Walnut Square Cane Webbing, Dark Stained Rattan Radio Weave, 18 in

Natural cane is honey blond. This roll is natural rattan cane in the square weave, also called radio weave, with small square holes, stained a deep walnut brown. On a dark wood frame the cane blends into the furniture instead of standing out as a pale panel, while the crisp grid still shows.

It suits:

• Walnut, teak and dark stained frames, including mid-century sideboards and chairs
• Doors and wall panels in moody interiors with dark walls, where honey cane would look too bright

The soak needs a little extra care, because some stain can come out when the cane gets wet. Start with a rinse in warm water and change the water until it runs clear, then soak the piece for the usual 30 minutes. Use a plastic tub or bucket rather than a light-colored sink, keep the wet cane away from light fabrics, carpet and bare wood, and wear gloves if you do not want brown fingers.

After that it installs like any natural cane, shiny side out. Wedge it into a seat groove and lock it with reed spline, or glue and staple it behind a door frame. It tightens as it dries. Because a square grid shows any twist, set the first staple or wedge only after one strand runs parallel to the frame edge.

Reed spline is plain natural reed and will look pale next to the walnut cane. Once the glue has dried, you can touch it up with a dark wood stain so the edge of the seat reads as one color.

The walnut roll is 18 in wide and comes in 3.3 ft or 5 ft lengths. For a chair seat, the groove-to-groove opening plus at least 2 in each way has to fit within 18 in across, which means seats up to 16 in on the short side. From 3.3 ft (about 39 in) you can cut two pieces up to 19 in long; from 5 ft (60 in), three pieces up to 20 in long.

A door piece needs the opening plus at least 1 in all round for stapling. Stained cane can differ slightly from one roll to the next, so keep pieces from the same roll together on the same piece of furniture.