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The HH and I are having a bit of a disagreement as to which color to choose for our new hardwood floors in the kitchen, family room and hallway. Maybe you can help us out by leaving your pick below. {Our kitchen cabinets will be white if that helps}.
Thanks!
~Mavis
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Constance Wheeler says
Any would work but depends on the look you may want .. #3 is the warmest of the 4. With the white cabinets you may want to warm it up a bit. I like the warmer look myself. The others are very nice but just don’t have that warm feeling.
Mary says
I’d go with 2 or 3. Best of luck!
Lee says
i vote for 3!
becca says
number one is beautiful! not too dark, not too light. and the third has a warmer tint.
Kristen says
I like #3. The red tone is nice!
jadell says
The lighter the better. The dark wood shows dirt WAY worse than lighter colors. Just my two bits.
Sarah says
I agree. The lighter the better. Unless you like to swiffer your floor every day.
KAte says
Yes yes yes, dark wood is just a canvas for dust, and little Lucy footprints!
I like #4 because it’s looks the most natural/weathered, almost like reclaimed wood.
Dawn says
…and dog hair! Lucy’s light hair will show on the dark wood. I have very dark floors and a white German Shepherd… (shudder)
Crystal says
I LOVE #2 it would be my first choice but my second choice would be #1 🙂
Cindy says
#1 is my first choice and #3 is my second choice
Jennifer says
2 or 3. I think they both have the prettiest tones! 4 might appear to washed-out next to white cabinets, but it’s hard to tell. Good luck!
Teresa A says
#2 for great contrast to white and I am guessing you are doing stainless steel appliances?
Tamara says
Definently #3!!!
Robin says
I like #1.
TJO says
#2… I like the way it will looks with white cabinets.
Athena says
#3 looks GREAT to me.
Tracey says
Number #3
Debbie says
#3, I like the different tones in the wood. It adds a richness that the others do not have.
Gina says
I like number 3. It is warm with the red tones, but would match all color schemes I think. Number 1 would be my second choice, though the grooves in the flooring seem deeper, and I think that would hold the dirt more and would be harder to clean. I am not a fan of hard wood flooring with deep grooves.
Debbie says
Dark wood will show every spot.
Delores says
#3 is my favorite!
Holly Sieger says
You can’t go wrong with any of these. They all look nice, but #3 would be my pick 🙂 Good luck!
Randi says
Number 3, it will keep your house from feeling too “cool”!
Rebecca says
First choice is number 4 and second choice is number 1. Dark floors show ALL the dirt, so I would go for the lighter ones!
Annette says
Check out this web site – it has great pictures to look at and decide.
http://www.houzz.com/photos/kitchen
Misty says
I like #1.
Chris says
Just remember….the finish used on most hardwood floor scratches WHITE, so if you have a dark floor with scratches you will see them much more easily (but there are product to easily conceal scratches). I like #1 the most…not too dark and not too light. Has a lot of variation which helps to conceal scratches as well. The french bleed alone the borders of each plank I really like. #2 seems to monotone for my tastes and #3 is in the runnings with #1…I like the warmer tones and variations.
Kris says
#1 looks like it’s in between #2 & #3. #4 looks whitewashed to me- more coastal influence. Hope this helps!
Diana Lowery says
#3
I think it’s a nice blend of light and dark.. Won’t show too much dirt
And will highlight the white cabinets
Riley D. says
I would go with #3 for sure. The red tones are beautiful.
Julie says
I seem to be in the minority but I really really like #4. I just really like the grey tone in the brown. It’s the color we’re probably going to do in our kitchen.
Bea says
To be weird – I like the color of the wood the 4 samples are sitting on best. Then #3.
christine says
#3!
Julie Ann says
I like the subtle warmth in #3 – it’s my pick 🙂
Dale says
#3 Seems like most of us agree!
Anna mosser says
#3
Cecily says
4 would be my choice. It is more contemporary and would compliment white cabinets and stainless steel appliances and show the dirt the least.
Lesley says
They are all wonderful but #2 will show EVERYTHING.
Sharon says
#1 would be my pick.
Kim says
#3 is my first choice, followed by #4.
Shannon says
#3 hands down, because of its warmth. #1 after that one.
Sarah says
I like the grey tones of no. 4. 2nd choice no. 1. Tell us your fave! Welcome to your new home x
Lisa says
I like #1 the best and #2 would be my second choice.
Carol Ann says
#1, hands down.
Jess says
#1 definitely.
jesse says
the lighter the better! Puggle fur will show like crazy on a dark floor. My mom has two pugs and it looks like snow on her dark floors!
Madam Chow says
#1 is my first choice, number 2 is my second.
lynne says
#2. we just had cork installed that is dark like that…am loving it!! Have fun in your new house!!
Shannon says
3
Heather says
#2 and then #1!
