oneluckigal- I have three small boys. There have definately been dents, nicks, etc. in the floor. The worst case is actually dents from someone wearing stilettos at a party and leave little indents. If you are looking for a polished pristine floor, do NOT get black walnut. In our case, we liked the juxtaposition of new and old and liked the feel of an antique floor. We originally were going to "distress" the floors after they were installed (and they are character grade so they have knots, etc) but then we decided not to because they were so pretty! However, time does distress them, they are relatively soft. If you drop a can and it hits at a certain angle it will leave a mark. But since they were already character grade, it doesnt look like the floor has a mark here or there, it just has an overall aged patina. As such, they do not bother us. I maybe could have done without the cluster of stilletto marks but thats life. We also had some scratches from the kitchen chairs being scrapped in and out from the table by the kids and we did the touch up of waterlox and they disappeared. They come back eventually though! Bottom line, if you like antique floors, there are none more beautiful than black walnut (IMO). We would pick them again and will put them in our next house. If you like a very durable floor you are better off with a white oak stained dark or a ipe or something like that. If anyone says they dont mark, they are walking around in socks and not entertaining. As for the waterlox, not at all sticky, it dries hard and it actually doesnt feel like there is anything on there. It sort of sinks into the wood, the wood has sheen but you cant really detect a "finish" or "layer" on top. When they scuff, it just gets a little duller there until you add more waterlox. Waterlox is an ordeal however- we had to move out- we tried to stay in the basement the first time and it was horrible. The next two layers we left for overnight. It takes about 24 hours to cure.

If you did not replace the bow yet then listen please. I am a contractor of 35 years. If this was my home. I would eliminate the existing bow window and replace it with a 4 pieces straight window. It will cost 50% less then a bow or bay and will give you better insulating value then a bow or bay window. I use 3 window companies Anderson, Marvin and Kurpiewski Windows Producer. Out of the 3 only Kurpiewski will fit you the best. They are fairly close to you located in New Jersey. Kurpiewski Windows produces very high quality virgin vinyl windows. They are very tough, good and long lasting windows. To buy from them you must go through there dealer network. Sue I am recommending for you a 4 pieces straight virgin vinyl window from Kurpiewski Windows Producer in New Jersey. Hope you get it done soon.

Thank you very very much for the valuable advice. We got quotes on Okna, Softlite and Sunrise. We chose Soflite and this is the Bainbridge. Our photo below shows what to expect when the replacements have to have "more grid" and less glass than the original in a bow or picture window. This is all tempered glass so safer if someone hits it and breaks it, it is low E argon. It was inoperable before and now the 2 casements on the end are operable, and the other 4 are picture windows. Okna and Sunrise were great options too. We found the Okna product to be significantly more expensive and for our situation that level was not what we needed. Immediately we were more comfortable and warm in the room...no more drafts. Here is a link that might be useful: Soft-Lite Bainbridge

Another place to look for wood flooring is local mills. For various values of "local." I know of at least 4 in my state or an adjacent one that will happily ship here. Three of them only do solid wood flooring, and all have more limited choices in species/finishes. The place that is nearest me gave me a decent quote for solid ash. (He has bunches right now, because of all the trees that came down due to the Emerald Ash borer. He snapped them up as the city cut them). Ash is tonally similar to white oak, although the grain pattern is a little different. But not nearly so costly. He also did a quote for all the millwork. Our place is stylistically outside the box, and this guy is an artist. It's good to work with talented people. Not sure where you are, but this is one of the "local" to me manuracturers. They offer solid and engineered products as well as a variety of distressing and tinting effect that might get you closer to that 100-year-old wide plank floor you're looking for: https://www.launstein.com/ Both the options I've provided are likely above the "midrange" option as you described it above. But they're higher quality options than, say, Lumber Liquidators.