@falusiaa I know this thread is a few years old now but did you end up getting your floors reinstalled? We're looking at having this exact same floor installed in our home- Maxwell unfinished engineered white oak in select grade. Have you been happy with it? Did you apply a stain or go with the natural finish? Like you, we are opting for a bit more modern and don't want the knots and character defects that make it a little more rustic. Thanks!

Thank you HerrProfessorDoktor, I am glad you are letting others know about the issues you are having. It is too bad you regret the dark, perhaps you could restain them lighter in the future? I am very fortunate as I have had dark hard wood floors in my last house and plan to install them again in this house. I love the look and had no regrets last time with care so I think I will be okay. However, I do think it is wise of you to post as there are others who may not know the challenges of dark hardwood floors looking pristine. A rumba is always is a nice little feature to help with much of the dust. ~boxer Here is a great link / poll that talks about this topic. [light or dark hardwood[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/poll-light-or-dark-hardwood-dsvw-vd~5047868?n=235)

The answer is both yes and no. The answer is "yes" you can have whatever you like...it is your home. You should like what you live with. The answer is "No". Not if you plan on selling in the next 5-7 years. Multiple floors have issues selling a home. Aesthetically it is best to stick with one floor throughout the same level. If you cannot have the same floor (material) then the very least you should try to have the same COLOUR (or colour family). The exceptions being kitchens and baths. Photos of what you currently have and what you are looking at would go a LONG WAY.

The "Maintenance of hardwood floors with Silk Oil finish assumes regular (daily if necessary) cleaning from dust and grit using a vacuum, followed by a thorough cleaning with Coswick Hardwood Floor Cleaner or other similar product." Is 100% normal for hardwoods. The sweeping vacuuming 2-5 times per week is a normal requirement for hardwood (and vinyl and laminate and cork and linoleum). The 'followed by' part does not mean 'immediately afterwards'. A regular 'damp' cleaning (for poly = water only) is 1/week. A regular wood cleaner (for poly) is 1-2 per MONTH. The Silk Oil will be closer to the polyurethane side of things than the oil side of things. Don't get discouraged by the 'maintenance'. These statements are everywhere for hardwood. The part that is closer to hardwax oil is: "In areas where traffic is most intense, it is recommended to periodically apply Coswick restorative cleaners for oiled floors. Such floor cleaners consist of up to 10% wax, and, in addition to cleaning the floor surface from dirt, they renew worn-down finish." The reappliction of the 'oil' back onto the finish is normal for hardwax oils. In essence this finish is a temporary "ail acrylates" 'polish'. The 4 layers means they have thrown down plenty of waxy finish...that needs a bit of a boost from time to time. My issue is the wire brushing. This is a texture that is known to cause issues with cooking oils and spills. I would personally purchase a box of the floor to test test test the finish out for a few months. After that test, you decide if you can handle the high wearing waxy finish and the wire brush texture. European Oak normally requires a HEALTHY budget. Where are you located and what is your total budget and your square footate?