Mia says
#3 because of the warmer tones
Chelsea says
I think #2 would give the best contrast and be more visually interesting… however, I do love the richness in #3!
Paula says
Definitely # 3!
Suzanne P. says
Number 3!
Jenn says
My votes are #1 and #4. I really like #4. I like the rustic look that it has.
Georgie says
3 all the way!!! Warm country kitchen with white cabinets; matches your thriftiness but exudes charm.
Sandra says
I like #1 because it looks like it would hide the most dirt. I have young kids so dirt is inevitable.
Mindy says
I love #2 and it is right on trend but also know someone with the same color (with a dog and a cat) and it requires a lot of sweeping (more than once a day) to keep it up. #1 is my second choice and will stay on trend (if you are in to that…) being not too light or too dark. Best wishes with your choice!
Brooke says
#1 is my favorite, and #4 would be my second pick. I love #2, but it would show the most dirt
Christine says
I like #3. My second choice would be #1.
Dianna says
#1 would be my choice with white cabinets.
kcb says
I like 1 & 2. I have had both dark & light wood floor. I much prefer the dark. I don’t think I had to sweep/swiffer anymore w/the light that we now have than I did with the darker floor.
Kelly says
#3, and hope you never have a plumbing problem in your kitchen!
Lauren says
#2!!!!!! #4 is my second choice.
Dawn S says
#1 and #3 are my favorites!
Sara Forester says
#3!
Jen J says
I love that you are asking your fans for input 🙂 I vote #3!
Angela says
I like #2 for a contrast to the white cabinets. If there is a distressed, hand scraped option I would highly recommend it. The distressing and texture to the hand scraped flooring hides scrapes, dings and scratches wonderfully.
Shirley says
Choose whatever best matches Lucy’s fur to hide the shedding.
Kathy G says
i vote 3
Megan says
I love number 2!!!
JD says
#3, run from the darkest, FAST! Been there and did that.
Patty P says
1 or 3! The color I have is more like 3 and I LOVE it!
Amanda says
I like #1. We have floors like #2, and they are horrible for showing every speck of dust, lint, etc. #3 is nice too, but the reddish tone might clash with certain paint colors.
Wendy says
Darker floors show more dust 🙂
Jen Y says
I rate them in this order: 1,3,2 & 4. I don’t really like 4.
Chris says
I like # 4 for the overall color. #1 for the width and random length pattern.
Cheryl says
My husband and I put a dark floor down through out our house last year. It is very pretty and modern, but surprisingly hard to live with because it shows every single speck of dust! Gunstock , which we had in our former home, was MUCH easier to live with and still made a great contrast with our white cabinets. Would not go dark again!
Rachel says
I love #3
Linda says
#3!!! Best of luck with your projects – can hardly wait to see how it all turns out!!
Angie says
I think they are all beautiful; however, depending on your choice of wall color and your furniture, I would choose #4 as a lighter, more neutral which would seem to work well with cool tones (that’s according to my monitor).
I think your choice of wall color will really determine whether you like the flooring. If you need some warmth and you have brown in your furniture wood, then I would stick with #1 or #3. I love #2 also. If you need to darken the space, I would say, choose #2.
Place those furniture, curtains, fabric pieces and wall colors right up next to them to see if they play nice and which is the most versatile if you’re doing hallway, kitchen and family room. You’ll get a better feel.
Choose your favorite and paint if necessary since paint is much cheaper and easier to change.
angel
Joyce Tucker says
We moved into our new home last October. We made the mistake of choosing a darker hardwood floor for this home. EVERY little bit of dust, screams out at you! Yep unless you want to swiffer every day, go as light as possible…
Donna says
Number two.
Sarah says
I like #3, However, I have dark hardwood floors all over my house and I spend a lot of time cleaning because they show every piece of lint, dust, etc. When we were installing the floors I was advised by my SIL to get a lighter wood but I liked the dark more and now I am paying for it 🙁 . Just my other 2 Cents
Also, you may have already known but, if not color expert Maria Killam has some great advice on white kitchens. Here is the link http://www.mariakillam.com/category/white-kitchens/
All the best!
Mavis Butterfield says
Thanks for the link! I’m loving all of her ideas.
Julie says
Number 3
Chyrl says
I like #1 best but all four are pretty!
Kris says
Hi Mavis!
When I built my house 5 years ago I went with flooring very similar to #1. I has been a nightmare to clean ever since. Of course I have 3 small boys that are prone to spills 😉 so that may make a difference. I like #4. It is different and seems as though it may be a nice match with your white cabinets. Have a great time customizing and enjoy every minute of it!
Heidi says
Always make your floor the colour of dirt. So, just ask yourself, what colour is our dirt here, and your choice is made for you!
ch says
1 or 3
sara says
Take a picture of them outside is the sun. Right now #4 looks almost grey and #1 & #3 look very similar.
