skip to main content

Flooring Design Dilemma

white oak and red oak floor next to each other stain help

3 years ago

Hi. In our new home the landing upstairs and a few of the bedrooms are red oak, one of the bedrooms is white oak. I prefer the neutral look of white oak and i would like a light (not bleached) white oak look. is there a way to neutralize the red/pink in the red oak so that it will look cohesive going into the one bedroom that is true white oak. I don't want golden warm tones in the flooring. I also don't want gray. I'm in search of true neutral brown floors.

I'm not interested in anyone commenting about how warm red oak is traditional and classic and timeless like all the other posts like this on the boards. If thats what you prefer, great but thats not what I want.

I'm looking for anyone that has had this dilemma (i know there are many of you) and have successfully found a good stain option to neutralize pink tones in red oak. I've linked a photo similar to what I want.

https://wideplankflooring.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/19-RETREAT_WO_VWHITE_TREEHOUSE_VIGN3-437x590.jpg

Thanks!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
3 years ago
IMO bedrooms do not have to match eachother in desor or even flooring but if you want to mix these you will need to go dark for stain and I have not seen red oak dome to match white oak with a natural finish. Red oak is red and IMO no amount of bleacing white washing will take a way the pink.
Anna Cambra
Original Author
3 years ago
My only concern is the hallway flooring goes right into the bedroom. But really there’s nothing I can do about it except go dark you’re right.
0
Related Discussions
Quich hlep needed, contractor put red oak next to white oak
Q
Comments (2)
I agree with gregmills. I have encountered this also. A professional custom floor finisher can get them close, but just that. You cannot change the basic color of the materials, nor disguise the difference in grain appearance. Darker may help cover the mistake, but you have to decide if that is acceptable. If you decide to try that...then ask that a side by side sampling be done to get an idea of what the two species might look like after staining...before you agree to that.
...See More
Dark stain on Red Oak v. White Oak Flooring
Q
Comments (6)
I went with white oak also because I didn't want red undertones. My flooring co said red oak will usually have red undetones regardless of what color stain is applied. Mine are stained with a mix of 75% Jacobean and 25% Coffee Black (similar to Dark Walnut from the more common stain company). I love them! Not so dark that the show every single speck of dust or cat hair. That sounds like a cleaning nightmare to me! And shout out to Nini whose floor is my inspiration. She graciously supplied her formula to me so I could try to replicate her beautiful floors!
...See More
Carrara floor next to red oak next to??? Please Help!
Q
Comments (6)
Thanks for the suggestions! The laundry room is only about 6x6 so if I used a lesser material under the machines, it is more palatable to DH (and to me!). I hope I have enough after the guest bath is finished! I could do a 6 inch rug border centered in the walkway area (a rectangle with an open middle). I don't think I would do half the room all basketweave and the other half some other tile since the machines don't cover the entire half (about 9 inches is open on one side of the dryer). I've attached pictures of the current guest bath (pre-remodel) and the laundry room so you can see how close together they are. The hall closet is directly across from the laundry room. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment. I'd appreciate your thoughts on the idea of a border versus complete basketweave as well as suggestions for tile to go with the border and under the machines. I am terrible with colors!!! Guest bath directly ahead, laundry room to right: Laundry Room:
...See More
Red Oak vs White oak - natural or stained
Q
Comments (7)
I like White Oak better than Red. It works better with a certain color pallette and is less grainy when stained. I have natural color White Oak in my master bedroom. Traditionally flooring here was White Oak when stained, Red Oak when natural, but that's going quite a long way back. Two things to consider. 1) The floor in the pictures looks almost certain to be #1 Common grade. White Oak will have some substantial color variations, especially in a grade lower than Select. 2) $1.00 per square foot additional for staining sounds like a lot. We charge $0.30 per square foot to go from natural to a standard stain. It takes a bit more time to make sure you've sanded out the small scratches that typically wouldn't show up on a natural floor, but you're not adding an extra coat. You're simply applying stain instead of clear for the first coat. I could see if it was a small area and might require lots of samples but not 2000'. Maybe he's charging for the stain as a separate added operation and still applying the same number of surface coats. Or possibly he uses a better (ie more costly) crew to do the stain jobs. Or maybe I'm not charging enough!
...See More
Related Professionals
Ahwatukee Flooring Contractors · Chicago Flooring Contractors · Lewis Center Flooring Contractors · Oakdale Flooring Contractors · McKeesport Flooring Contractors · North Lauderdale General Contractors · Palestine General Contractors · Wheaton General Contractors · Montrose Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Queens Furniture & Accessories · Spartanburg Furniture & Accessories · Davidson General Contractors · Enfield General Contractors · Little Egg Harbor Twp General Contractors · Makakilo General Contractors
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
3 years ago
I love dark floors so it would not be a big deal for me and you could do the main floor the light color if you wanted if it is white oak.
0
PRO
Diana Bier Interiors, LLC
3 years ago
I don't think you will be able to get that light look consistently with red and white oak. You probably need to go with a medium neutral stain on all floors, one that has green tones in it. Green is the complement to red/pink, and mixing complementary colors neutralizes them.

