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Design Dilemma Flooring Home Decorating

I need help choosing flooring!

Willben Home Staging

last year

I am replacing the carpet with engineered wood. Either Acacia ( the darker) or Natural Hickory (the lighter). We are keeping the parquet flooring (red oak?) in the foyer, kitchen and loft. We also have a brown beam in the living room. I feel the darker floor adds a richer, more grounded look, the lighter floor has a brighter, more expansive look. Either would work- so I need your help! Both have some of the color of the parquet. The fireplace is losing the brass with a gas insert and brushed bronze frame- so it will be a bit darker. I just need another eye to see this! Thank you!

Featured Answer

chispa

last year

You need to look at installed photos of those floors. The darker one looks like it might have a large range in the color of the boards and will look like patchwork and busy once installed. Also be aware that most sample boards are hand picked using the nicest looking planks!

I went to several flooring stores that carried the brands I was interested in to look at more than one sample board. When I narrowed my choices to 2 products, I ordered a full box of each to really be able to see the color variation in the product. You will waste money on the one box you don't pick, but well worth it when you are ordering thousands or tens of thousands in wood floors.

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Comments (8)

kandrewspa
last year
As for the color, you should choose the one that is closest to the color of the parquet, which appears to be the darker one, unless you intend to refinish the parquet. The previous poster has a good point about the color variation.

If it were me I would also replace the parquet in rooms that are next to the new floor. Two different types of wood floors next to each other doesn't work as well as carpet next to wood. If the expense is not in the budget at this time, consider buying enough material to cover all areas and paying for the labor to lay it later. Flooring is frequently discontinued, so if you try to buy it later it might not be available.
Willben Home Staging thanked kandrewspa
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PRO
Unique Wood Floors
last year
I would choose Acacia over Hickory. Here are some of our installed pictures. Hope they will help you make your decision.
Timberloft Acacia · More Info

9 Mile Creek Acacia Hand Scraped · More Info
Willben Home Staging thanked Unique Wood Floors
PRO
Unique Wood Floors
last year

Natural Hickory · More Info

Natural Hickory · More Info
Willben Home Staging thanked Unique Wood Floors
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
IMO mixing either is not great with the parquet so maybe explain a bit more about the reason for not doing all the floor the same. IMO if youminsist on keeping the parquet then the obvious choice is red oak stained to match. I find hickory very busy and honestly the Acacia does not IMO work with the parqut and for sure not that carpet . The pics you posted really IMO do not give a good idea of the spaces .
Willben Home Staging thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
Louise Smith
last year
last modified: last year
I don't think either one enhances the parquet floor; rather they both compete with the parquet. Sorry- but I would not put two woods together if they are fighting. You want harmony, not discord.

I put Brazilian Amendoim in my new home. It's very quiet and just sits there. The pictures online are all lighter than the actual installed color.

It serves as a lovely backdrop for my rugs and makes the furniture stand out.
Willben Home Staging thanked Louise Smith
PRO
Unique Wood Floors
last year
I have to agree with everyone's parquet opinion. It is hard to make it go well with either Acacia or Hickory.
Willben Home Staging thanked Unique Wood Floors
PRO
Willben Home Staging
Original Author
last year
We wanted to keep the parquet because it has beautiful red hues. Thanks for the very good advice. Maybe we will just keep the carpet! It came with the home, we have 2 dogs- so it has had some wear over the years. I had hoped for the cleanliness of wood and improving resale value. Will consider all of your input!
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