I hope you'll post after pics when your project is finished. Would love to see it.

strip flooring is really hard to salvage/patch once it gets past a certain pont

I think the tone of the floors in your mock up pic is perfect. perhaps you could use a white oak (if the originals aren't possible) so you can get a lighter shade without having the pink undertones a red oak would give you. if you go a bit darker, towards a light walnut tone, then red oak is fine. Have you considered doing a wider plank as opposed to 2 or 3" ? I'm thinking something like this:

this one below is a multi-tonal stained floor.

here's your 1"

you could also do a varying width. a stain color a tad lighter than this one would work w/everything you have.

Hickory is an amazing wood and super hard. I bet the reason they don't use it more is because of stability. Like it might check or curl around as it cures

well, there's Hickory,,and then there's Hickory!

this one is a random hickory with an even stain coloring. rather rustic. from Armstrong.

you'd want a choice select w/even coloring. otherwise, it will just be too busy.

if you like hickory, you'll prob like acacia. take a look at those too. this is the Blonde acacia. (I may be partial since I have acacia in my home!)

these are hand scraped acacia from Skyline flooring. $4.

i'm no flooring professional. Cancork Flooring is usually the pro that comments, but I haven't heard from her lately.

do you want a solid hardwood or would engineered (pre finished, but still solid wood) work? engineered has it's pros over 3/4" solid.

why don't you narrow down what you want, from both sides, and go from there? price, convenience, labor,,,,weigh in those factors

mrstad,,,looks beautiful! i love the acacia. glad to help. enjoy!