Painting Oak (not for mature audiences)

Maybe the majority of the young whipper-snappers do not have an appreciation for beautiful American hardwoods, but I do. I think they are beautiful. 

There is something about my mom's generation and older that makes them gasp in horror if they hear of someone painting a good piece of wood.

But I also think there can be too much of a good thing.

Oak

Take my dining room for example.

Oak hardwood floors. Love them.

Oak dining room table that a family kept in perfect condition for 20 years after paying $2,500 for it. Then they sold it to us for a steal on Craigslist. Love it.

Oak corner hutch. This was another Craigslist steal, free actually. 

The whole presentation could leave one feeling like they stepped into...

oak-topia.

I would say 100% of my mom's generation (and older) would say this room is...

oak-y-doky.

Perhaps even...

oak-a-licious.

Me, well, I was feeling a bit...

oak-er-exposed.

So I decided to paint.

I already bought paint for the kitchen cabinets after doing a bunch of research on what works the best.

There are Sherwin Williams vs. Benjamin Moore advocates with a few die-hard Valspar and Baer lovers out there too.

It was a bit dizzying, but I finally went with Sherwin because he lured me in with 25% off paint and 15% supplies, plus $10 off each $50 spent. I made such a steal on really good paint!

I got a good primer and a satin, white pro-classic. This cabinet turned out to be a perfect opportunity to try out my paint choices.

I've read so much about "the right way to paint" recently that I had no excuse for taking shortcuts here.

Well, I do have a few excuses for taking short-cuts -- their names are Emma, Mandy, Remington, and baby-yet-to-be-born and my very limited free time.

Short-cut #1: I didn't sand anything. I dusted it and dove in with the primer.

One coat of primer. 

Short-cut #2: I didn't sand between coats.

One coat of primer + 2 coats of Pro-Classic.

The paint worked well and dried really fast. I got the whole project done in one nap time (not mine obviously), another coat before I went to bed and it was ready to be used again the next morning.


Shortcut #3: No clear coat or sealer. This paint states it is durable and has a 25 year warrantee. I'm willing to take the risk.

I can't believe how much easier I feel in this room now that it isn't so oaked-out.

Very sorry to any of those I've offended by painting perfectly good wood. Don't worry, the table and floors are safe.