What species? Photos would help...a lot! Usually a mid-tone brown with hints of gray (stay away from yellow/orange tones) are showing really, really well. To get away from the yellow/oranges you can work with water based polyurethane...the "oil based" products (aka solvent based) turn things orange!!! It isn't the wood that is orange...it is the finish. To get away from that you can work with water based.

The trouble with that is, the professional working with your floors has to have a strong understanding/love of the water based products. An "oil only" type of person is going to find it very, very difficult to adjust. The stains used must be water based as well if you work with water based finishes....like goes with like. An oil based stained used together with a water based finish isn't going to work out...it will bubble and peel (like a sun burn).

Prior to staining, your professional will make us some test patches for you to approve. Once you have chosen, you will need to be their to approve each step. Prior to applying the first coat of finish (stain is on but nothing else) you will want to inspect the finish. Any blotching, misstep must be caught at this stage. Many people "go away" for the job...only to find out the finisher did a horrendous job. This is rare but there are enough horror stories out there that you want to be within a comfortable driving distance to view the floor prior to the final stages of the finish being applied.