The toe kick typically matches the cabinet

I disagree. Toekicks typically match the cabinets when they come as a unit. Otherwise, they just as likely match the floors. If you have sheet flooring, a traditional treatment is to cove the floor so that there aren't any corner cracks and the actual floor you're walking on covers the toekick. I have a tile floor and tiled toekick. Some people put a decorative treatment, such as a stainless band, or even mirror polished band, or a contrast color like dark violet, on a toekick to make the cabinets "float" and give depth and interest.

Do whatever makes the most sense for the look you want to achieve. I'd keep the red oak, because it probably looks awesome, but if you don't care for the look it's not a big deal to paint it.

We've got a black & white kitchen, white cabs, black appliances and a very dark grey, almost black, floor.
We installed black toe kicks for 2 reasons.
They won't get noticeably scuffed and they tend to visually disappear.
Also, if they get nicked they're real easy to touch up.
I'm attaching a link to our kitchen.

Here is a link that might be useful: Black & White Kitchen

I so appreciate your comments. Initially I thought they should be the same color as the cabinets, but I've changed my mind. Since they are an exact match to the floor, although they don't curve, they do blend away into the floor. I think not painting them will add a hint of a float.

It's called shoe molding and traditionally, it matches the floor and it should have the floor finish on it.

We put in black toe kicks. I like the way they sort of disappear.

Hah! I was inattentive and now the toe kicks are white, the color of the cabinets. I had totally forgotten about it until I saw they were white. I think I never mentioned it to my painter. I was upset until I just now browsed some photos of white cabs with white toe kicks on wood floors and they look fine. I will survive.

Thanks for sharing your dilemma and helping me realize it will be fine either way. I have to make that decision very soon!

Are you referring to the toe kick or the shoe mold? Aren't they two different things?

"I was inattentive and now the toe kicks are white, the color of the cabinets."

And soon are going to have marks from every shoe that touches them.

Lake Girl, the toe kick.

Brickeyee, well, I'm just gonna have to deal with it. In reality, that would be my own shoes. I guess I'll have to be careful.

(As an aside, I've been without heat for the past two days and now that the heater's been fixed and warm air is rushing into the cold recesses of my house, I'm counting my blessings.)

I prefer the toe kick to match the cabs. In my shoes-off household, our white toe kicks remain pristine and scuff-free. Not to mention how much cleaner the carpets and wood floors stay without shoes on them.

Sounds like you're getting close to done. Yes? Pics?

In our bathrooms, we did a marble toe kick to match the floor. In the kitchen, we did stainless steel toe kicks. Love the look of the SS in the kitchen but cleaning them is a PITA!