I put some very inexpensive maple engineered floor in all of my bedrooms about four years ago. I have had absolutely no change in the color or any wearing of edges. The only place I've noticed scratches have been under my bed because I keep a big plastic bin under there with wrapping paper and I'm always scratching the floor by pulling it out. I have seen a few dents, but no more than I've got in my much higher quality oak floor. One day I caught my son using a black sharpie marker on a piece of paper on top of the maple in his bedroom. It soaked through. After yelling at him for a bit I took a bottle of windex and squirted the marks. They just disapeared. It was magic. My kids rooms floor are possibly protected from scratches because they keep a layer of clothes spread out over the floor at all times - they are just thoughtful that way.

cawfeegirl: you asked about our granite. I THINK it's Giallo Vincente, but, well, kind of a story about that... My original choice was Giallo Vincente. I carried around a sample for ages and matched stuff to it. Then our builders advised that it was over our allowance, but that another supplier had the same kind for slightly less. So, we went there and picked out the slabs but didn't bother to get a sample since we had one from the other place. After the counters were installed (we had moved out during the work), I walked in and was kind of shocked -- I swear it was different granite! Much darker and more "active." They swore it was what we picked. So I just decided that I love it and I will fill my kitchen with people I love and not worry about it! Sorry for the long story, but the short version is that I THINK it's Giallo Vincente but I'm not positive! (And for an anal person like me who kept records of model #s etc., that's kind of weird.) And regarding the finish on the floor, I don't know the brand. Sorry about that. I had narrowed it down to 2 choices and the finisher was able to put patches of both stains down for me so I could make a choice.

Our floor is white oak. Bruce Dundee Plank in butterrum. We've had it installed for ~ a year, no wear/finish issues. There is about 1500 sq ft installed in our house (bedrooms, hall, kitchen, dining, living and stairs), two mini doxies (whose nails aren't kept short) and we do wear shoes in the house.

I am of the school that firmly believes that all woods go w/ all other woods. It is that way in nature and no one complains! Your darker floors will make the natural maple cabs look wonderful! They will be a sleek counterpoint to the darker floors. If you darken the cabs, you will loose the contrast and your kitchen will become a dark hole and you will wonder why you don't like working in there anymore. :) Too much matchy-matchy and your home becomes stagnate. Are you going to replace all other wood surfaces in the house to match the new floor? Hmmmm? I didn't think so. You just need to think of your maple cabs as one HUGE piece of furniture! Sermon over. :)