What color floor with dark cabinets? (hardwood floor, counter top, tile, colors)

[ooandyoo]

I just purchased a condo and need to decide what color hardwood flooring to go with.


I initially picked a dark hardwood floor but since the living room and dining room are open with the kitchen, I'm thinking it might be too much of the same dark wood color. What do you think?
This is the floor i initially picked


Thanks!

[art_teacher_mom]

Pretty kitchen!
Would you consider doing a travertine floor in the kitchen and maybe the hardwoods everywhere else?
I am thinking it will indeed be a bit dark to use the dark wood floors up against those cabinets.

[Mt-7]

I have seen some nice results with cork flooring. Seems to be really durable but not too dark.
Here is a random link.
Cork Flooring Info :: Cork Flooring Products

[Kandy]

I agree with art-teacher-mom, travertine would be beautiful with your cabinets and counters. I would do a light colored travertine. Medium to dark wood floors for other areas. Travertine and wood floors that run up to one another look very rich (IMO).

[ElizaTeal]

I wouldn't put hardwood in a kitchen, second to the bathroom it's the wettest room in the house. Try slate or tile for the kitchen.

[ooandyoo]

Thanks for all the suggestions! I chose a flooring thats a few shades lighter than the cabinets. The kitchen/dining room/ living room is all open to each other so I wanted to keep one flooring throughout the area. Ill post some pics once the flooring is installed.

[Entropy42]

This is probably too late to be useful to you, but I have a an accent strip of dark red/brown wood (Sapele) in my otherwise honey-oak floored kitchen, and I am so glad I didn't do the whole floor in that dark wood. We have 2 cats, and it shows cat hair, dirt, and water stains like you wouldn't believe. Its absolutely beautiful wood when its clean, but it is impossible to keep it that way (and its only a very small area).

[Decorchallenged]

I really, really don't like to see two different colors of wood flooring side by side. And I think a dark floor in that kitchen will make the whole room look like a big, dark hole.

Tile would have been a nice change but if you must go with wood, I think Entropy had the solution. Incorporating some wood that matches the other rooms, while leaving the majority a much lighter shade, would seem to have solved all of the problems.

Excellent suggestion Entropy....and one I had never considered before.

[pennquaker09]

I go back and forth on having wood in the kitchen, but the rule of thumb is that it's generally best to have the flooring and counter tops in similar colors. I know you've made a decision, but a lighter floor would look best.

Decorchallenged, mixing wood is an art.