We have an 1870s Maine farmhouse purchased 3 years ago and that was remodeled about 20 years ago in the open concept. 4/5ths of the house is laid with 3" cherry boards. The finish is wearing, bleached by a huge sliding (!) west-facing door and pet-stained dark in many places. The interior is dark already: a porch was added to the southern side of house and there are not many windows on the east side. The floors only add to this dark cast. I love hardwood floors. I know that the cherry was likely very expensive to install but not only do I find it dark, but it seems so incongruous in an old farmhouse. Unfortunately, the entire first floor has radiant heat. Even if I pulled it up to lay wide-board pine, oak, and other wood that I would prefer I have been warned they are not suitable over radiant heating (warping, thickness inhibiting full heat). Upstairs, in several rooms in the front of the house the flooring was left. Wide, painted boards of uncertain wood (still preferable to me). The rest of the second floor is not radiant heating and as best I can tell they just laid the cherry over the old floors. I have yet to pull up the cherry upstairs to check. Painters I have brought in to quote painting everywhere balk After looking it over I receive "We will do whatever you want but...". I understand but the low light coupled with cherry is very difficult t0 live with- for us. I have been recommended that laminate and engineered wood could be an option but I want the real thing. Photos are of the existing floor with issues; painted white floor in the kitchen that helped brighten; the wide planks in a back hall and guest rooms (pic with bit of rug and bed). I have explored bleaching it all which seemed to be the best option if done correctly to remove the red. However, the nearest person to do so is over an hour away and will charge $6.50 a sq. ft.. I have 2000 sq. fee

t. Thank you.