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Hardwood flooring stain color trends - Winter 2011

By
Home Builder with The Flooring Girl

Originally posted at Hardwood flooring stain color trends - Westchester NY

Hardwood floor refinishing - Westchester NYWhen it comes to hardwood flooring in Westchester NY, light and dark stain colors are in - both extremes.  Light stains gives the room a nice warm, airy and welcome look; dark stains hardwood gives the room a more formal and sophisticated look.

When we are refinishing hardwood floors in Westchester NY, we usually test 3 stains for a customer on their own hardwood.  It's important to do this as all wood varies and accepts the stain differently based on the type of wood, grade of wood and it's age. Also, wood color varies, so it's much better to test it on several pieces - some lighter, some darker to get a true picture of how the stain will look (vs. a small chip that is on fake wood)

 

 

light color hardwood flooring - westchester NYLight colors for hardwood flooring

Light colors are very cheery as well as neutral.  They also work for modern looking homes (and ironically, ebony on the opposite extreme also works for modern).

- Most often, if someone is going light, we will do natural as this is the lightest you can go, and it usually costs less than adding a stain.

- Golden Oak is also a nice option - just a tad darker and adds some gold tones for more depth

 

Mid toned stains

herringbone hardwood flooring westchester NY - provincialMid tones tend to work for traditional homes - they just seem to work color and style wise.  They also tend to hide some of the imperfections if the wood is older. 

- Provincial is the most popular mid tone color.  It works well because, it is a brown stain (and does not have reds mixed in), so it's very neutral and goes with almost everything

- Special Walnut is very similar to Provincial but a tad lighter, so usually I recommend that a customer tests both colors on their floor to see which they prefer.

 

Dark tones

ebony hardwood flooring westchester NY - dark stainDark colors are probably the most stylish and dramatic. There are several similar tones, so I think it's usually best to see which is just the right shade for your taste.

- Ebony for an deep espresso stylish and dramatic look.  Jacobean is very similar, so it's good to test that stain, too.

- Dark Walnut is similar to Ebony and Jacobean, but it a bit lighter, which some customers prefer.

- Royal Mahogany has a bit of red cut in.  It's almost a combo of Red Mahogany and Ebony. 

When you're ready to refinish your hardwood floors in Westchester NY, give The Flooring Girl a call at 914-937-2950.

Hardwood flooring stain color trends - Winter 2011 - Westchester NY

Comments(21)

Clint Mckie
Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM
Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Debbie.

Good information for the homeowner who needs a little advice.

I guess that's why they call you "the flooring girl".

Have a great 2012. It's almost here.

Best, Clint McKie

Dec 25, 2011 10:34 PM
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

Jay - Yes, those are indvidual pieces.  Interesting bit of trivia.  Not sure about back then, but now the wood is milled for the even pieces.  The wood is more expensive and it is much more labor intensive vs. a regular floor.  But, I can't imagine back then...I bet they had to cut each piece by hand.  And, I don't think they even had tongue & groove back then.

Clint - Thx. I  know, I can't believe it.  Slow down the clocks...I need more time.

Dec 25, 2011 10:39 PM
Anita Clark
Coldwell Banker Access Realty ~ 478.960.8055 - Warner Robins, GA
Realtor - Homes for Sale in Warner Robins GA

Debbie: This is great information for everyone looking to put hardwood floors in...when in doubt, ask The Flooring Girl about flooring!

Dec 25, 2011 10:59 PM
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

Anita - Thank you so much.  I really appreciate that.

Dec 25, 2011 11:05 PM
Ginny Gorman
RI Real Estate Services ~ 401-529-7849~ RI Waterfront Real Estate - North Kingstown, RI
Homes for Sale in Southern RI and beyond

Now if Debbie could just skype in for consults I see another niche market you could garner for the Gartner!

Dec 25, 2011 11:17 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

 

Here it is!  It is walnut and cherry, with each piece cut individually.

Quite the job.  And still there!

Dec 25, 2011 11:29 PM
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

Ginny - Interesting idea.

Dec 25, 2011 11:30 PM
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

Jay - That is amazing.  Yes, parquet is very intricate.  amazing that it is still there, esp since cherry and walnut are soft (unless they imported from Brazil.  I wonder how thick they made it back then. 

