I don't have any experience with wire-brushed wood flooring, but I'm choosing new wood flooring for my house - all rooms except kitchen and bathrooms. I brought home a sample of European oak (white oak) engineered wood. It has a rough feel to it - I'm wondering if it is wire-brushed. On the positive side, it looks like it would hide scratches. On the negative side, it is so rough on bare feet, that I would want to cover the whole floor with wall-to-wall carpet! I think I need to find something else that will work for my lifestyle.

I just went through this with my floor guy, so let me tell you what he told me. He suggested going with a lighter wood in the kitchen as it would show LESS use than a darker color. After spending several hours on this forum reviewing options, I think I'm going to go with a strand woven bamboo in a natural color (cabs in rosy maple, countertop in Okite quartz, rest of house will be a natural oak hardwood). You're right that lighter floors may scuff, depending on the kind of shoes you have on (I currently have white stick-on vinyl and some of my shoes/boots leave horrible marks on it) but as sherry326 said, these wipe right off. Good luck with your choice - it's a tough process!

Thank you for all the kind words!! And i'm so proud my website worked :)! Marthavila - it took just over 4 months spincrazy25 - the cabinets to the left of the range have everyday dishes and glasses - ok for the above 12's - not so great for my 9 year old! I don't think you can see, but I have a glass cabinet in the end of the island opposite the fridge - I keep paper plates and cups there for the kids alice462 - the fixture above the table has "faux" candles ... unfortunately I don't know much about where the flatware insert came from - my cabinet maker asked me to draw up how I wanted it divided and he had someone he knows make it - if you're near Pennsylvania and want me to find out the name I'd be happy to

The UV (cured) oil finishes are more work to live with. They require regular maintenance (like every 6-12 months). MANY manufacturers have a "commercial" installation statement that REQUIRES the floor to receive a full coat of "maintenance oil" after it is installed in a commercial/shop setting. If a manufacturer has this on their website, I normally recommend a residential setting (especially in a kitchen/entrance) receive the same treatment. Just to save heart ache at a later date (like 10 months later homeowner states the floor looks "thirsty" or dry). The aluminum oxide finishes are super strong. They resist scratches. The lighter the floor the less likely you will see the scratches once they show up. As for staining (cooking oil) aluminum oxide can still stain....but it takes a blob of oil sitting there for HOURS (possibly days) before it penetrates the finish and hits the wood - permanently discolouring the floor. It is the nature of Aluminum Oxide (7-15 coats of urethane dusted in AO powder) to take longer to penetrate: simply because of how many LAYERS of finish they contain. But again, all finishes will eventually show oil stains if given enough oil and enough time. Before going to UV cured oil finishes, PLEASE be FULLY AWARE of your duties for this type of finish. You will need to purchase ALL the products needed to care for this floor. And you will need to have them on hand the SAME DAY you install the floor (order the maintenance products at the same time you order the floor). And then get the flooring professionals to give you a "maintenance lesson" to help you keep your oiled finish in tip top shape for the next 30 years. And just for fun, low-gloss finishes can appear HAZY. The Aluminum Oxide finishes are just as hazy as regular urethane/polyurethane. It is simply the way the floors are created to produce LOW GLOSS. And many homeowners have cried themselves to sleep over how hazy these floors appear in certain light (morning/evening lighting). And no, there is no way to get rid of the haze. It is "baked into" the finish. If you don't like the haze, you will need top purchase a new floor. For me...that means a satin is a better finish than matte. Satin = no haze.