Here is our new home where we are considering new flooring throughout and another big decision will be to knock down the dividing wall and have an open floor plan, versus galley kitchen. When I get more pictures of kitchen I will be posting, we don't move in till Nov1. THanks everyone...this forum is my passion!!!
For those that know I'm moving, perhaps you joined in on a pricing discussion I was having on the Buying and Selling Forum, here's the update, FSBO, I've had showings everyday , an offer yesterday, which were not accepting, and a possible offer coming in this weekend, which we hope will be the one!! We haven't even advertised, just stuck a sign in the yard on Labor Day...yahooo.... lots of interested people, were off to a good start.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{!gwi}}

Its me again, I mentioned to hubby that I didn't think I liked it, it was too orange, he thinks its orange too.
Will I find another company with better brazilian colors, or what should I expect from flooring samples?? We have inexpensive, light maple floors now.

Does the room you have get a lot of sunlight? If it does, the Brazilian Cherry will darken up. I would buy samples of Brazilian Cherry from various companies and cover half of each sample and put them outside in direct sunlight a few days and you will see darkening of the color to a rich deep red brown.

I know I love the floors of a poster that has BR-111 Brazilian Cherry due to the floors having the reds, oranges, and the deep brown reds since some Brazilian Cherry Floors are more brown red like Brazilian Direct samples I have here that have no orange in them. They also have great prices. But I want a little more red/orange on my floor.

I find your floor sample beautiful but the color will not stay that light.

Lynn is right about covering up half of samples and putting them out in the sunlight. That really tells the story. Do that with one of the boards of this one too.

Mullican is supposed to be a very good brand. I was disappointed in their solid American Cherry though, which, when we got a box of it, didn't look anything like the sample board I had -- and after being down for about two or three weeks, still doesn't. Though the one piece did darken up considerably out in the sunlight a few days. However, you have the actual thing there so you can see what it looks like. I think it's beautiful but then I am a total cherry lover.

If you get it, yes, you are going to have to change out all that woodwork, and yes it would fabulous with white. Yum! (You might have wanted to get bigger baseboards anyway!) Since you're replacing the kitchen cabinets anyway, that works too (I don't see that cherry flooring going with those oak cabinets.)

Your new house looks very nice, congratulations! I can definitely see it with cherry, white trim, and even a white or glazed kitchen cabinets. Do you have enough cherry to put it where that carpeting is as well? I'd be quite tempted to knock down that little half-wall by the door and replace it with a beautiful white column if you like the feel of a separation.

And PS, we are in a fairly new house as well (have been here one year) and are taking out all the oak and replacing it with cherry (American). So you're not alone. I'm not concerned about the cherry getting darker and richer.

I have the Mullican American Cherry HW throughout my first floor. Here is a picture taken in January, 2008 one year after we purchased the house. The house is a new build so hopefully it will give you some idea of the darkening of the floors. I can also say this, I was not absolutely thrilled with the original color of the floors back in 1/2007 when they were installed but like them much more now that they have darkened.

JANUARY 2008 DR:
{{!gwi}}

AUGUST 2008:

JANUARY 2007:

Hope this helps!

Deborahnj, thanks for posting pictures, your floor is beautiful, the American Cherry looks similar to the color I have now. I can accept darkening to brown tones, but I really thought this was too orange, never had it so I was feeling a bit uncomfortable. Sounds like my sample would be a good choice this morning, last night we were in the take it back mode!!!
Bigdoglover, thanks for the house compliments, we definitely will knock down that stupid entry wall, and wood flooring will go everywhere, no more carpet for us. I have so many decisions to make, we will be buying new furniture, painting and changing window treats, not a fan of verticals.
Its that galley kitchen wall , leave it or open it up, this picture helps me visualize what it would like like with new dark cabinets. How do I post the pics in my message, versus a link, I use photobucket.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{!gwi}}

Here's a picture showing an open concept that resembles our ceiling, kitchen is not vaulted as shown here.
I think I like galley style better,hard decision to make.
Would love your opinions.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{!gwi}}

I definitely echo what everyone else said above, cover half the sample and you don't even have to take it outside, just set it near a window and you will be surprised how quickly the color will change in a few days.

I was NOT happy at all with my floors last year, I thought they were just too light but I am pleased with the color now. As to whether they are more brown or orangey in tone, I really can't tell, my eyesight when it comes to undertones has gotten pretty bad!

Now how to post pictures in a link, I would do a search through the threads for advice or maybe one of the experts can help you. I can do it but can't exactly explain how I do it, if that makes sense.LOL

BTW, love your cabinets!!

This is the only pic I have now of the kitchen we want to remodel. I know your probably asking why we bought this house and wnat to change everything...loved the location, NOT THE HOUSE!!

Here is a link that might be useful: {{!gwi}}

DeborahNJ, I loved your floors when they were first installed but I LOVE LOVE your floors now that they have darkened up into that rich deep red that I adore. I am glad I tested samples outside since the way everyone made it sound like was the floors were going to get so dark and not pretty but to me the darkening up just made the floors more beautiful, rich, and colorful like I love. I am glad you are happy with your floors.

I can't wait to have time to take some time off to move everything out of my home office to put the Brazilian Cherry Floors down that I have decided on. I am going to do tile in the foyers and just hope they look nice together.

Lynn, you definitely have to post pics when done. I do love my floors and they make the main level feel so warm. I sometimes wish I had carried them through to my great room. When I look at the pictures from January 2007 I must admit I cringe. LOL

Sew, I believe your cabinets are similar in color to mine. I'm about to run out but when I return, let me see if I can find a decent picture to post. Oh yeah, we have white baseboards through out the house but a honey color in the office.

