Here is another pic of our actual, acacia hardwood flooring to provide more context on the pattern of the existing floor.

I love the combination of white cabinets and stained wood ones.

If you use rift sawn white oak, it may work. You need to show exactly the type of wood/stain that you want to use next to your Acacia floors.

Thank you, Dani_m08! The first pic demonstrates the rift sawn white oak on the island and desk. I’m sorry, I don’t have more and better photos to share.

If you ask 100 people their opinion about certain wood patterns competing with each other, I think you are going to get an equal amount of YES, NO and NOT SURE answers. Some people love mixing woods and others don't. You will have to pick your island stain samples, put them up against your floors, and decide for yourself which group you belong to.

Pattern wise, I think it will work next to your floors if your island is basically a solid brown (little grain/tone variation - may require a more opaque type of stain or certain wood type). I have a low tolerance for pattern and your floor fills the quota for me! I would suggest choosing an actual (muted) color paint, but I see your home is all neutrals so that doesn't work.

k t - I know that the pic (AI) that you posted shows rift sawn white oak on the island and desk - however, the real rift sawn white oak will look different in real life + the real wood for the island and desk area needs to be looked at next to your real floors.

Do you know who will be making the island and desk/bookcase area? If yes, have you received a sample showing what the rift sawn white oak will look like for those areas?

I re-read your post - and noticed that you are extending your acacia wood floors into your kitchen. While I like the idea of having continuous flooring (I have hardwood floors in my kitchen - I am so happy that I did that vs. listening to people about how having wood floors in a kitchen is risky) - I don't know much about acacia wood floors. Is it fairly easy to find matching wood variation between boards + match stain in order for the new to match the existing?

I think until you can lay a sample of the finished rift sawn wood next to your floors, it will be difficult to decide on whether to have the island and desk area in RSWO instead of paint.

I absolutely love RSWO - however, while the grain is straight - it is still noticeable. So, I don't know how it will look with acacia (also, apparently there are MANY types of acacia).

You also could look at clear alder and clear maple cabinets (not sure if that is the right terminology - just something without much grain) if the RSWO is too busy with your floors.

Alder:

Alder:

Maple:

Chispa - thank you, and I agree. I wish the decision wasn’t as difficult as it is.

Julie S. - I agree … the floors fill my pattern quota too. They are beautiful, and we get compliments from everyone that comes in our home, but more pattern is risky, and that’s why I’m struggling. The rift sawn white oak and walnut cabinet samples laid against our floor sample were not horrible, but the patterns still caused me to pause.

Dani_m08 - thanks for the pics! All are beautiful. I especially like the warm maple, and I’ll ask the designer if their cabinet maker offers a maple option to consider.

Be aware that maple yellows quite abit with age.

Suki Mom - thank you so much. I had no idea.

The existing floors have tone variations and visible grain. I see that as a rustic or eclectic vibe. That isn't a blend type of design component, imo. They make a separate statement and work as long as nothing tries to compete. The rift oak in a pale finish should work.

Ikea Vedhamn is European Oak with less grain than rift oak.

French White Oak Cabinets - Hallmark Hardwoods

The alternative is to remove the acacia flooring and replace with European Oak for the whole space.

Dan1888 - thanks for the input Dan! The pics you provided are beautiful. Our hardwood floors were laid through out our home in 2019, and they’re great floors, and we want more years out of them. We’ll need to work with them for now, and maybe replace them and the kitchen in 10 years.

Agree it’s personal taste - how confident are you in your cabinet pro? can you get realistic samples of the island finish from your pro to see in your home before you make a decision?

i’d probably have everything painted but i am risk adverse 😅

There's no hard and fast rule here. It depends on the floor and the cabinet wood. My son and his wife just redid their kitchen and used painted perimeter cabinets with medium brown oak floors and a walnut island. I think it looks fabulous, but if you are having questions about the patterns being too much, then paint all the cabinets the same.

la_la Girl - those are great questions you ask, and I’ll ask them of our designer. The renovation and design company we hired are reputable, but I don’t know much about the cabinet manufacturer. I think the key, as you suggest, is the designer giving me cabinet samples to take home. Thank you.

Diana Bier Interiors, LLC - the pic of your son and DIL’s kitchen is gorgeous, thank you so much for the pic! May I ask, what stain did they use on the walnut island and the walnut trim on the range hood? Also, are their counters and backsplash quartzite? If my kitchen could turn out as beautifully as theirs, I’d be thrilled.

I agree with chispa about everyone has their own ideas about mixing wood. I fo one do not think oak and walnut mix but thats me. I would like to see your space as it is now not some drawing . For me that DR space is awkward at best and wonder why so much space given to adesk at all. Seeing your space will be very helpful in commenting on all the choices . I think pantry doors should match the cabinets and in your case the white , IMO a pantry is a cobinet just bigger. Please post pics of your sapce as it is now with maybe a close up of the floors. I aslo would like to know if the designer is an actaul independant kitchen designer or from the cabinet company?

Hi kt, I don't know what stain they used on the island/trim. I could ask.

But I do know that the stone is Oyster White marble, in a leathered finish. It's even more beautiful in person than shows in the photos. It kind of looks to me like swirling ocean water.

This is the bar area--you can get a better look at the marble here. I love the way they curved it on the sides.

Diana Bier Interiors, LLC - that is so beautiful. Thank you for the pic, and the idea on how to finish the sides of our bar area. That marble is stunning.

Patricia Colwell Consulting - thank you. Attached is a pic of the existing dining space, and this pic supplements the pics above that include a close up of the floors. Please let me know your thoughts, especially how you would do the desk and shelves differently. Or if you’d use the desk area for a different purpose.

We’ve been ripping out built in desks for twenty years, no one wants to sit facing a wall. Have you had a built in desk like this and loved it? Great. Re the cabinets the ONLY way to decide is get your cabinet maker to provide a full sized door in your chosen finish and bring it home and look at it next to your floor. No internet pictures or AI will help.

Hallett & Co. - thanks, I appreciate your candid feedback. What would you recommend for that wall in lieu of a desk and shelves?

I have no idea of your needs. Maybe nothing. Maybe a statement piece of furniture or a credenza with a fabulous painting. No idea how you live in the space.

IMO a to scale floor plan would be helpful and I agree asekin a kitchen was something that died a long time ago but I need a to scale floor plan to really help. I am not a huge lover of 2 toned kitchens and mixing woods is always tricky . I like all the same color cabinets and the island can be a star counter with the rest plain for a bit of drama if you like that look. The island looks just odd to me I see no reason for all that seatin in the space , stools , baquetter and dining all there. I do not think those pics are real but maybe I am wrong. If they are not real post some real pics of your space please .

i’d also skip the built in desk - built ins are so $$$ and often there is not flooring beneath them so if you ever way to remove it down the road you’re stuck -