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Stain colors- coordinate or match trim, cabinets, floor?

6 years ago

Our main floor is an open floor plan and we’re picking out the cabinet stain soon for our builder as those will be completed first. They will be white oak, the windows are Andersen wood - so pine with pine trim. Floor will be maple or oak- need to talk to a local mill before deciding.
I’m aware the same stain can look completely different on different woods so I’m planning on staining sample pieces of each type before deciding- but not sure how the coordination should be. Match them as closely as possible with different stains- go with contrasting colors and hope my vision works... what have other people done with so much stained wood going on? Looking at a medium reddish brown currently for cabinets- like red chestnut or mahogany.

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Comments (4)

PRO
Anglophilia
6 years ago
You do not want an entire house of stained wood, same color or not. Not sure just what your "vision" is. Pictures?
PRO
Virgil Carter Fine Art
6 years ago
It's hard to crowd source questions like this since the actual conditions are not visible, and since there are so many approaches to design.

I agree that a lot of stained surfaces in a house tends to "darken" the interiors and make it appear smaller.

Have you considered retaining an experieced designer for a few day's consultation on your project?
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I have all different kinds of wood finishes in my house, except the doors and windows are the same. I think it looks fine. I wouldn't want ALL my wood to be the same.
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Thanks to everyone for the pics and thoughts. I went into the shop to pick up door samples today and the building has an old fir support post that has some new fir trim adjacent to it. I found the light-stained maple sample was almost exactly the same color as the new fir, and the light-stained cherry sample was almost the same color as the old fir. The samples are a couple of years old, but they probably spent most of that time in a cabinet away from light, so they might not be as dark as exposed cabinetry would be. Circuspeanut - do you know if your cherry is stained? It looks like it is just a shade or two darker than the fir. I'm wondering where a light-stained cherry would end up. I spent some time in a granite/tile shop today as well, and while I think I like the cherry better than the maple on it's own, I prefer darker counters/backsplash and I like them paired with the maple more than with the cherry. So today's thinking is fir windows/trim that will ultimately go medium, maple cabinets that will be a couple shades lighter, darker counters/backsplash, and a floor that is stained close to where the fir will end up. Now I need to wait for me full-size door sample to come in. I could very well be swayed by the cherry and end up rethinking it all!
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First of all, look at your first picture, it makes your paint appear yellowish. Other pictures show it as a light aqua, or lt green, either of those two colors go great with your cabinets and floors. Your cabinets look to be in good condition, and your floor is beautiful.. Now, what I am seeing wrong with your kitchen, and quite possibly your other rooms is. Light bulbs. Your light bulbs are yellowish, and thats why the paint in the first picture shows so yellowish. Those light bulbs are changing the colors of your wood cabinets and floors. Before you make any decision on anything, replace your light bulbs. Led bulbs, that are daylight type, and have 4000, or 5,000k (cool bulbs), will change the entire look of your kitchen. If you have yellowish in your other rooms too, well, then change them too. Dont even try to pick a paint color without proper light bulbs. You just will not be happy.
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badgergal
6 years ago
My house was built in 1988 so it is from the golden oak era. All my cabinets, doors, and trim were golden oak. My floors are not oak (they are ash) but they did have a golden color to them. The floors also had cherry accent in the dining area and around the great room.

We refinished the floors and left them natural. We remodeled the kitchen 7 years ago and put in natural cherry cabinets. The cabinets have darkened a bit and have a warm reddish color to them. I do think you should have your floors lighter than your cabinets. We left all the golden oak trim and doors as was. So I have a "lot of stained wood" going on. I love the look of it and I do not mind an "entire house of stained wood, same color or not" as Anglophilia warns against.

Here are some pictures of my kitchen and surrounding areas to help you visualize lots of stained wood:

Good luck with your decision.
Ash M
Original Author
6 years ago
@badgergal gorgeous home! I don’t think too much wood is going to be a problem- it’s a craftsman style 1-1/2 story with a tree for a post and exposed steel beams. I agree with lighter floor than cabinets. This pic is some of my inspiration- I’ll try to find the source as I screenshot it earlier.
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