Wood Veneer Inlay Makeover

When I came across this table I couldn’t help but pause.  I have a secret love for wood veneer inlay.  It is a true artistry to create designs and motifs through the use of different woods. 

There was no need to refinish the table in my usual fashion.  In fact it would be sacrilege to paint over such a gorgeous pattern already. I only wanted to bring this beauty back to it’s original glory.

So once I secured this piece at home, I faced the challenge of restoration.

Furniture Wax Build-up

The table top was dark with years of wax build up. It was years of grim turning the wood underneath dark, like a stain. 

I  removed the wax by using White Spirits and steel wool.  There is no real secret here, other then hard work, scrubbing at the stains and slowly working layer after layer of wax and dirt away.  Taking the time in-between to wash with warm water and plenty of drying time.  After all, moisture is veneer’s greatest enemy. I did not want to risk damaging the wood veneer inlay in any way.

Once I was satisfied that I had removed as much of the stain as possibly, did I pick up the sander. Using the lightest touch and highest grit, I sanded the whole table top.

For the honey glow I added clear shellac.  If you want to know more regarding shellac and the multiple ways to use it, check out this comprehensive guide to Shellac Wood Finish.   For protection I sealed the whole table with three coats of Polyvine’s Wax Finish Varnish.  A favourite top coat of mine.

Giving the Base a New Colour

I wanted to create a modern version of the table and highlight the wood veneer inlay.  The easiest way to achieve this was to create a neutral base to emphasize the top. 

Therefore, I cleaned and sanded back the legs and base of the table to prepare them for painting.  I chose a dark grey called Ash by fusion mineral paint for the base colour and sealed it with another three coats of the Wax Finish Varnish from Polyvine. 

As a final detail, I added gold details on the feet in Vintage Gold from Fusion Mineral Paint. 

Recreating the Veneer 3d Cube Inlay

This 3d cube design remained in my mind long after the table was sold.  It has become a design that I initially attempted to recreate using paint. 

While the finished design looks hard, its actually feasible for any refinisher with some tape design experience. 

Get the simple instructions to Create your own hand painted 3d cube pattern.

Of course I couldn’t leave it at simply recreating this design with paint.  I took it a step further and used veneer to create an inlay of my own. 

While not perfect, (it was my first attempt!) I am so pleased with the final result.  The three contrasting tones of Oak, Teak and wenge, added to the depth of the 3d design. 

Now, I won’t lie—working with raw wood veneer and a precision-based design was a challenge. But I firmly believe that if I can do it, so can you! 

Get all the steps on how to create your own 3d wood veneer inlay.