depending on the red cedar you have, the color result will be anything from brown to dark gray to gray and brown mixture. That's because the tannin in cedar varies so much. Check out the Color Chart for more options! For a DARK GRAY result, use Pining Stain. For a LIGHT GRAY result, use Light Oaking. For a BROWN color, use Salvage Stain. 

BEFORE: As you apply the stains, you can see the wood turn from bright red color. 

AFTER: And in about 30 minutes, the wood changes to a beautiful barnwood brown. You can This type of stain completely alters the undertone of wood. 

Don't forget to visit our friend Kelly at Street Flea Style and see more from her groghsou home. For more color options, see our Color Chart for more choices and don't forget to save 10% on your first order with code: WELCOME10.

Restoration Hardware's Natural color on PINE & Palazzo Vecchio TOUR

Ever wonder what it looks like inside a Florence castle? This Medici castle doesn’t disappoint! This castle sits in the square right outside of our AirBNN- in the promo tourist area of Florence. We walked by it nearly every day for four months- if you're interested what the inside looks like, check out my post!

Live Edge in Driftwood Gray & Palazzo Vecchio Tower

This is the closest square to our AIrBNB - its Palazzo Vecchio and it houses Palazzo Vecchio. Which means, the old square has the old palace! This was the first museum we went to in Florence on Day 1. But heading to the top of the tower was one of the last things we had planned. The views of Florence were a 10 and we wanted for the perfect sunset to give it a try. 

Chunky Farmhouse Pine Table & Touring Orsanmichelle in Florence

Right behind our AIRBNB in Florence there's the famous OrsanMichelle church. It's most famous for it's exterior stone carvings done by the world famous Donatello. Donatello kicks off the pre-rennaisance in Florence by combining church art with Roman and Greek stone carving techniques. The results are like this St George in the short video we shared to facebook! Take a look!

Getting Restoration Hardware's Antique Gray Color

Ever wonder how Restoration Hardware creates those gorgeous colors! We did too, so we tried to recreate the color on an unfinished maple dresser. The look we were after is from the EMPIRE ROSETTE 8-DRAWER DRESSER and you'll be happy to know, it wasn't a hard color to hack! 

Dramatic Bog Oak Bathroom

Create this beautiful RH Modern black oak finish in 3 easy steps! 

Ironically, all you'll need is...white oak and Reclamation stain. What are you waiting for? Isn't it time you get the RH look at a price you can actually afford?  

Weathering Pine Perfectly for that RH Look

What do you guys have planned for Valentine's Day this year? I need some ideas for Los Angeles! It's our first time living there and I don't know what my options are. Now that we are in LA, it's always been a dream to go on the Price is Right! You know what I mean? But now that Bob is gone, it's just not the same. I guess it's not that a romantic day... unless we win! ;)

Purchasing Unfinished Furniture for Staining Driftwood Gray

If you guys know, Bre from Rooms for Rent, then you know her style is fabulous! So we were thrilled to send her a quart of stain to try out.  Here's what Bre had to say!

Oak Flooring & the Perfect Gray Brown

Hey friends! I hope you're having a fabulous holiday! It's the happiest time of the year and we are spending it in Paris! It's our first time to the city, lost pics to come, I promise!  

Refinished Maple Dresser

Today is Zack and my 18th Anniversary! I can't believe how the time has flown. I feel like no time has passed, except for how our love grows and grows. I think that not having kids, creates this sort of permanent date for he and I. You hardly realize how time is flying until you hang out with your friends' kids. The you remember, you're old! Ha!

Perfect Grey for Any Table

Pine is the easiest wood for DIYers to get, just about anywhere in the USA. But it has prominent wood grain and doesn't always take wood stains evenly. But with reactive stains you can get beautiful color and that grain will look 100%! Check out this pine farmhouse table, the color is totally dreamy and it looks like it's straight out of a Restoration Hardware catalog!

Layering Reactive Stains: How To

Hey guys, it's finally getting chilly in Italy! I can't believe it will be Christmas in no time! They don't celebrate as much in Italy, as Easter is their giant holiday. I've also got a paint update for you guys! We are selecting our final shades for our new paint line launch, so keep your fingers crossed for me! This week's project shows you how easy it is to layer reactive stains! 

Maple Desk and Built-Ins

Weatherwood stains are a great choice for maple! It stains up to be the perfect grey and you can still see the wood grain! You will find maple for cabinets and floors because it's such a hard wood. That's why we choose it for this project and you'll love how easy it was to do!

Recipe for Perfect Gray/Brown Hardwoods

Maple floors are less common now, because maple doesn't take traditional wood stains very well. But they were very common back in the day. You will find old maple floors, with these skinny 2" boards all over in old homes, especially in the east and mid-west. Staining maple is not a problem with our products, as you can see. Just apply stains and let them air dry! So this is a great project for your old maple flooring, to update it and bring it into the 21st century! Not to mention, this is the easiest way to stain your own flooring. Let's get to it!

Layering Reactive Stains Buffet

This week's project comes from the talented Urban Farmhouse! This project is awesome because I've been dying to show you all how you can layer reactive stains! 

Restoration Hardware's "Natural" Color

Let's get to this awesome project. It's my favorite kind of post! Where usually hard to achieve colors are a piece of cake! The inspiration comes from Restoration Harware's "natural" color.  This look is easy to achieve and it's just a subtle aging.

Faux Barnwood Garage Doors

If you're lucky enough to have wood garage doors, this is right up your alley. But the tutorial will also work well for any wood on which you're trying to get this color! These garage doors are cedar and once they were stained, they looked legit like barn wood. Check it out: