Consider that stained wood is much easier to maintain in the long run. I'd leave the oak trim (baseboards, stairs, etc) and choose a medium stain for the floors - darker than the oak but not not too dark - something closer to the wood chest and piano in your photos. The prairie style would work fine with the oak cabinets left the color they are but updated with new hardware (to tie in with the modern rustic elements) and perhaps counter-tops. You could also replace some or all of the center panels in the upper cabinet doors with glass to open the space up a bit. Can't tell if there are tophats in the ceiing, but you might want to add a ceiling fixture or some pendant lighting in the center of kitchen ceiling.

If you do want to paint, Seethis page for help in choosing colors.

Can you post pics with current paint colors? I’d leave the kitchen cabinets alone, and the bathroom looks great as is. I’d change the ceiling fan to something more contemporary. I’m sure you’ll get more suggestions on this site. Good luck with your project.

Your house is lovely and really fits with the classic prairie style, I think (no expert). The woods are an important part of that and "updating" might backfire.

I certainly would not stain anything darker or paint (including the lovely kitchen cabinets) or change the banisters (unless you absolutely hate them). I prefer oak floors left natural. The kitchen seems a little dark but perhaps the floor change will help this, as would adding a ceiling fixture -- the one over the sink is a good shape and design. I'm assuming you don't want to change the slate backsplash or the counter -- if you did I would say a lighter counter.

Lighter colors throughout would help, if you haven't already made that change. A pale color on the kitchen dining ceiling would add some interest without darkening the space, if they are separated from the other rooms.

First of all, it's a lovely house.

Please, please, please do not paint or stain all of that beautiful wood.

White oak flooring is beautiful with a natural finish, I would not stain.

Oak in general does not paint that well due to its coarse grain structure... I would definitely not paint those kitchen cabinets.

Personally I don't see anything outdated or in need of updating when it comes to the wood in your house. Wood is is timeless and the details in your house (cabinets, railing, trim) are all very restrained and tasteful. These are warm, inviting details that are often missing from modern cookie-cutter builder houses that follow the current "trends".

Fully agree with raee_gw that changing the kitchen floor tile, adding a ceiling fixture in the kitchen, and lightening up some of the wall paints are easy grabs to make it feel a little lighter and brighter.

Your oak is lovely! I was expecting the more orange-y 80s oak, and yours is definitely not that.

I agree with Restoration Decor about all of this --

I'd leave the oak trim (baseboards, stairs, etc) and choose a medium stain for the floors - darker than the oak but not not too dark

I would suggest a versatile medium tone for the flooring, in great part because dark shows EVERYTHING.

I think a better update would be paint throughout. The same color in the living room rather than a feature wall, which makes it look choppy.

It might be my monitor, but the green paint in the bathroom has a yellow cast that makes it fight with the Ikea cabinetry's pink cast. I also think a different color in that room will better tie in the cabinetry to the wall tile. Perhaps more of a greyed sage green.

Your home is lovely and I wouldn't change a thing!

We do not like this color on the oak. We have lived with it for three years and it's pretty awful with our furniture. Much of our furniture is antique made of dark wood like cherry and walnut. We thought it might be a nice contrast when we moved in, but the floors look very orange next to dark wood.

I’m living in my third oak overload house and I’m guessing based on comments that the listing photos portray the oak in a much more positive light than it looks in real life. I have never regretted carefully painting builder grade oak trim, baseboards, and doors from golden oak to white. I find it gives so many more options for wall color and lets wood floors and wood furniture pieces shine. I have also painted oak cabinets in each of my kitchens and I have always been pleased with the results. In my current home, my cabinets are now navy blue while we wait for our young children to get a bit older before embarking on a kitchen remodel. It is a huge difference compared to the symphony of wood effect when we first moved in.

Ah, I don't see the disharmony between the floor and the furniture you have shown us, on my monitor. The light oak floor is very neutral IMO. The way people get into trouble with mixing woods seems to be when they try to bring in the driftwood, the grays, the artificial white, or the very red. Those shades are pickier about playing nicely with natural wood tones.

I have an oak floor that was left natural when refinished, but has darkened to more golden (some would call it orangish) tones over the past 20 years. Still, it is living happily with my 1930s era mahogany dining pieces, my very very old, very dark wood secretary, my 1990s ash wood table, dark cherry end tables, and so forth.

However, that is just my opinion - and my house -- if you feel that the wood elements are disharmonious, or the floor color is ugly to you, of course you can restain. But, to preserve the prairie feel of your house, I wouldn't make any drastic color change (like going very dark) -- just tweak the tone to one that works better for you.