staining kitchen oak cabinets and oak floor

13 years ago

I am going to have our hardwood floors and kitchen cabinets stained. Both are oak. The floors are through out the entire first floor. We have about 51 kitchen cabinets. The granite counter tops and and backsplash tiles are staying. I would like to go with a darker stain on both the floor and cabinets and I am thinking whatever color stain I use on one, I would dilute it a certain percentage on the other. What color stain would you recommend and what percentage would you dilute the stain color? Also would you go darker on the floor and lighter on the cabinets or darker on the cabinets and lighter on the floor?

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Nancy Walton

11 years ago

Mlse, what did you end up doing? So often people will post a dilemma and then not bother to post the result, so I'd love to see what you ended up with.

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Comments (8)

calidesign
13 years ago
Since the floors are throughout your first floor, decide what you want those to be first, whether lighter or darker. It is more personal preference. Then afterward, decide on the cabinets. You may want to paint some of the cabinets, so you don't have so much of the oak everywhere. But make them significantly lighter or darker than the floors, or stain some and paint some.
Delfina
13 years ago
If it were me, I would paint the cabinets and stain the floors
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Nancy Walton
13 years ago
I second Delfina. Stain the oak floors espresso, paint cabinets cream and glaze with a burnt umber glaze.
talxk8
13 years ago
Never paint beautiful wood! Try the floors darker, live with it for a while, then decide if you want to change the cabinets. Maybe try new drawer pulls. It all depends on the look you are going for!
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Chroma Design
13 years ago
Calidesigns makes an excellent point about the floors being the first and main concern since they go throughout the home. You have more options for the stain of your cabinets than a lighter or darker version of the floor. I suggest changing the hue slightly as well. It gives a bit more contrast between the two and looks more dynamic.
mlse
Original Author
13 years ago
Thank you everyone. Originally I thought of painting the cabinets a lighter cream color. We have had a few people that refinish cabinets come to our house. They have all said that our cabinets are great oak wood and to maintain the integrity of they wood, they would not paint them. They all recommended staining. In addition we are under a time frame. This needs to be done in the next month. We were advised to have the cabinets done before the floor is refinished. Lastly I will change my cabinet hardware. What look would you recommend and where would I go for them. I live in the Chicago area.
Delfina
13 years ago
I am really stuck on painting them. We have done both--with paint you have so many more choices in colors- it really is up to your preference. As far as handles what is your style? do you not like the handles that are on there now?? sometimes all you need to do is paint the handles. We have used bronze hammerite rust cap paint, it does not rub off--ever!!