I inherited from my mother a dining table with checkerboard parquet on top, custom-made in the 70s. The varnish has been chipping away for years and the original color of the wood (a sort of dark honey) has never been my cup of tea, so I've finally reached a point where it needs to be refinished or replaced.

I'd like to refinish it, but am thinking of something a little different -- alternating dark and light squares.

Am I crazy? Is this DIY-able? If so, what tools should I use? Should I do the dark squares first, then cover over with a lighter stain? Is it possible to tape the squares off, or would I need small paint brushes and a lot of patience to do it freehand?