I put in a natural white oak floor with dark stained maple cabinets and I really like the combination. I think you are going to find that most people like darker cabinets with that floor to provide some contrast. A lighter cabinet would create a more monochromatic room. That would also create a lighter overall look rather having contrast. It depends on what you like. If you are going with site finished, be aware that they do darken quite a bit just by applying the "clear" finish, which suprised me. If you are going with prefinished your final color is already on it and there won't be any surprises. These are my cabinets against the unfinshed floor: And these are my cabinets against the finished floor: By the way, I honestly don't see any green undertones at all in my floor, finished or unfinished. Maybe it is just me and I am not perceptive enough to pick it up. Sue

I've copied & pasted a comment I made 20 minutes ago! haha Well... I could probably write 3 pages worth of nonsense, which would seem "tainted" because I'm in the business of manufacturing hardwood flooring. But the short version is... over the years, we've provided hardwood flooring for a number of clients, and have NEVER had anyone comment that it was the wrong decision. The consensus USED to be that carpet was preferable, because it was "warm & soft", however the test of time has proven that wood flooring is: A} "environmentally friendly" (being a product of nature...) B} Provides excellent insulation C} Much easier to maintain than carpet D} With the little bit of care needed, it will outlast carpet for DECADES, and with a bit of attention to product appearance/choice, it will remain "in style" almost indefinitely. E} MOST importantly... hardwood flooring is a stable product, which will not "SHED" all of the nasty acrylic/nylon/petroleum based fibers into the air, which is what we BREATH... (that which isn't sucked up by the vacuum cleaner). Most people attribute "dusty furniture" to DIRT... when it's a known fact that DUST is mainly particulates which have been collected by, or shed by CARPET. Okay... I'm done! haha

OK...Here are some suggestions. If you KNOW the tile is coming out in the next 5-7 years (I call this the 7 year renovation time line....which you plan out EXTENSIVELY before you TOUCH a single surface...right?) I HIGHLY recommend you put in a SOLID hardwood upstairs. You will have it SITE FINISHED to the colour you want for then next 25 years. Leave the stairs alone for now. Recarpet if you must...but leave them alone. You will choose a REGULAR 3.75" narrow strip hardwood in a regular wood (Maple, Red Oak, White Oak...nothing crazy or exotic). You will do this with the FULL KNOWLEDGE you will *most likely run this through the MAIN LEVEL at some other point in time. You want to be able to source the product in 7-10 years time...so you can have a consistent WOOD throughout the home. You do NOT have to have the same COLOUR on the two levels but you really want to try to keep the same SPECIES, WIDTH, and CUT for future renovations/refinishings. You will 'match' or 'compliment' the stairs to the MAIN LEVEL flooring (not the upstairs flooring). And THAT'S why you leave the stairs until you refinish the DOWNSTAIRS. Believe me, you have a lot of PLANNING to do for the next 5-7 years worth of RENOVATIONS. You will want to have a "story board" of colours that you want the ENTIRE HOUSE to be draped in BEFORE you touch the flooring. We've seen FAR TOO MANY PEOPLE rip up flooring 'at the beginning' (because the house is empty and it is the 'easiest' time to do it) only to have HUGE regrets that they rushed the decision. It is an EXPANSIVE and EXTENSIVE mistake to make. And please be aware the carpet is hiding HORRIBLE subfloors. I mean EXPENSIVE TO FIX. I always tell my clients to budget $2-$4/sf for the subfloors under the carpets. The average is around $2.50 - $3/sf...but a $4/sf repair is not rare. The $5-$6/sf repair/rebuild is rare....but not unheard of. Give yourself a TOTAL budget and work BACKWARDS to your 'wood purchase' budget. You might just find the 'purchase budget' is TOO LOW to get a wood floor installed.

Walnut looks great with Carrara marble and grays. It has a black, not red, undertone. Do a search on Houzz of “walnut and marble” and you will see. Enlarge the photos to see the marble near the sink.