Golden Oak Trim / Dark Wood Floors?

10 years ago

last modified: 10 years ago

I have Oak, a lot of Oak in my house. No, I cannot change out and do not want to paint over. The oak is Golden and to update my dining room, foyer and office, I was thinking of installing a dark wood floor over the light oak and ceramic tile. My question is, will this dark floor accent the lighter oak in a positive way? This room gets a lot of light and the foyer is 35' tall. Very open area. I did change out all the brass fixtures in the house and replaced with oil rubbed bronze, which is where I think the dark floor would accent that better and bring the room / house more up to date. I was thinking also thinking of then getting rid of the chair rail in the dining room and replace the wall color with an olive green shade. I have dark brown on my office walls, therefore, I think the brown walls and dark brown floor won't look right. Should I also re-paint the office?

Featured Answer

User

10 years ago

I would keep the wood floors as they are. Dark wood shows every bit of dust and scratches as well. Repaint the dining room walls. Olive green would be beautiful as others have suggested. You could remove the chair rail or not. If you can afford to change the rug you might get something in a Mission pattern. Pottery Barn has one that had beautiful olive colors with red accents. I think you could find it by looking at Google Images. Sorry I have not figured out how to add photos . Not very tech savvy but working on it. The artificial plants on top of your buffet are a bit dated. I suggest you get rid of that look.

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Comments (38)

sugarmonster
10 years ago
Your house has good bones but the decor and table set with the carpet look a little late eighties early nineties to me. The dark blue green palate is missing something. Your table set could use updating and maybe change the color of the seat cushions....a darker brown to match the darker wood floor you want. Then paint over the wall color with a red (not bright red). Oak always looks nice with greens but it's hard to get a modern feel out of it. Accessories may be something to work on, both to lighten the spaces and update. A better chandelier that stood out more would help the room. If you like the craftsman look then find one with both wood and glass maybe. Lots you can do here. Have fun!
Jeannie thanked sugarmonster
sugarmonster
10 years ago
Ps. The white ceiling stands out with dark colors and looks awkward....a dark floor will add to the effect. May want to paint the ceiling. Unless you dim down the wall color significantly.
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Nikki Trivisonno, CKBD of Somrak Kitchens
10 years ago
I would definitely eliminate the chair rail. A darker floor will give you a more updated look, however the oak finish that you have know is very forgiving when it comes to dirt, marks etc. So make sure that you know what you are getting into if you change the floor to a darker finish. Any imperfection or amount of dirt will show. I would avoid painting the walls brown. An olive will look gorgeous with your wood work and the new floors. Hope that helps!
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Jeannie thanked Nikki Trivisonno, CKBD of Somrak Kitchens
abbyjean
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
A rug like you have helps to break up the floor with the rest of the oak color in the room. To me, you sound bored and want a new look. Maybe try painting the dining room before you do anything with the floors. I might leave the chair rail there, but paint the top and bottom the same color anyway, and love the idea of the olive green. I would also be interested in seeing what it looks like without the mirrors beside the hutch and the greenery on the top. Your art work is soooo nice there.....great size!!!
Jeannie thanked abbyjean
njmomma
10 years ago
*watching the progress. ;-)
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Jeannie thanked njmomma
Jeannie
Original Author
10 years ago
The top of the walls used to be beige and the bottom was burgundy to pick up the color in the rug. I was bored, and tried to change it up, but I think it looks worse now. I love the blues, but with the golden oak, I don't think it will look right. I will probably remove the chair railing, and do an olive green and replace the rug with greens / beige, and put a dark floor down to make the rug pop. Any olive color suggestions?
abbyjean
10 years ago
If the paint brush is coming out, it might be FUN to paint the tray part of your ceiling, too.
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Patricia Kent
10 years ago
Agree with Rainymorning ..... plus remove two skinny mirrors( you already have Mirrors inside china cab). Add some of your china dishes/platters, etc standing up to breakup all the glass and it will add something round to the room since you have sooo many straight lines going on.
Jeannie thanked Patricia Kent
Jeannie
Original Author
10 years ago
Seems like a lot don't like the dark floor idea, but I do need to replace regardless, so would a bit darker wood floor look nicer? I do not want Golden Oak, but maybe a couple shades darker perhaps?
User
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
It's a nice room. Maybe a little darker floor. Not too much.