Dec 25, 2011 11:39 PM
David Gibson CNE, 719-304-4684 ~ Colorado Springs Relocation
Colorado Real Estate Advisers LLC - Colorado Springs, CO
Relocation, Luxury & Lifestyle residential
Debbie when we added more wood floor and had it all re-stained this year we choose light and it really does make the rooms look bigger.
Dec 26, 2011 01:05 AM
Gina Tufano
Ask Gina & Company with Pearson Smith Realty - Sterling, VA
Ask Gina & Company, Northern Virginia Real Estate

Good idea to test and see what works best. Thanks for sharing your tips! Love hardwoods no matter what the color!

Hope you have a great start to the New Year!

Dec 26, 2011 01:32 AM
Jerry Newman
Brown Realty, 210-789-4216, - San Antonio, TX
Texas REALTOR, San Antonio Military Relocation

Hi Debbie. I would prefer the dark wood flooring personally, but it's great to know that consumers have some choices depending on their personal preferences. When in doubt, Contact the Flooring Girl.

Dec 26, 2011 01:34 AM
Joe Petrowsky
Mortgage Consultant, Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS # 2709 - Manchester, CT
Your Mortgage Consultant for Life

There is nothing like wood flooring. Every time I buy a house to flip, I constantly find wood flooring covered up. It blows my mind, but once uncovered, we bring it back. It sells every house.

Dec 26, 2011 01:34 AM
Chris Smith
Re/Max Chay Realty Inc., Brokerage - New Tecumseth, ON
South Simcoe, Caledon, King, Orangeville Real Esta

Debbie, Dark Hardwood can look exquisite, but I prefer the lighter tones

Dec 26, 2011 03:48 AM
Nina Rogoff
Boston, MA
Wix Websites for Real Estate Agents

Debbie, great presentation of the different wood stains so homeowners can see what works best in their home. I like Ginny's skype idea, but I'm still hoping you'll find a way to either open a Massachusetts location or get to know flooring companies in Massachusetts whom you can refer. Any referral from you is one I could count on!

Dec 26, 2011 05:56 AM
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

David - Oh good, I'm glad to hear that.

Gina - Thx.  Yes, that really seams to help customers, so we do it often.

Jerry 0 Yes, the dark looks really classy.

Joe - Yes, we see it often here, too.  It's such a gold mine - untapped equity.

Chris - Yes, they both look great - it depends the style of home and the look you are going for.

Nina - I'll have to see if there is someone near you.  There's someone in Newton, MA, but that may be a bit far.  We have convention coming up in Jan so I'll see if there are some new people.

Dec 26, 2011 08:00 AM
Kathy Burke
Sensational Home Staging~~Danville, CA - Danville, CA
S.F. East Bay Home Staging

Debbie....I am a BIG fan of the dark & slightly distressed look!  I love the drama and elegance!  Only wish I could afford to do it in my home NOW!!

Dec 26, 2011 03:31 PM
C. Lloyd McKenzie
Living Albuquerque - Albuquerque, NM
Living Albuquerque

Good Evening Debbie:

This post provides some valuable information for those of us in the real estate business as well as for homeowners.  I will defiitely bookmark this one.   I will definitely consult with "The Flooring Girl" for matters relating to flooring

Dec 26, 2011 03:38 PM
Tim Lorenz
TIM LORENZ - Elite Home Sales Team - Mission Viejo, CA
949 874-2247

I am so glad that there are experts that know this information. Thanks for the info.

Dec 26, 2011 05:07 PM
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

Kathy - Yes, that is a very nice and rich look.

Lloyd - Oh thank you so much and thx for reblogging.  I really appreciate that.

Tim - Thank you, and you're welcome.

Dec 26, 2011 11:09 PM
Margaret Oscilia
Creative Concepts-Home Staging and Contracting, Salem Oregon - Salem, OR
Home Stager, Salem Oregon

Beautiful examples and good information.  There are so many choices of stain and products to select from that it often can be overwhelming to home owners!

Dec 27, 2011 02:45 AM