Rustic, Old World Dining Room

The shelf is finished using ordinary, household items. To get the wood ready to accept color, hot tea is brushed on it. The tannic acid in the tea makes the wood more reactive to color treatment. Steel-wool pads are broken into small pieces and placed in a jar. Vinegar is poured over the steel wool, and the solution is allowed to sit for 24 hours. The steel wool dissolves in the vinegar. The solution is then brushed onto the wood, giving it a rustic, rich and worn look.