A few years ago we had glossy, factory finished solid-wood Brazilian Cherry floors installed. We selected this floor because we had read BC was harder, would scratch less, etc. All of that may be true -nonetheless we have managed to scratch them a few times, and the result is horrid looking. Just a big, glaring scratch right through to the wood.

Now we need to select a floor for the kitchen. As much as I love the look of a wood floor in the kitchen, I could not bear a floor that I had to hover over worrying over scratches. We have two teens who come in with their friends, and we want to continue that in a relaxed, easy way. Kids are going to come in with a small rock embedded in their tennis shoe, somebody will drag a backpack across the floor, that kind of thing.

Is there a wood floor that would somehow not show scratches as badly as ours does? Perhaps a lighter colored wood where scratches wouldn't be so white against the surface? Is there a finish process that would offer truly great protection? The existing BC floor runs right up to the kitchen in two places. One is a six-foot wide opening, so it would need to look nice with the existing BC floor.

We've been told laminates scratch less, and have brought home more than a few samples, which look amazing until they are plopped down next to the BC floor.

Thanks in advance -