I would have them stop and reorder what you want. I definitely would not let them continue. Good thing you checked on this.

I’m so stressed out - it took two months and $10k for this to arrive.

Good luck, Nora. Keep us posted. I would stand my ground as this (and probably the samples, I can only assume) is poor presentation of the product.

The sample was very uniform, it was beautiful

Please double-check the grade on the samples vs the grade on what you ordered vs the grade on what you got.

The inspiration photo looks like a high grade, where the installed photo looks more rustic to me. That's a big difference.

So the grade…honestly I’m very new to this and I have no idea

Update: we have decided to sort through all the boxes and put the lightest colors in the living area and the darker in the bedrooms. The real issue to me is the contrast between the lightest and the darkest, that is not the look I’m going for! This is the flooring spec - not sure about grade?

Nora, I know you are out on a limb as you are in a rental, but what did the store manager say where you bought this? Can they get you something else that is what you want quickly? I would be upset about the time snd $ but this wood is not what you want.

What series is that flooring? Too many showing up and not sure so I may help you research.

I did a brief checking and if you google the "PFEM35NAT" it comes up as Aacer Old Glory Maple Natural and the manufacturer sample looks closer to picture #2 that you show only a wider board.

If I go on the Aacer website and you look at the Northern Hard Maple, 2nd & Better it looks more like what you have

If you look at Northern Hard Maple 1st Grade it looks more like what you want much lighter board variations.

With that said I'm not sure what samples you have been shown when you selected and where you selected i.e. online, or a box store, or flooring place, etc. and if you asked for more even color variation they should have explained to you that the flooring you picked has lots of dark color variations in comparison to different flooring which is rated #1 or better, or #1 select, etc.

I would go back where you got it, take a few pictures and see what happened.

I wouldn't lose sleep over it at this point after you put furniture the floor will look beautiful with lots of character and I'm sure everyone will love it.

Good luck!

Rip ot out

I don't truly understand. Why live in a rental? We didn't. They did a few rooms at a time, and got the kitchen done in a day and a half (as I recall).

I don't even understand that hodge-podge look. If you ordered the floor to look like the top photo, then that is what it should look like, period. Review your contract, and stand up for yourself. Stop the work. Go get what you want, what you ordered, what you paid for.

So, you're new at this. Go learn what the grades are. Review your contract. Not that hard to do.

https://www.aacerflooring.com/product/peshtigo-river/

I think they may have ordered the wrong product. That^^ is one of the "Old Glory" maples on their website, and it looks just like what you have. I personally could not live with it, and would have it replaced, but you do what feels right for you.

Update, separating the wood colors worked and my floors are beautiful :). Pics of the living and bedroom.

Looking good Nora! No wonder they say sometimes hate can turn to love with a little creativity :-)

Enjoy!