I am ready for blue walls to come back in style.

Here are a couple photos of blue walls and oak or oak colored woodwork. If you want to modernize and lighten, blue might just do it. Different rug, recover the chairs.

[houzz=
Beautiful walls, ceiling and floors · More Info
]
[houzz=
Bay Area Modern - Whole house remodel · More Info
]
[houzz=
Exquisite Interiors in Minneapolis · More Info
]
Jeannie thanked User
User
10 years ago
You don't say why you want to replace the wood floor. In any case, perhaps you should look at rugs and decide on a new wall color before you decide about the floor. You have so much wood in the room that you want to de-emphasize wood and concentrate on other elements. The problem I see with your room is that the wall colors do not go with the dining set nor the rug. After you select a new color scheme it will be easier to get the floor right. Must it be wood? There are some great cork floors these days in many different colors. I think something in deep red tones would go with your furniture. I know it's frustrating getting all these opinions and trying to decide which would work. Look through magazines and catalogs for ideas. Start a scrapbook with pictures that appeal to you and you will being to get a feel for what will work.
Jeannie
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks again for all comments. I want to replace the wood floor because of the ugly ceramic tile. I figured since the rooms, dining, entry and office are in line, we might as well change them all at once. Also, the wood floor in the the office is all torn up from my office chair. Should I even go wood? What about large darker tiles? Would that look akward in a dining and office perhaps. Ugh! So frustrating.
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User
10 years ago
I understand what you are saying. Here's what you could do. Keep the wood in the areas where it is in good shape. You can have a wood floor expert come in, remove the tiles and install new wood to match up with what you have. I had this done recently and it came out very well. Keep in mind that wood floors are very expensive so keep what you have. Remove what doesn't work and keep it all the same so that one room flows into the next. The existing floors could be sanded and stained if you decide to change the wood tone. But from your photos, the wood tone you have is nice.
Jeannie thanked User
Jeannie
Original Author
10 years ago
That is a good idea. Maybe just replace the tile and repair and move on to color and decorating. We will see
PRO
Sandi Perry Interiors
10 years ago
I think dark floors would be the way to update things. Swap out the chair rail, you have enough wood.y to go update a bit and a fun area rug will go a long way. Soft Fern by Benjamin Moore is a terrific green that isn't cold. I use it everywhere.
groveraxle
10 years ago
If you are determined to keep the oak trim, then keep the oak floors and make the new floor match. A darker floor will look out of place, emphasize the difference in the woods, and actually make it look like too much wood in the space.

