just asking b/c our kitchen is sawn. and all othere milwork (vanities, built ins) are plain sliced. i hate the way plain sliced looks so i was hoping my kitchen would look better but sounds like it wont :(

Thanks for this discussion. I’m in the medium of a kitchen renovation. I have red oak floors that I have decided to sand and stain in hopes of minimizing the orange and pink hues. I am looking for a stain/brand that can offer that solution and complement white oak cabinets 🙈. Any suggestions is greatly appreciated!

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Compare your samples to white oak with the varnish you plan to use - it will change the look a bit and you will see more color and depth. If you're holding a gun to my head and asking me to choose, I would also choose the darker, but I wouldn't be happy about it. Two different woods are always going to look odd next to each other. I would do the bannister and handrail the same as the treads. This photo has a painted bannister, but it may just be paint-grade wood. The handrail at least relates to the treads. A runner will also help make the difference seem more intentional. In this example, they painted the treads and the risers white and added a runner. This way it is completely different and doesn't jump out as a clashing element. Your treads are really good shape, so I'm sure you would balk at painting them. I wouldn't suggest real sisal on stairs - it can be very slippery - but the color of the sisal pulls in the white oak floorboards.