Katie C. says
Nu-mber FOUR! Nu-mber FOUR!
Also, maybe you can make him his favorite dinner/dessert (or buy it in your kitchen situation), bat your eyes, and tell him how happy it would make you to be able to choose. 😉
Tracy L. says
#2 would be gorgeous with white cabinets. And your OCD would ensure that it’s clean! Your last house had dark hardwood and looked great!
Irene says
I like the different shades on # 3 and because it has 3 different colors and woods, it will be easier to match with any wooden picture frame, tables or any wooden accessories in the house. Hope I helped.
Nicole says
It has been great to read through these comments. My eye is first drawn to #2, however the comments about dirt/dust showing on darker floors was something I’d never thought of. I never thought of that issue when we ordered a black countertop either. Oh well, I have some OCD tendencies too and am able to deal with it. Anyway, we sanded down, re-stained and refinished our hardwood floors when we bought our house a year ago. I would have loved a stain like #2 but didn’t seem to be available. We went with a dark walnut which is closer to your #3. It has richness and warmth. After reading these comments, I’ll stop wishing it were darker.
mandy says
I love 3. It looks like the old hardwood floor in my grandma’s living room. She has white walls and shelves and her home always looks wonderful!
Pam says
My gut choice was #3 but I love the grey tones in #4 – plus it would show less dust. All of them are lovely and I’m sure any will look great in the kitchen.
RebekahU says
1 or 4. I have dark floors now, and let me tell you, EVERYTHING except bugs and sugar ants show up on the floors!! Which is OK I guess, if you love to sweep and vacuum!
Libby says
Don’t do it Mavis! I love the way it looks so I put dark wood all over my house. You can see every scratch, footprint, and dusty spot. I spend a lot of time cleaning it and hollering at my kids not to do things to scratch it. Don’t say we didn’t warn you!
Kelly says
#4
Linda says
My son and his wife just put a dark floor down in kitchen – living area and they are very sorry as it’s so hard to keep clean. It shows every piece of dog hair and dirt. Needs to be cleaned several times a day.
Nicki says
Boy, those are all really dark. I prefer light colored flooring and then rugs if there need to be. Having put in my two cents, I choose 1 because I like the color best and the separation between the boards.
Rebecca says
Definitely go with floor choice #1.
Preppy Pink Crocodile says
#2 is my personal favorite. I LOVE dark floors. I also love, love love, love love love love (did I mention love?) a white kitchen and can’t wait to see the big reveal on that project!
I do want to give you a warning as two family members just put in super dark (almost espresso in one case- they look amazing) hard wood floors. Or rather had them refinished. Anyway… They scuff so easily and show marks. Every member of my family has at least one dog. And those cute dog paws age those floors in months.
That said, I love dogs and love the dark wood and would still totally go dark and live with the consequences. However if your plan is to re-sell this house in a few years (I’m not clear if this house is a long-term plan or if you eventually plan to move east full time), you might want to take that note into consideration.
Regardless….I can’t wait to see it all come together.
Oh and I meant to tell you that they make plastic liners for crock pots so there’s little to no clean up. I know you are trying to make things easy but I also know from experience that you start craving your normal home cooked foods sooner or later. Just thought I’d toss that out there in case you were looking for a compromise between convenience foods and a full on meal that requires a full kitchen to prepare.
Smiles,
KK @ Preppy Pink Crocodile
Jennifer says
Immediately drawn to #3.
Katy says
I vote for #1. Dark, but not too dark. Good luck.
HollyG says
We just had hardwood floors put in after another (3rd) plumbing leak. We had to replace the floors in the dining room, kitchen, entry and powder room. After looking and looking at so many choices we were completely confused. The choice took a turn when our dog, Kenton, ran across several of the samples we had lying flat on the floor (hint: lay those samples flat – the colors change) and scratched thru the finishes leaving behind white scratches. We did more research and came up with the most beautiful, fantastic floors I could ever image. We purchased 4″ wide Oregon White Oak from a local mill and had them finished with Pallman’s Magic Oil. The finish is lovely, the floor sreally look like wood – rather than the plastic look we found with much of the pre-finished flooring. We chose the floors because, if scratched (country house, big dog, boys with cleats…) we can apply more Magic Oil to that area and the scratch will take up the finish – we will not have to re-sand the whole floor. The floors were finished in August and, even with an 80 pound lab/mastiff puppy running, jumping and sliding around we have no scratches so re haven’t been able to try to hide any scratches – it’s not scratching. With you love of colonial homes you should really check this finish out. We LOVE it. Good Luck with the remodel.
Lexie says
I really like #2
Jen says
Get whichever one has the most variation in color, or you will be cleaning them every 5 minutes. We have solid dark floors in our living area and kitchen and I hate them. I’m too OCD for how much dust and pet hair they show.