Get one of those office mats to protect your floor from the chair.
groveraxle
10 years ago
I removed the chair rail, the mirrors, the rug, and the fake plants and installed two floors for you to see. If I get enough energy, maybe I'll paint for you too.
Jeannie thanked groveraxle
Jeannie
Original Author
10 years ago
Thank you so much groveraxle! That really helps me visually. I know the green plants on top got to go. There is a hugh wall switch though that I have to find something to place on top to cover it. I do think the dark floors clash a bit. Thanks again!!
groveraxle
10 years ago
Olive...or as close as I could get to what I thought was olive.
groveraxle
10 years ago
Wall switch? Up there? Paint it the same color as the walls.
Jeannie
Original Author
10 years ago
Wall switch is for the cabinet light. I know. Goofy. Thanks again!!!
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Ann
10 years ago
Oh, nice, so helpful when grover enters the room! I love this second wall color (grover's olive - not dark and lots of gray in it). I like the chair rail, fake plants, mirrors and rug all removed. I like the light floor color you have. Nice room!
I actually think tile is very nice in an entry, so I'd just replace the entry tile with a new bigger, nicer tile and have the office floor refinished, then protecting the desk chair area with the appropriate floor pad.
Ann
10 years ago
About a year ago, I removed all my large nice silk plants from the tops of my tall furniture. It felt weird for about a week, but I love it now and those nice, rather expensive, silk plants have all gone to goodwill:)
kadodi
10 years ago
Please remove all the foliage from the top of the hutch... It makes the eye go straight to the ceiling. Paint the ceiling the same color as the paint on top of the chair rail. I wouldn't necessarily advise you to remove the chair rail when most of the problem is your paint and decor. Fix those first then re-assess.
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Ann
10 years ago
If it were me, I'd paint the walls and then decide about the ceilings, but I like white ceilings:)
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User
10 years ago
jtock, Forgive me if I've goofed here. I think I've figured out how to attach photo but it seems my picture got sent to a different pos,t so heaven only knows what people are thinking. I am again going to try to send you a photo of Pottery Barn rug called Cecil. I think the design and colors might help to inspire you as you redesign the dining room. Here goes . . .
Jeannie thanked User
pmarch39
10 years ago
I think the dark floors would look out of place. How about Gunstock color so it is slightly darker than your current wood color? I like the brown walls in this picture that was posted above and the light tan grayish color in the rug. http://st.houzz.com/simgs/e9119ad101181bb2_7-0637/traditional-family-room.jpg
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Jeannie
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks again to all who have commented. I did find a rug I like. We are going to go with a darker floor, not very dark, but it does have a slight streak of Golden Oak tone in it to pick up our trim. Going to remove the chair rail and paint an Olive Green that is in the rug. The rug looks awful online, but I saw in the store. What a difference. Won't be done for awhile, but when finished, I will post an after picture.
pmarch39
10 years ago
I like the rug and think your room will look great.
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Jeannie thanked pmarch39
ngswanson
10 years ago
This comment might be to late. I live in a home that has golden oak woodwork. I found a paint color that tones down the "yellowish golden look'. it is called 'river oaks ar 519 by Valspar allen+roth. It is very close to an olive green color, and it really modernizes the woodwork. I purchased the paint at Lowes.
jergens1211
10 years ago
I would strip all the wood,including the dining room set and stain it all dark change the wall colours,and omg remove that horrid chair rail
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ayden9912
8 years ago
Can you post an after pic? I am wanting to do the floors just like you did to have the oak streak but be slightly darker. Where did you purchase, what brand and what color?
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Jane Eggebeen
8 years ago
I have hickory cabinets. getting a new floor for kitchen, dining, entry. extremely hard to find something for hickory. but with dark browns granite I think this one will look good: Adura Max Sausolito sunrise luxury vinyl, wide planks. But what do I do about trim? the oak trim looks bad with it. Thinking about leaving all the oak doors, but replacing trim with white. Can I paint the trim around windows white, but leave the wood on the windows oak, just like I leave the six panel doors oak?
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jhmarie
8 years ago
Yes:)
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Jane Eggebeen
8 years ago
thanks. don't mind the doorway look, but not wild about the window. mine doesn't have panes and would have curtain panels on the sides to cover the molding.

need another opinion. choosing BM revere pewter gray for living room and entry. My dining room now adjoins it all since we tore out a wall. I have a large arched window in the dining room that I've always painted an accent color. Seems like it would be pretty blah is everything is all the same. Should I keep an accent wall, or paint the whole dining room and kitchen another color that goes with revere pewter, like tranquility (grey blue AF490)?
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jhmarie
8 years ago
You may paint all the window white - window and trim. My windows and casings are white, but my doors are wood (oak). You will want the tone of your doors and the tone of your floors to work together. I did go with a slightly darker floor upstairs and it still worked with my natural oak doors - but that is something to watch out for:

My kitchen in progress: · More Info

You might want to start a new thread for paint as that is not my forte, especially grays because it is not a good color for where I live. Cool grays do not mix well with warm wood tones - neither does anything for the other. Some "grays" that are more blue or green can work. Post a picture of your space you are painting and post it with your paint question. Some do not look at older post and this one goes back quite a bit.
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poemeinteriors
8 years ago
When mixing differing tones of wood in a space whether it be the wood finish of furniture or of the floors, a border around the perimeter of the wood floors works miracles. It is a high end solution but the results are well worth it.