Our last home built in 1939 had white oak floors. Our little dog became sick and he wrecked the finish on the kitchen floor. I loved the natural color when they sanded it and just had a finish put down. They held up well and brightened the galley kitchen. I had no trouble keeping them clean with two young children. In fact, I found the kitchen, back hall areas easier than the rest of the house with stained white oak. Of course the home wasn't contemporary and we didn't whitewash but the idea is similar.

I think my floors are REALLY light. When I started out I wanted a medium brown shade, but my fiance was insistent on getting these yellow birch floors (natural, no stain) and I gotta say I was freaked out at first. I love them now though...the grain is awesome and they have this wavy iridescent quality that makes me stare at the floor more than I ever imagined I would :)

They do show dirt a little more than my previous medium-ish floors did, but it's not horrible. When they get to the point where I can either see or feel dirt I'm compelled to clean anyways, but YMMV.

donka: your floor is gorgeous!

We did a natural maple floor, no stain, no pickling, nothing...just a clear Swedish finish. They look very similar to Donka's floors in the previous posting. We have a modern house, gutted the main area to create a large open floorplan, and used the maple in the kitchen/family/dining areas, plus the stairs down to the entry landing.

I find the lighter color really hides the dust and dirt. You only see it when the sun is coming in at a steep angle, like late afternoon. We had a smooth coat Jack Russell that shed like crazy, and you couldn't see the hairs at all unless the light was just right.

I love the ease of cleaning...I vacuum whenever necessary with the wide flat floor brush attachment, and use the Bona wood floor cleaner with microfiber mop once a month to get rid of any grease film from the kitchen. It's been about 3 years since the renovation and the floors still look fantastic.

The only thing I've noticed is a big color difference where we have had area rugs. Maple will change considerably on exposure to light. And the light floors allowed us to use darker warmer colors throughout the house and on the walls.

We have beautiful blonde floors on a diganol. I will try to find a pic.

Hi firsthousemp,

I changed my white oak natural to a very dark almost ebony
color. I love both looks just needed a change. My style
is more traditional.

In my pics collection I do have some light floors with
modern kitchens. We have a ski condo and need to update
the kitchen. Thinking of a modern look to the place so I
too have been looking at light floors.

Oh and as for dirt showing. I find on my dark floors that
dirt really appears but this is good for me as I like to
see dirt before I feel it on barefeet. The old lighter
floors really hid the dirt.

Enjoy,
~boxerpups

DeanNota

HRossPerotskitchen

Lightmaplecabinets
{{!gwi}}

Googleimages

Dreammodernkitchens

Momoy

Design by DavidL
{{!gwi}}

Cappucciono

Flickr

Huffordfurniture

FreshHome

Okay this is not modern but you can see the light
floors and how they look. Lovely
{{!gwi}}

Just lived in a house for 5 weeks with floors just like the ones above. Let me tell you-- those kinds of floors are beautiful and super-hard to live with. They scratch, show dirt if you look at them, and even show dings. Someone who really kept up with keeping them clean could have an easy time with them-- the rest of us may need to rethink. Oh--- and food stains them. So beautiful that if you love them, go for it, but maybe best for a childless couple with no pets.

Good points! boxerpups...I always love your pics. You have so many wonderful ones! It really helps to see them in other kitchens.

I noticed the "pickled" ones above and at the flooring showroom. I was orirginally attracted to the light flooring after seeing a picture on the Carlisle website. Perhaps I am just dreaming!