The second floor is a non issue. We have no picture of the "wing" area or how much transition is involved, but stained and finished to match is probably a NON ISSUE, so you refinish the "wing"

I would pass on the "character" ........White oak select, and a 3 1/4 inch board is a timeless flooring and very stable. You want wider? The wider you go, the less stability and the more affected by variations in humidity and temperature.

I am also reading the words " 1960 Colonial"........: )

You a re choosing white oak because it is a much nicer looking oak with litttle charcater so get the oak as close to what you have in grain and have it all finished to match I do not like wide plank wood floor a nice 3.25 plank is as said timeless

Depends on the home and the look you’re going for - if it were me, I’d stay with the classic 3.25 boards and avoid any wider/character planks that could lean trendy

Thank you to all who have commented. I'm hearing you loud and clear and am grateful for the unanimous advice! 3.25 select white oak it is!

Excellent 👏

Not so fast.

The wide 7-11"product you will see available from every source and widely used in higher end new construction is engineered European Oak. Different species among the 300+ oaks growing worldwide. It is not as yellow with less open grain. Matte water poly also doesn't finish with the yellow tint of the oil finishes of the past. Because of less open grain flat cut planks show off more structure and beauty of the wood. Rustic is available with more character. Look at Hakwood, Duchateau, Hurst and every other flooring supplier. The number one wood flooring choice.

Update the flooring just like cabinets.

Wide European Oak does not belong in every home everywhere, any more than white walls and black framed metal windows belong in every home.

Just because a flooring is "on trend". remember there was a (thankfully OVER) trend to gray floors.: )

To verify look at higher end new construction around you on Zillow. Ask the builder what wood flooring product they're using or would be used if building your house today. You don't have to replace the second floor. You may need to deal with the stairs.

Yes, "new construction" is the word........and the op home is 1960 Colonial. To this very day, the best selling unfinished flooring in my fairly wealthy town is 3 1/4 inch white oak. Are there new build wider and lighter? Yes. But not to the elimination of all other species, widths, stains, and that applies even in engineered/prefinished. . Other areas, climates, differ.

I would find entering a 1960 Colonial, all of a sudden maybe even remuddled to open concept and wide as above? As disconcerting as a really great mid century with dentil moldling: )

1960 's home, i would be installing 2 1/4" quarter sawn white oak flooring in it. Just goes with it.

99% of the colonials built in 1960 aren't authentic representations. They have 1960s components, including the narrow plank flooring. My suggestion is based on the statement of a major renovation of the first floor. Everything used in the rest of the project will likely be up to new construction standards.

"New construction standards" ...........

The term is relative to locale, to budgets for custom, semi custom, spec homes, et al.

We all have looks we favor or disdain. Not to beat the horse, but a beautifully installed, stained 3 1/4 ......2'1/4 or strip floor? Is a beautiful hardwood floor. It is not the sole surface in a home. If I needed any of the above tomorrow afternoon, delivered to a site? I could have them at the snap of two fingers, from stock and local in the highest select quality.

All of the conversations of any material, from counter tops to something else, the "Nobody does it" nobody uses that, ......everyone wants QUARTZ,!! You can't do Dupont Corian!! Let's do Taj Mahal! They all drive me nuts. : )

G & S Floor Service nailed it.

^^^

Agree! You mean NOT be "on trend!!" Oh.......the sheer horrors lol

😂^^^^^

Looking at the original request of the OP, wide white oak plank flooring with character.

Every flooring source in the US has 7-11" wide rustic grade flat cut white oak. The flat cut shows off the grain structure- the cathedrals. Every one of those is made with European Oak. 4 or 6mm with hardwood like birch or eucalyptus as the plywood core. Prime grade is mostly rift sawn for straight grain with less character. Do not pick a product with a softwood ply core. The top layer is more likely to dent.

European Oak is used because quercus robur and other species do not have the open grain of N American white and red oak when flat cut. This is not a trend when it has been in use in Europe forever. It's newer here because production is coming from SE Asia as well as Europe.

A good idea is to get some samples from a store and online like from Monarch Plank to see in your space.

And look at your oak flooring. Someone above said get narrow 2-1/4" strip. But he said get only quarter sawn. That cut hides the open grain that turns black. I bet 100% the existing 1960s floor is flat cut with open grain. Builders grade.

Many come on here with 'golden oak' kitchen cabs yellow with black open grain. Widely used by builders. All the open grain has to be filled before the cabinets can be painted to get rid of the oak. Nobody picks golden oak today for authenticity.

I really appreciate everyone's input. It's been helpful and I’m still processing what to use.

G & S Floor Service is right - it's 2 1/4" white oak, maybe Select grade.

My style leans more eclectic, and since I plan to be here for the foreseeable future, I want the choice to feel intentional. I’m considering wider planks in the same grade as the existing floors (not character grade), but I’m weighing whether the change in width will read as a natural evolution or too much of a departure from the original.

dan1888, thank you for the suggestion to bring samples home — I’m going to source some from a local showroom and see how they feel in the space.

I appreciate the thoughtful input. You've given me a lot to think about.

^^ Real wood and lovely, just continue !

In the end it is your house. Ask 500 people, all strangers none of whom shall live there, and you'll still be at the ifffy coin toss point

The next width in evolution was 3 1/4 ? Right?

You plan no rugs? Just asking: )

Your floors do not have any objectionable dark grain effect. They do show uneven space opening between the strips. You can try to match them and end with a good finished look for your home. Rift cut could come close. You can get character and a major, imo, increase in beauty with wide plank flat cut E Oak. Good luck with the samples. Ask for country of origin, top hardwood layer thickness and composition of the core. Use the tynes of a fork to scratch test the finish. For the final color and tone range test bring home a box to lay out in your space and light.