Have you considered cork floors instead of hardwood? We have oak baseboards and door/window casings/frames, and I think that they go very well with our cork floors.

Cork Floor vs Hardwood - Can someone give me pros/cons? I never considered Cork until you mentioned it. From the look perspective, I do like hardwood better than Cork. However, what are some of the key differences? In addition, if there are specific types in terms of Hardwood floor, please share differences on them as well. Looking forward to hearing from the community to see what they have to say!!!!

If you absolutely prefer the look of hardwood, you should probably stick with hardwood. After all, if you aren't happy with the way your floor looks, you'll never appreciate it. You should keep in mind that there are many different styles of cork floors, just as there are many styles and variations of hardwood floors. You may find that there are some styles of cork that you may prefer over most hardwood from a purely aesthetic perspective. I think it's worth a trip to a flooring store that actively sells cork (as opposed to one that will sell it, but doesn't really know anything about it) , as they should have some samples so you can see for yourself. They should also be able to educate you about the pros and cons versus hardwood.

We have the glue style cork tiles. They come unfinished, and need to have multiple layers of protective polyurethane coatings applied, which makes installation a bit of a pain. We had them professionally installed, but it took several days, having to wait for the polyurethane to dry between applications. After 10 years of sun fading, and abuse from two greyhounds, our floors still look good, but could probably benefit from a re-finishing. We've been putting that off based on the disruption that it would cause.

The biggest benefits that we see is that they are so comfortable to walk on. Although the protective layers of polyurethane protect the cork from scratches, the floor still has a softness when walking on that hardwood can't match. They are warm in the winter, cool in the summer, and help absorb sound.

I agree completely that aesthetics are a huge part of the equation. We have received tons of compliments about our floors - almost everyone who sees them comments positively and asks about them. I like the idea of having something that offers a bit of a unique flavour to our space.

I have oak cabinets and doors, white trim, oak hardwood floors - traditional 21/4 inch 3/4 natural finish.