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Flooring Design Dilemma Kitchens

Wood-on-wood dilemma

5 years ago

We haven't quite picked out our cabinets yet, since my husband and I are both weirdly picky about the exact tone of the stain color. I prefer the brown/grey end of the spectrum, while he likes more of the reddish tones. So everything we end up compromising on is a medium brown with slight gold undertones. And since our floors are a natural red oak, he's worried that there will not be much of a contrast between the floors and the cabinets. He also doesn't like the "grain" on the maple cabinets, he says it's very "noisy" (whatever that means). He prefers cherry, which is too red and dark for me.

Could we stain the floors darker? Or will the fact that oak has a strong grain and maple has very little grain provide enough of the "contrast" that he's looking for? If we stain the floors, I want to stay away from the greys -- and he doesn't like brown.

Yes, I realize this all sounds very nitpicky. I don't think I could live with a red kitchen, but I also don't think staining the floors is the solution either. (Maybe it is? Darker floors would show less of the grain, right?)

Oh, I'm so confused!

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NJ Mom
Original Author

5 years ago

I think that picture was a project from one of the remodeling firms we were considering. We ended up not going with them.

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Comments (7)

Oana
5 years ago
Can you post some pictures of your floors and cabinet colors you are considering? I would think natural oak is light enough to be a contrast with medium brown cabinets...
PRO
Color Zen
5 years ago
If you Google, natural red oak floor in a kitchen, a lot of combos pop up. Helpful to see. White cabinetry or neutral brown look best. I don't care for cherry (looks kind of dated) or other stains that bring in slightly off undertones :)
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The 'red' appears VERY close to HEAVILY LIT area where the hardwood shows very yellow/wheat colour. The 'orange' colouring towards the bottom of the photo = less light and nothing to compare it to other than the yellow railing. If you compare the tread to the yellow railing you will 'detect' more red. The eye sees red when things are WELL LIT and when there is a CONTRASTING colour sitting very close to it. These are not stained; they are finished in OIL BASED polyurethane = turns a STRONG ORANGE tone. It is called 'ambering' = orange plus orange = reddish orange. That's what you are seeing. There is no 'stain'.
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Here is a picture. The tile is the top part
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The light trim all over on the doors etc, doesnt bother me at all. However, that light piece on top of the cabinets, would drive me nuts. I would replace that with cherry. Leave the rest until you have lived in the house for a while. Once you paint it, it will be paint and touch ups forever, so best to make darn sure, thats exactly what you want.
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Here are some ideas for you using dark cabinets... you can find more at out website. I highly recommend ordering a sample of a tile before you make your final purchase. At RocksinStock.com, it is simple to request a sample. Create your account and start browsing. Seeing the tile in real life will give you a new perspective. Stratos, Palms, Glass Tile Waveline / Waveline mini Copper Quartzite, Strip Spindrift Marble - Nebula Other Glass Tiles Colors to consider: Smoke Tule I hope it helps! Have a Rock Day!
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PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
5 years ago
So maple has the least amount of noisy grain IMO. I think maybe you should consider a not wood kitchen cabinet choice.Cherry IMO unless natural cherry is just stained some ugly red color.
NJ Mom
Original Author
5 years ago
One thing we both definitely agree on is no painted cabinets :-) I don't know what he means by "noisy", the only thing less noisy than maple is MDF! I think the real problem is that I've been thinking about design choices and researching all sorts of options for several months, and have sort of settled on what I want. He's just starting to think about it, so he's less certain about things.
miss lindsey (She/Her)
5 years ago
This was in your ideabook. Could it be your way forward?
Kitchen and Dining Room Remodel Morristown · More Info

Just some encouragement (hopefully), my Husband and I are very similar to your dilemma, only he likes light natural wood with a distinct grain (picture that golden oak from the 90s that everyone else is despairing over) while I like medium, neutral stains and dark red-brown antique shades. We always manage to come to a consensus eventually!
miss lindsey (She/Her)
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Lol you posted while I was! So no, that kitchen is not your way forward...

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