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Flooring Design Dilemma Kitchens

floors for natural hickory cabinets?

17 days ago

My natural hickory cabinets are in & our designer chose yellow birch hardwood floors. We are not loving that the floors & cabinets match - the natural variation in the cabinets is competing with the floors The flooring will extend into the family room (behind where I stood to take the picture) and the front living room (doorway in the back left in the photo).

What should I be looking at for hardwood floors to not compete with our hickory cabs? Not interested in LVP and engineered doesn't fit our budget. Looking for durability & not show every piece of dirt.

I am in upstate NY, no pets, 3 elementary aged kids that spill/drop/etc, and plan to live here 20+ years. Island is "stormy blue", countertops are river blue dolomite, black hardware, right wall (cooktop exterior wall) will have custom white hood & white picket tile, pocket door cabs will sit on left countertop (piece to be installed), table & chairs to go against the back wall by the windows, walls to be painted off-white.

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Comments (7)

herbflavor
17 days ago
last modified: 17 days ago
IMO you go either dark or light.... smooth grain generally..... given the large long space Id do the light . good luck.

Id go this route [ but think over the dark I guess] ....then get texture etc with strategically placed mats. Your kitchen is going to be wonderful.

Mullican 155-MU-MA-4-L Muirfield 4"W Smooth Solid Maple Hardwood - Natural · More Info

Maple Wood Flooring, Beach Haven, 24.5 Sq. ft. · More Info

heres something they are calling "antique white hardwood"..specialized finish I guess.. you can exert effort and spend as much as you want to find the one that says the correct thing in your great space..... just depends. ...Im liking light floors lately and this space is so serene yet not cold ...love the take with their neutrals ...not boring. ....
Live Oak · More Info
PRO
Minardi
17 days ago
Just stain the floors dark.
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i don't know..my inner voice is saying "no".. and not because of the appliances that's for sure sometimes this industrial vs cozy juxtaposition works amazing..but I can't see your space being such case. Glass front upper cabinets..no. Unless you rip them out, change them for shelves. But I wouldn't do it, if I were you. Not just to fit the counters in..the counters I'm not even so sure about. Unless you're very sure, love, love the look, and are willing to rework it all. It's such a nice cabinetry(uppers included), I'd just pick something that doesn't take away from it, and is easy enough to care for like Quartz or Corian..and maybe add something simple like subway tile either in white range if you're rather to blend it, or maybe greenish/bluish range if you'd rather to contrast it a bit, with all the wood around..to play it off. I don't think you need more than that..it's a very warm feeling kitchen, so great..you already have this base many others strive to get.
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BeverlyFLADeziner
17 days ago
Stain them to contrast the cabinets but keep the stain color cool and without red or yellow
Boxerpal
17 days ago
I love your floors and your cabinets but together they are fighting to be the star of the show. I am sorry your designer didn't think this through. I find a contrast is so important with cabinets and floors. It can make or break a space.

Go dark... But as I say this. Is this what you really want?

Do you have an inspiration photo?

When you envisioned your kitchen were you thinking dark or light floors?

I have dark floors and I love them. Some will tell you they show dust but thats not true. They are not any harder to care for than pale floors.

Here are some images of Hickory Cabinets and medium to light wood floors.. Shockingly pretty. Is this what your designer had in mind?

Modern Hickory Kitchen · More Info

Alder cabinets not hickory but similar..The white top adds some contrast but the floors are a light birch or maybe maple
Modern Farmhouse with Natural Alder · More Info

ASC Margaritaville · More Info

Glen Haven Residence · More Info

Contemporary Rustic Knotty Alder Cabinets with Espresso Island--Lee Welden · More Info
Boxerpal
17 days ago
And here are hickory cabinets with dark floors.. Now you can see what would work for your space.. And what your dream was.

Model home · More Info

Sennett Residence · More Info

Two-Toned Warm Kitchen Remodel · More Info

Natural Beauty · More Info

Jefferson Park Chicago Bungalow Kitchen by Fred M Alsen of fma Interior Design · More Info
herbflavor
17 days ago
upstate NY ..there is no reason you cant find numerous samples of various hardwood selections and stains..... Id take the time since you are troubling yourself.....bring in samples. the advantage you have is the kitchen is primarlily finished , so take advantage.
chispa
17 days ago
Can you get a "select" version of the flooring, so that there is less color variation between boards? Or buy more of the same flooring and cull the very light boards or the very dark boards, so you end up with a more uniform color.

Your "designer" isn't very good at their job!

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