Updating Brazilian cherry flooring

5 years ago

our home has Brazilian cherry wood plank flooring that looks outdated. I prefer a more French-inspired, dark brown stain, but the wood flooring refinishers say that short of bleaching I would not be able to get that look. Any tips on how to update the red flooring without ripping it out? I prefer French/Nordic minimalism so the red is a tough one for me! Any tips? Thanks!

Featured Answer

SJ McCarthy

5 years ago

That is VERY CALM of Brazilian Cherry (Jatoba). I'm wondering if this is Brazilian Oak (Tauari) or more likely Brazillian Teak (Cumaru). Jatoba is normally a WILD bright blue-red + purple and pink.....OR it is FIRE RED with fiery red/brown + FLAME orange. That being said Jatoba can fade a bit...but then it looks WASHED OUT. Your floors do not look washed out. They appear to have good colour...without the FIRE ENGINE red of the B. Cherry.

Anyway...I just want to point out that you can get away with DANISH modern when working with the brown tones. I'm sure you seen Eames Chairs...the colour of the European Walnut is IDENTICAL to the colour of your floors.

These floors are very very calm for a S. American Exotic Hardwood. Very calm (I know....some people just don't feel that way about them...but believe me they are CALM).

So...is there ANY WAY you can find a way to 'like them' if you think of them more as DANISH modern vs. Scandi modern?

These are SUPER tough floors. You will rip out and replace these with a softer (looking) floor that is physically softer (easier to do damage) wood.

It is your choice. I feel like you have enough light (in this room) to have this depth of floor/colour. It ranks as medium toned. It also appears to be in amazing shape.

Do you have the budget to remove ($2-$3/sf) and replace ($7/sf wood + $6/sf for labor/refinish)? Do you have the budget to update stairs (stupid expensive...like $200 - $300 per tread)?

What will the $10 - $12/sf BUY you (that your current floors cannot give)? Nothing extra. It is simply a look. These super hard/tough Exotic Hardwoods have at least 80+ years worth of life in them. You will NOT improve on that. Your bank account will be $12/sf LIGHTER (and your interior will be lighter). That's it.

I'm cheap and lazy...and like your wood. So I know I would keep my TENS of thousands of dollars in my account...and think about earlier retirement.

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Comments (16)

shirlpp
5 years ago
Scratching my head thinking why do you think they look outdated. They look fine!
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mainenell
5 years ago
Forgive my thought that a natural wood floor is never outdated. Put some area rugs down and appreciate your beautiful floors.
Gcubed
5 years ago
I would have never thought those were Brazilian Cherry! I think they look nice actually. Can you try to like them with some of them covered with lighter/natural modern rugs?
chinacatpeekin
5 years ago
Beautiful floors. You’re lucky! Enjoy them.
Jennifer Havin
5 years ago
I agree! they are beautiful and seem neutral enough to add some cream/neutral rugs and live with them
Kim S
5 years ago
I'm my opinion what you have is timeless, not outdated.
momdia
5 years ago
I understand completely - they’re beautiful but they’re busy and not current. We fell in love with a house recently but the red floors were in perfect condition and DH didn’t agree with replacement. I prefer a much quieter look. No offense to those who love them. Just personal taste.
Bonnie Mangold
4 years ago
What did you decide to do and do you have an after picture?
arcy_gw
4 years ago
I don't think 'dated' or not is REALLY the issue. That's a buzz word that people just go along with because GASP one would NEVER want DATED. The OP doesn't care for it. That's it. Lets see if there are any solutions so she can get the color floor she prefers w/o starting over.
stewartnina2
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
We are in the process of refinishing our Brazilian Cherry wood floors. We chose a Brown Mahogany stain to eliminate the red tones in the wood. We are excited to see how it turns out!!

1st photo - before sanding

2nd photo - after sanding

3rd photo - stains - left: gunstock, middle: espresso, right: brown mahogany
shirlpp
4 years ago
2nd photo with just poly should look fine. Are you satisfied with any of the stains you're showing?
stewartnina2
4 years ago
@shirlpp the sanded floor has a pink undertone to it which the camera doesnt capture. We chose the stain on the right, Brown Mahogany. It seems to minimize the reddish tones in the wood.
arcy_gw
4 years ago
I would go with no stain just poly but I am not a fan of dark.
Julia Lee
2 years ago
Your floor is Brazilian teak, not cherry.
maddie260
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
I think Brazilian cherry is gorgeous. Why would you ever replace? But, hey, your dime. Just noticed this thread is two years old-lol.