askjake

Matching baseboards

I have a living room that has two walls that are painted over plaster, and two walls that are wood paneling. I want to take up the carpet and put down laminate. Then I will need to add baseboard around the edge. Do I paint the baseboard to match the painted walls or stain it to match the paneling?

-Leta

Leta,

I think the base should all be the same color.  With that being said, I don’t like painted base on stained wood paneling, so I would stain the base to match the paneling. 

Poly on Pine

Rita asks:

We our putting pine log siding on our basement walls to look like the lodge look. Can we put poly on them after we put them up or before or what do you recommend to put on them

Jake's answer:

Rita,

Yes you can put poly on them.  I assume you are talking about a poly-urethane. Benjamin Moore makes a nice line of stains and sealers.  A waterborne sealer might be a little more easy to use, clean up, and have a lot less odor to deal with.  You can enhance the appearance of the wood by sealing it and it will be easier to clean over the years.  

Under-cabinet lighting and staining

Question from Betty: I have kitchen cabinets stained cherrywood. I want to have under cabinet lighting, but the underside of the cabinets are not stained. I believe that they must be stained before I have lights installed - it does drive me nuts that the developer did not have them stained. Question - how can I figure out what color stain would be best? I was almost thinking something lighter than the cherry wood stain because then the lights under the cabinet would reflect off the lighter stain. HELP ... I don't have a clue what to do and yes when sitting in my living or at the table you can see the unfinished underside of the cabinets. Small galley condo kitchen. Black granite countertops with black appliances - walls slate green, I do love the color scheme - not so much all the black. Thank you.

Jake's Answer: Stain the bottom side of the cabinets the same color as the cabinet doors.  I would not introduce another color scheme.  The mounted lights will shine down so you won’t experience any light reflection.