Wooden Floors...maybe NOT oak? Any thoughts?

[RiaParkinson]

I am putting a fair bit of wooden floor down in two LARGE rooms

the builder has brought me a few oak samples which i like but- and its a big but- i actually prefer my stripped boards

I cannot keep them due to several things BUT the light wood- the fresh sheen - I much prefer it to the homely warm oak....

I LIKE the glow and am wondering if a maple or the like might be preferable

I mooted this with the builder who said 'can be a bit stark''

any other options?

anyone HAVE maple and love/loathe it?

I do not know where to start!

Thanks

Maple is gorgeous on samples but a nightmare to keep clean. I like oak but find it a bit ubiquitous now - I went for honey teak which is just the most fabulous wood ever. I defy anyone to find a nicer range of colours and grain.

thankyou lalalomglegs that looks nice

i am not worried about keeping it clean...

I put maple down in the lounge and dining room a couple of months ago and we love it! We have no problem keeping it clean, in fact because you notice things more quickly it's probably more hygenic than a dark floor.

Love the amount of light it plays back into the room. We have a "rustic" grade which includes some patches of darker wood which stops it from getting "stark". Ours is the Nature Maple Wicklow from here. In the photo it looks quite pink but in fact is a more yellow hue (and will darken over time). They send out samples so you can see how it fits in.

Good luck!

thankyou so much for that Moomin

Do you really love it!!? It is the 'throwing'light back into the room bit that i really want....

it has more of a glow than oak?

we had red oak with rustic bits just too vary from the standard don't know what kind of price difference that would be tho'

Dare I ask, how much per sq metre do these lovely wooden floors come in at?

My mum had maple in her kitchen, very striking. Sort of vaguely pinkish tinge, I seem to remember.

Oak is a good option as it has colour variation which helps hide any marks that will inevitably occur over time. It is a warm colour and works in a contemporary or traditional room. Maple is a totally different look which is more homogenous in colour and is more likely to show marks. It has a more modern than traditional look but in my opinion is slightly dated (no offence to anyone that has it in their home). I sell timber flooring at work so am just going from our sales etc. There are other options out there that might be worth considering.

ooh bodiddly...

I like a bit of a sheen which although naff is very american..

I LOVE their shiny wooden floors

oak just looks a bit 'country' to me

it doesn't have to be country looking! That said, I bought some solid timber flooring for my ds' bedroom which was cheap and cheerful, light in colour and has an amazing sheen/shine to it. It positively glows! I think it may have been parawood.

I have carbonised bamboo and love it.

Here.

I have [http://www.hardwoodfloorstore.co.uk/Kahrs/Info/kahrs_beech_cambridge.htm kahrs beech]]

They do a lovely maple also.

another try:kahrs beech

kahrs beech

how odd.

try this kahrs

you see all their styles there

Just make sure they are 15mm thick, and not 7. Because then you cant sand them down more than once.

I have the one called viborg, and it is truly beautiful.

It is very light, BUT with a lot of life too.

they look nice - will peep at viborg now....

Ria - Why don't you buy reclaimed Maple flooring from a salvage company? Do you ever use salvoweb/