This is a BEFORE reno pic. Kitchen will be gutted, once I settle on floors. New cabinets will be painted white. Countertops probably be Taj Mahal quartzite.

Living room rugs also changing to shift color scheme lighter and more blues & greens

I read that red oak is not recommended for wet environments, but white oak is okay.

" I read that red oak is not recommended for wet environments, but white oak is okay. "

Any hardwood is ok in a kitchen with the proper finish applied and where water and or spills are attended to promptly. I would not consider a kitchen a "wet environment".

Raw Maple look? Is any pro here working with that look on Maple? I know it's the rage with White Oak.

Use the same flooring and refinish the living room to match whatever finish you choose for the kitchen. The cost of refinishing is minimal in the context of a kitchen renovation.