I've had success with Special Walnut stain throughout my home. The floors in the original (1920s) part of the home are oak, not sure if red or white. The new white oak floors in the kitchen were installed in 2014; all are stained special walnut. Here is a photo of the transition area between dining room (above the saddle) and kitchen (below the saddle).

Flooring · More Info

The color is not too dark and not too light. Depending on the light it can look warmer or cooler. It's my "go-to" color for me and my clients for many years.
Timothy Winzell
3 years ago
I'd rather have the colors be close to what I want and live with the difference between the two, than to make the whole floor a color I don't want because it would make them match better.

Look at Bona Nordicseal or Naturalseal.
0

Related Stories

KITCHEN DESIGN Bleached White Oak Cabinets Star in This Two-Tone Kitchen

By Jeannie Matteucci

The cabinets and a new layout transform a once-dark New Jersey kitchen into a light and bright space

WOOD Woodipedia: Make a Solid Choice With Oak

By Marci Crestani

Forget those low-end products of old. Red and white oak today are beautiful, versatile and relatively inexpensive

REMODELING GUIDES Are You Gutsy Enough to Paint Your Floor White?

By KitchenLab Interiors

Sleek and glossy or softened by wear, white floors charm

REMODELING GUIDES Renovation Material: Cerused Oak

By Rachel Grace

This traditional material adds welcome texture to the sleek surfaces of modern furniture, cabinetry and more

KITCHEN OF THE WEEK Kitchen of the Week: Goodbye, Honey Oak — Hello, Minty Green

By Mitchell Parker

After more than 30 years, the Kloesels revamped their space to reflect their rural country town and Victorian-style home

REMODELING GUIDES Your Floor: An Introduction to Solid-Plank Wood Floors

Get the Pros and Cons of Oak, Ash, Pine, Maple and Solid Bamboo

REMODELING GUIDES Tile Floors Help a Hot Home Chill Out

By Laura Gaskill

Replace your hot-weather woes with a cool feel for toes when you treat your floors to deliciously refreshing tile

DECORATING GUIDES Living Large: Take Your Big White Room to the Next Level

By Kelly Porter

Large spaces can be a challenge to decorate. Here are 8 ways to keep yours cozy

KITCHEN DESIGN Kitchen of the Week: Red Energizes a Functional White Kitchen

By Becky Harris

A client’s roots in the Netherlands and desire for red countertops drive a unique design

KITCHEN DESIGN Here's Help for Your Next Appliance Shopping Trip

By Vanessa Brunner

It may be time to think about your appliances in a new way. These guides can help you set up your kitchen for how you like to cook

Sponsored

More Discussions

bathroom floor tile help needed

6

help, wrong floor installed

11

Diving a big space into three separate areas

5

Using wood-look tiles in kitchen and bathrooms, your experience?

5

Stain suggestions?

5