Help with flooring please - kardean classic oak or French oak

[Flowerie]

Hi,

I need some help please, we have decided on LVT and have shortlisted to two: Classic Oak or French Oak

classic oak - https://www.karndean.com/en/floors/products/van-gogh-gluedown/classic-oak-vgw86t
french oak - https://www.karndean.com/en/floors/products/van-gogh-gluedown/french-oak-vgw85t

this will be for the whole flat except bathrooms (so same in bedroom and living room/kitchen/diner) - our kitchen will have walnut tall units with white worktops. We are having trouble deciding - what is everyone’s thoughts about lighter vs darker woods And which one would you choose between the two?

if anyone has any real life examples of either they would be super amazing

thanks

I have Karndean classic oak throughout my whole downstairs. Also have light quartz worktops with walnut in one area and walnut wrap around the tall units. It looks good!

Personally I'd go lighter as you have the walnut units and you don't want to look like you tried to match and failed- better to have contrast I'd say. We recently went for walnut units, light worktop and light oak floor and even though we chose a light oak I still think it's too close to the walnut.

Our local shop only had z few samples one was the lighter French oak they said it was the most popular one they sell but still advised us to get more samples from Karndean. So after looking loads of other samples getting confused we chose the French oak! I have loads of windows/light and it looks fab, I live rurally have 2 dogs and there is a lot of mud here and I pleased with how easy to keep it looking good and it doesn’t show up every single mark — unlike the creamy white tiles we once put down in our bathroom never again—.

Spooky! I moved here six months ago. In my old house I had Classic Oak with the “ship’s decking” decor strip, which looked great. In this house, the kitchen is dark so I have French Oak. I love both of them. The French Oak is much lighter.
first one is classic oak, second is French oak.
the classic oak has a shinier finish, the French oak is more matt.

@33goingon64 oh wow ! Do you happen to have any pics? I really want to know how the classic oak look like with the walnut?

@SoosanCarter thanks so much for these!! We are going to have walnut and grey like the one in your French oak picture so I am leaning towards the French oak but every time I looked at the classic oak plank we got, I really like it too! Such a tough decision

the classic oak has a shinier finish, the French oak is more matt.
Theres another thread about Karndean on home decoration. Some people comment that it scratches easily I haven’t noticed mine scratching badly I wonder if that’s because the shinier finish does scratch more easily.

Sorry I should have specified we don't have Karndean we have Woodpecker brecon flooring. Here's a pic anyway

Looking at that pic I think it's OK actually! But wouldn't have wanted any darker.

The classic oak looks good with the narrow decor strip, “ships decking” effect.

The Classic Oak is slightly more textured than the French Oak. My 11 yearold Labrador won’t walk on the French Oak, no problem with the old kitchen just six months ago.
He sits in the doorway looking miserable that he can’t hoover the floor.

French Oak taken at night

@SoosanCarter thanks so much for the photo! I’m pretty much convinced about the French oak - I think it brightens up the place - do you feel that compared to the classic oak?

@Flowerie this is the classic oak against the walnut

I think the classic oak is nicer. It looks warmer and richer.

I love both but I think the French oak will brighten up the space. We are still undecided after all this!!!