Here are my cabinets:

Deborahnj, that Jan 2007 pic looks just like the Mullican we have a box of right now! I love what yours has turned into in Jan 2008 & after. Now I am re-thinking going Mullican through the store I love best, vs. Robbins through Lowes (also good sales person). Did you look into Robbins American cherry? What made you decide on Mullican? Is that the 3.25" wide? Do you remember what it was called? Sorry about all the questions. They changed the name of it from what it was called in the sample I had. Thank you for posting those pics, very helpful.

Sew, I vote for the option you posted at 1007 this morning. If I understand you, it means your kitchen would open up via counter to the new family room you showed us in your other photo. I'm not quite getting if that is the only decision you are trying to make re the kitchen. Love all the cabinets you showed... Your current kitchen looks great, it would be hard to leave. What a cutie making dinner! :-)

The photo with grandson is at our new home, with oak floors, oak cabinets, galley style, if it looks great, maybe I shouldn't be changing things?? I've only been there three times, we move by Nov 1. I don't care for the cabinet fronts , countertops, or paint. The other brazilian flooring photos are inspiration forum pictures, along with the galley style photo of a beautiful updated kitchen from our forum.
Debroahnj, very nice home photos, do you like having wood in your kitchen? What color are your granite tops??
Back to my original question, Is it OKAY to START with flooring?? Should we buy the brazilian cherry flooring, and replace all installed oak and carpet, baseboards...what do I do with trim around brown windows ??
Next decision would be white or cherry trim...and then what shade of white paint...I know I'll be busy this winter!! Or do we redo kitchen first, and then flooring last??

Oops -- I was thinking Deborah's kitchen was your new kitchen, Sew, and couldn't figure out why you didn't like your countertops etc.! Sorry, my mistake. (Beautiful kitchen, Deborah.)

Sew, yes, I can see why you want to re-do the kitchen. I would go for it and if you can, open it up. Depending on how much you want to do, you could replace the doors and ends, and have it painted and/or painted & glazed, add granite, paint walls. Or just redo the whole thing. If it were me and the Brazilian cherry is a fabulous deal AND you love it, I'd get it. But put it down after you demolish your kitchen, making sure you put a subflooring under the new cabinets so that they aren't lower than the thickness of the new cherry flooring.

Bigdog, my floors are Mullican Chatham Hill American Cherry. I don't actually know the width of the planks. I chose based on selections from the builder and upgraded the floors. The type of floor that I have was in one of the models and I liked it. When I saw the sample I almost changed my mind because of the original color. In my old home, I had similar cabinet and flooring so knew I liked the tone.

My granite is baltic brown. Sew I absolutely love HW in the kitchen. I had it in my last house and love it here. Maintenance is not that bad and it helps that I have a DH who is anal about the floors and is contantly looking after them.

I have lots of white molding and trim in my house and I love the contrast with my floors. I don't know what color the builder used but I get lots of compliments on the trim and floor.

Bigdoglover, Brazilian is $4.69 sq ft, decent price right??
They have a 2000 sq ft order a customer decided not to purchase, reg price is aprx $5.69. So we should put it EVERYWHERE...entry too?? living, kitchen, sunroom, 3 bedrooms..cept bathroom....tile that?? Tile enry?? He needs to know !!
Then we'll replace 6 panel oak doors with white doors and white trim. All done but the window trim!!
Thanks guys, this will be exciting, if my forum friends approve.
Hubby always asks who I'm talking too, doesn't quite understand this forum talk.

Sew, no don't do tile entry, put the wood everywhere except the bathrooms, it is a beautiful flow, tiling the entry will chop things up too much. Think about which direction you want it laid, too. Traditional is the boards go the length of the house or room. It sounds like it's going to be beautiful with the white doors/trim.

If money were no object and I could have whatever I wanted, I'd put some kind of natural stone in the bathroom like honed marble.

I don't know about sunroom. Is it a semi-outdoor room? Wood may not be good in there.

I think $4.69 is a good price, you will save $2,000 from the retail price you mention. It is a good price if you really like what you're getting. As a cherry nut I think it will be beautiful.

Forgot to say thank you, Deborah, for the info on your Mullican. It sure turned out beautifully and again, your kitchen is just lovely.

Big, anytime and thank you!

Sew, I do have mine in my 1/2 bath on the main level and had it in my last home. I like the look in the bathroom but one caveat, I am anal about this powder room. I keep it sparkling because the rule in my house is that it needs to be kept in shipshape in case company drops in unannounced. I essentially bar my DS and DH from using on a regular basis. Old school way of thinking. LOL

SewWhatsNew, any update what you had decided on your floors and any pics?

Bigdoglover, any pics of your new floor and have they darkened up to be a richer color yet?

Lynn,
We are moving Monday, so anxious for CHANGE!!

We bought all the Brazilian Cherry they had in stock, about 1600 sq ft, I guess a customer decided not to use it after special ordering it in. We saved a few bucks, but I still have a big invoice that needs to be paid SOON!!!
I will keep you posted, we need to get moved in and decide if we want to open up the kitchen to the living room. We also are considering a Hanselman woodburning fireplace in the living room.
After those projects, perhaps we'll start laying floor on Sundays!

sewwhatsnew, I am so happy for you that you are moving soon and ready for the change! I can't wait to see pictures of your new floor when it is installed or partial pictures of the work in progress. You are going to be happy.

I had wanted a closed kitchen but fell in love with my townhouse that had an open kitchen to the family room as as a dining room and living room. Now that I have an open kitchen, I really like the openness and the look. Hence, I vote for an open kitchen.