IMo get the same flooring everywhere and since you are planningon a darker color choose unfinished for the new floor and have the old one sanded and then all stained to match.

Thank you millworkman and Patricia. Lots of natural light, reno underway to update ... furniture is creams/taupe... however DR is mahogany (Thomasville).. office is handmade Brazilian cherry...

Patricia - would you retain the 3 1/4 width or go wider for the new floor... add more santos and strip/stain all darker ? does it matter that some slats are lighter than others?

Jet Force, we have 5" Santos Mahogany in our whole house. I have found that our mahogany and other dark wood furniture works to minimize the red pretty well. Lucky for you to have the option to re-stain it. I hope you are able to reduce some of the red tones. If I had the option, I would follow Patricia's advice. Here's my Santos in the kitchen.

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I would probably keep the same width for the new floors rather than going wider. The variations in individual boards are to be expected. Wood is a natural product, and that variety is what makes it beautiful -- although sometimes frustrating.

Thank you Shasta and kempek01!! ... beautiful kitchen...your guidance is very much appreciated!