Wood and finish choice to achieve rich espresso colored dresser
My father-in-law is going to build a dresser for our second child. He did a great job on the first one he built. It was painted white so we didn’t have any concerns about wood choice or finish choice.
For this dresser I would like a rich espresso colored finish like you see in Pottery Barn catalogs etc. I really do not want much appearance of grain. I like the matte/satin look to furniture. Can someone please advise on some wood choices and stain or finish or glaze.? I am thoroughly confused after visiting a Woodcraft store and Home Depot. My father-in-law recommended Jacobean color in Minwax and has talked about birch and maple. Woodcraft salesperson suggested the Java gel stain and possibly cherry wood. We would like to keep the cost down as much as possible, but I just don’t want to be unhappy with the result. I think I’m not understanding the wood choices when my father-in-law is explaining them bc. he is talking about plywood with veneer on it and I’m picturing plywood with tons of grain in it. I appreciate your help. Thanks!
MJ
Replies
With that much color you might be able to use poplar, which can include tan, dark brown, medium dark green, and dark purple in the same board but is very economical and mills very well. Maple would work, and is harder than poplar, but more expensive. And maple may have brown areas in the boards unless selected all white. Don't know if expresso would hide maple's brown areas completely.
Cherry will take expresso very well as it's fairly uniform in color and already darker than poplar or white sections of maple. When I had to give cherry an expresso finish I applied two coats of water borne black dye, then one coat of expresso water borne gel stain. But I'd defer to whatever the person willing to do the work would like. Just get a sample board with the full finish schedule applied to it (and accurately noted on paper as the schedule is applied).
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