Janet says
#3 is pretty and warm, and looks like it’s been around forever. I like #2, also, it’s very elegant. But I think #3 wins because of the dynamic coloring.
Susan S. says
What a wonderful problem!!! I like #2. Dark and classic against the white. I think it would be the most clean and striking.
Nichole says
#4, more neutral/natural look. Will hide dust and scratches very well. Will also transition better if you change the wall color or decor. This could be important if you plan to sell the home in the future.
Vy says
#2 would be my choice, though I’d probably end up with #3 because of the dirt issue. I adore dark wood floors!
Alison says
#1 or #3
Jennifer P says
I really like the warm tone of #3.
Kim Everett says
3,2,1,4 would be my choices in order.
Lisa L says
I vote for #2, with #4 a close second!
Tracy says
Number 1 or 2 would be my choice.
Veronica says
I like #4, but I’m more of a carpet girl so I don’t really like the hardwood look.
Dena H says
#3, you won’t regret it! It’s a beautiful floor.
Tracie H says
Love number 1.
Patty says
Mavis, I refinished my lighter white oak floors to a dark finish and I love it. I too have a dog (border collie) and she sheds white and dark hair plus she brings in wet dog prints. So my solution was to buy a roomba vacuum cleaner and “rosie” vacuums my floors. (you have to give your robot a name and rosie fits!) After rosie vacuums, I run a mop over the floor and it is clean. Takes me 10 minutes to mop and rosie takes 40 minutes to vacuum. It doesn’t matter what color you choose for your floors, choose what you and HH will love. You will have to deal with doggy hair and prints no matter what color you choose. this is of course MY opinion. Can’t wait for the reveal!
Kristina says
#2
Esther says
I would go for #3.
Glenda says
#2 – the contrast between the dark floor and white cabinets would be very striking.
sue says
I vote for #4. Unless you dont have pets and or kids to track debri in etc, then any of the others would do nicely. I would hold up each sample next to something white and see how it looks.Good luck.
Teresa Smith says
Number 1 or 4. They give a rustic/country feel (good with white). Thee other two are too dark.
Jenny says
#1
Johanna says
Love the floor that the samples are on too! I would pick #2
Sherry in Sumner says
Mavis, maybe this will help you decide. When we had our floors replaced a few years ago, the guy who installed them said he and his wife had used the same type of flooring as us but they got a very dark color and had since regretted it because it ended up showing the dust much easier than the lighter shades. My sister-in-law said something similar about some dark brown carpeting they had installed, that it showed every speck of stuff that got on it. I think the more variegated, the better. Good luck!
Mindy says
One of the ends. I’m sure it’s been said, but the really dark floors show dirt like white linoleum.
Kindy says
#4!!
Janine says
Like most I pick #3 hands down. For starters it has a great rustic, not too perfect look, which hides stuff really well but most importantly is not too dark or light and there are a zillion hues of brown and red. Which means almost any furniture will look good and will pick up its main color from the floor. Too light or dark you get stuck decorating as things will literally look wrong.
lauren says
1 for sure!
Lyn says
Number 4 will look best with white, and be easiest to keep clean-looking.
Erica Madsen says
#2 would be my first choice and #3 second choice. 🙂
Tina says
#4. Nice mix between rustic and contemporary.
Lynn says
No. 3
Michele says
#1 is my vote! #2 will show crumbs and doggie foot prints more. Trust me – I have dark wood floors. Go for a “textured” surface too. When you’re looking at the room from a distance, the texture will hide stuff WAY better than a smooth surface.
Mark says
Flat is best – not tapered edge. Can any of the four be sanded and re-finished in the future?
Jen says
#1 or #4. The others are too dark for a white kitchen. #3 has too much red in it. Just my two cents. 🙂
Kellianne says
My son had #2 installed in his kitchen over the summer. It is GORGEOUS! But, it shows absolutely everything! Every speck of every thing. I guess it hides dark brown dirt, though. LOL! You WILL see Lucy’s fur constantly.
My vote is #3 and I’ll bet my son would agree. 🙂
A says
None of those remotely resemble real wood, but if I was forced to choose it would be number 3. If you think that one’s too red (not even near), then I don’t know what to say…especially if you’re a historic home lover. Heart pine has my heart.
Honestly, after a second glance, the floor that is already in there looks better than all of your samples. What exactly is wrong with the existing floors? Looks perfectly fine to me. I’d like to see the ‘warping’ that you are talking about, because I can show you some 160+ year old floors that are ‘warped’ and sagging to perfection 😉 Plus, I hope you are considering the amount of waste that you will be generating in this project, and subsequent others, since the environment is always one of your big topics.
Sandi says
I think #3 it has nice grain and the color is blended well…. good luck convincing the HH..