Match or complement existing hardwood?

last year

I have a dilemma. Our family room space has original hardwood that we don’t mind - red oak with a color that’s not quite gunstock but not quite saddle. It is next to the kitchen but is at a slightly lower (6”) floor height than the rest of the house. The current entry and kitchen have the same wood now, but the living room and main hallway have carpet. Those two spaces are on either side of the entry, so abut the wood.

We are redoing the kitchen and that includes the floor, I’d like to have wood that would also replace the carpet in the living room and hallway. So presumably, the kitchen, entry, living room and hallway all will be the same.

My question is, does that new wood have to match the family room? Again, the family is not at the same floor height, and is only visible from the kitchen. Could we contrast with something lighter or darker so it looks intentional but complementary? Would we need to use the same species and plank width?

Thanks!!!

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Comments (5)

PRO
HALLETT & Co.
last year
Houses always look best with consistency in materials. Contrast can work. As could putting in new hardwood and refinishing ALL to match. Width of hardwood doesn’t really matter but color and material does.
ShadyWillowFarm
last year
Saddles and gun stocks come in many colors. The wood needs to harmonize with the adjacent floors.
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Timothy Winzell
last year
If the existing could be refinished to match the color you'd select to install in the other areas, that's probably what I'd recommend. You don't even have to refinish the existing now. Just make sure whether it can match in color. If you aren't bothered by a width difference between the old and new, nobody else will either. Or you could define the family room as having its own character. I prefer character to uniformity, but my house is a mish mash of styles.
PRO
JAN MOYER
last year
last modified: last year
You repeat the oak, board width doesn't matter, and you install/ refinish ALL at the same time, to whatever stain you DO want.

You're redoing the kitchen the most important of all. Show the plan..... for that kitchen and show the current as well.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
I usually do unfinished for the new and get the new finished to match the old . Maybe in yoour case the old can be done to match the new but you need to have a good floor refinisher for either choice . I like all the same floor where it is main living space .