The kitchen is totally fabulous. I love everything about it. I would do this one because the backsplash pops with this color.

But you cant go wrong with either one.

I saw the floor in the photos and immediately thought... this is too rustic! I was waiting to hear it. It is so beautiful in person that I tried to overlook it. Ilfriday... you like that slab? I was worried that it wasn't a good idea to compete with all my artwork on the walls. The slab would be 'framed' by the kitchen cabinets and is like natural art so was considering it.

Can you show us the artwork that the slab would be competing with? I am partial to art and generally like for it to be the star of the room.

Modern is not my personal style but that first kitchen is stunning. Your carpenter is a treasure; that grain-matched cabinetry is beautiful. Agree with the floor being too rustic but I vote for the first kitchen

This is the old kitchen... I closed off the door to the outside in the kitchen and did a peninsula.

I think the slab will dominate because of its color and size. That just means after you get the kitchen built and situated you can work on a huge piece of art to complement the slab ;-)

I know I said 'my art' but I that is a David Hockney litho... I hate to try to take credit. :P

Wide plank white oak is super common in modern homes. Not sure why folks are saying otherwise.

I think it's the amount of knots and the small filled cracks.

You are taking a picture a couple of feet off the ground. Not how people view their floor in concert with their other pieces. I bet our floor, in isolation looks the same, but in the home looks clean and smooth and like the right choice. A friend built a very modern home and has a very similar floor. Their kitchen is your style

I guess herringbone is totally out of the question.

" I guess herringbone is totally out of the question. "

Most definitely.

"The kitchen is totally hot."

There's a joke in there somewhere.

That comment jogged my memory. I am going to change it to fabulous. I was not thinking..... I apologize Paul!

Your inspiration picture is gorgeous! And your current cabinets look rather fabulous too, IMO. I hope you can find a place for them somewhere... even if it's just in the coolest garage ever.

Why pick flat cut N. American white oak for your flooring? It has very open grain that has to be filled with pale color to be usable. Use the different species European oak, Q. robur, with less open grain.

or rustic-

Many flooring sources like these from Monarch. Link.

Love the carpenter’s cabinets and for the modern look to continue, shade and feel of the flooring is really important. I don’t think what you chose, is complementary and duplicating the wood’s undertone is the direction I would head (see below). Think big picture in all of your decisions.

I personally think the slab backsplash is much too busy.

Hey @rockybird, I have long admired your house photos! I'm renovating a ranch style home, and my SO has a number of very cool MCM pieces (Herman Miller chairs and the like.) One of my best friends, who is also my KD, gave me this book, and it made me think of your gorgeous home.

(Apologies to the OP for the brief hijack.)

Well, I was sold on walnut until he showed me this picture of the oak. The wood floor sample does have a dusty rose color in some of the planks that resonates with the walnut. Also, my cabinet wood samples are not varnished. Would oiling it bring them closer to the final color? Probably a question for my cabinet guy.

So I'm clear on this. Everyone thinks the engineered wood flooring I picked is too rustic for the modern kitchen. Rustic because of wood grain, number of knots, the small filled cracks? Is it all of these or just knots? I will look for European oak-quercus robur but most of the places I've gone to have a single grumpy old man manning the shops. They will stare at me blankly if I ask for it but I'll try.

Whatever goes on that backsplash should be great... it is in a frame afterall. I was considering this effect. I did my best at removing the lettering on the ad I found it in.

Has the flooring in your living room area changed during your renovations or is it the same as in the photo above? Will the kitchen flooring be the only flooring that is changed?

Almost the entire unit has been gutted except for a few things including the thin plank white oak floors upstairs. I will try to match the color the best I can but I'm going wide plank downstairs for sure. I've got the drywall up but it has not been mudded yet. Cabinets are finalized soon.

@chicagoans Thank you for the commpliment on the house! :) That is awesome that your SO has such amazing and classic furniture. HM and knoll are my favorite brands of course! I will check out that book! It looks great!

I really disliked the orange oil-varnish color. Frankie hated them too. Wouldn't even walk on them. :P

Oil based varnish will always yellow/orange the wood. OK for dark woods. Water based finishes are non-yellowing.

Monarch Flooring may work through a dealer is your area. Search here. Dealer Network By State - monarchplank

There are finishing processes used to maintain the light color of the wood without yellowing it. This humorous video talks about furniture grade oil/wax finishes for dark woods starting at 2:10. At about 9:43 he shows a soap finish used for furniture and in Scandanavian countries for flooring. Forward this to your carpenter for a laugh. Monarch uses Bona UV Urethane finishes.

Finishing Soap (Natural Finish For Light Woods) | William Douglas Co.

Thank you, that's helpful. I'm heading out to look at floors!

Alright, I'm more educated in hardwood flooring now. I ended up in Brentwood where people just pay whatever price they are told. This store removed all branding from their floor samples (even medallions) and they use a inventory sticker instead. They are distributors for Monarch but the sales guy literally could not tell me where to find them amongst their samples. He had a vague idea and said they were all rustic starting at around $16. So ridiculous.

He did show me the most beautiful flooring I've ever seen however. I tipped my hand by calling it great and so he said it was $22 a sqft! I'd love to find out the brand and the real price.

Kährs, Kentwood are relatively affordable Eng. floor options for the style you’re looking at.

This is our floor. It’s Pravada. Has way more knots in it than shown online. https://pravadafloors.com/products/chanel

Very nice floor. I'm a little confused as to what is desirable in terms of wear layer, 2mm, 4mm or 6mm. The thicker the better?

That retailer is too opaque.to work with. There seem to be 40-50 locations in your area. Maybe Monarch customer service could recommend a few with a good range of their flooring samples. With names. You can call and prequalify them.

Just to tease. 2 colors of robur from Domus in Surrey.

I've been to a few place around town. Monarch seems to have 90% rustic european oak floors... beautiful but rustic. I got a lead on a place that import containers of wood flooring at great prices about 25 miles away and I'm heading there tomorrow morning. I'll keep you posted!

These places have a range of sources for European oak, including Monarch. . Engineered | Wholesale Woodfloor Warehouse (floorswww.com) . and . HARDWOOD FLOORING DEPOT, ORANGE COUNTY PREMIER HARDWOOD FLOORING OUTLET , IRVINE, ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA , IRVINE, ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA (oflooring.com)

Eastern European oak is a different species and may use a Siberian Quercus mongolia more available to Chinese manufacturers. Besides the hardwood top layer thickness and the finish, check the core composition. A thin hardwood veneer and a softwood ply core can be prone to denting.

I found a prime Monarch floor that I really like. It is $11.99 sqft however.

See if your carpenter can get a better price from other locations like those listed. Or maybe you can use his sales tax number. Shop. The La Borra sample has a fumed tone, and it may show how the floor will lighten after UV exposure. The boxed boards could look darker to start. I'd look at a couple boards. This explains fuming. CREATING COLOR FROM WITHIN - monarchplank

Thanks for the link! Its a little too dark so I hope UV lightens it. UV oil finish... does that mean that there is potential for a drip of olive oil to leave a spot?

Monarch has the best tool online to preview their floors in your room.

OR

With the dark counter and feature wall stone I'd go dark cabs and light floor. Actual choices have to be done in the space with led light options. 3500K or 3000K are the primary choices.

I've resigned to the $11.99. I cannot beat the look of that prime select Monarch floor. Thanks Dan! I have a lot of art and 2700K lighting was recommended.