We have three different color cabinets with our walnut flooring..cream, black and alder- I only wanted 2, but the decorator and DH won that decision..

We don't usually wear shoes in our house, so any little crumb left on the floor becomes very noticeable on our bare feet (and, obviously, I don't want to see the crumbs either). I do have a daily cleaning suggestion that works well for us: I use a very handy cordless, light vacuum cleaner (with full handle, not like dustbuster; ours is a Eureka cordless Quick-Up), which we keep plugged in and hanging on wall in nearby laundry room. I could not live without this thing -- it is so light and fast and effective. In fact, even the kids like to use it. In our new house, I am putting an outlet in the mudroom broom closet just for this type of light vacuum cleaner. For real cleaning, we vacuum first and then use a hardwood floor "mop" (looks like swiffer but has terry cloth covers like bluekitobsessed's). We probably got that at Home Depot. And for cleaner, we use -- and, for 9 years, have been happy with -- ZEP hardwood floor cleaner (also from HD). Leaves floor beautiful and smells good, too. I might check out Bona next time, since so many of you recommend it.

There is only one genuine Black Walnut. Its grown here in the United States. Lots of companies will import lesser quality species from other countries and generically call it "walnut" Sam Gentry cabinets are genuine Black Walnut.

Solid wood? Nailed or stapled? Does the patch require staggering back end joints? Are the boards that would be removed to patch, long enough to do the patching? Are you prepared for the possibility that removing boards from under the island damages then and renders them unusable? Are you aware that if boards are removed from one place and are installed in another, that the boards will likely have sharp edges? Maybe your cabinet person is right but when I want to know about flooring I ask a flooring expert. There may be things the cabinet person isn't taking into account.