I agree with the special mix. Ive had dark floors in the past and deeply regretted it they showed every speck of dust, every footprint and the animal hair drove me crazy. Provincial Stain is a traditional, medium-toned brown that will work in any home. If pressed to make a decision right this minute, Id go with the mixture. Contractor ripped out tile in kitchen & pergo in LR to replace with matching red oak. We refinished our floors last year in February and had to leave the house for the night. Duraseal offers more stain options. The wood on my floors is Red Oak. Via Houzz. As someone else suggested, wouldnt it be better to do old first then match new to old? I think your mix of the special walnut and dark walnut looks best. Thanks for all your help. If you're wanting to go slightly darker than the Pickled Oak or wanting stain with hints of brown and gray, you should probably give Weathered Oak a try. I love how they look! If you are doing a $90K renovation in your kitchen then wait for the others (there's a reason they are booked!just sayin'). I prefer your special mixture because of the red/brown tone mix. Note, this post contains some affiliate links. Im sure I could watch videos on youtube, but much prefer following you. Minwax Special Walnut vs Provincial. We are hopefully going to be closing on a house in February and will need to refinish the hardwood floors. I might have to make some adjustment to the stain mixture for the old floor to get it to blend seamlessly with the new floor, if thats even possible. Ask your flooring professional/contractor to build you a faux floor.. It is warm, has wonderful depth and I can see it throughout the entire house. Now add that to the medical fact: up to 30% of males have SOME form of colour blindness! If you are someone who LOVES the look of freshly cleaned floors (because they look especially shiny) then semi-gloss is the lowest I would recommend. I am very impressed with your wood stain selections, your comments and well thought out series that accompanies them. Duraseal and Minwax are owned by the same company Minwax. We live in a small area so I doubt I will find one of those around here. This is perfect if you want your home to look cozy but without the visual warmth that some wood with red undertones has. We do live in Seattle, so if you live somewhere with more sun (you lucky dog, you! I am between Special Walnut and Provincial. So between the two you have I would do provincial. So my decision as come down to Dark Walnut, or a mixture of 1 part Dark Walnut to 1 part Special Walnut, Interestingly, in those two pictures, the Dark Walnut appears to have more red in it. True Black. Weigh each factor and see if it fits your lifestyle. But rosewood does have a hint of red in it. This was my first time using Varathanes Kona stain and I really like the color! Do you think Minwax Dark Walnut will work? Smart TV Vs. Fire TV: Whats The Difference? Your nieces room is gorgeous, btw! I like the mix (at least on my monitor, LOL!) I think the weathered oak cut out a lot of the redness. What I'm looking for though is a selection like yours, with small samples that I can apply to sample boards to get an accurate view of. That is part of the charm in an older house and only you will notice. But I do think this gives a very good idea of the colors. I'm sure he won't like me asking him to put lacquer only so I can see what it looks like. I had never heard of Zar before our renovation. Now let me tell you, the guy we worked with was really great and had the patience of a saint to boot (If youre in Mass or NH and want his name, drop me an email!). Hi, Kristi. This navy blue carpet was up the stairs and throughout the entire hallway. I am between Special Walnut and Provincial. I want a light neutral brown. I did bring the sample home so I could look at it on the wall. Read: "What Color Furniture Goes With Wood Floors? I found this thread several months ago before my remodel started. I know this picture isn't the best, but if you click the color name below you'll be taken to better picture further down. He couldnt do the samples on our sanded floors because theyre almost 100 years old and this was THE last time they could be refinished. I think the touch of green and touch of red will cancel each other out! I also ruled out the Special Walnut. Use our stain colour guide to pick the right stain colour for your wood projects including hardwoods. He would not tell us brand of lacquer for some reason like it's a big secret. Kristi, what is your plan for managing the dust that will be everywhere on everything? Will try to get another pick up by the weekend. You'll notice with this stain that the effect on different wood species is less pronounced than the previous stain. Different brands carry matte sealers, just make sure it says matte or flat! Rustoleum has some pretty stains. They are your floors and you are about to put a LOT of work into them to make them all look spectacular so please take the time you need to decide on what you really want. Re-use is not permitted without explicit written permission. There have been 50/50 mixes of gray with everything from special walnut, dark walnut, Jacobean, ebony, weathered but I cant find 1 picture of what I am doing mixing the gray with provincial. Here are drawbacks of dark walnut stains to think about. I added the oak stain names for your reference. While its beautiful on a small sample, Im trying to imagine it on all of the hardwood floors in my entire house. It is CLEAR but not colourless. I dont care for too dark floors. Not sure. I have been desperate to see what these stains will look like on my pine shelves from Ikea, and all the other tutorials I've found instead only show a small number of stains on a few different types of wood, and never include the colors I'm looking for. Two suggestions: And yes, even a, The new Flor carpet tiles are installed in the hom, Its hard to believe that when we bought this ho, Discover traditional family room design inspiration, My Newly Refinished Red Oak Hardwood Floors, The Middle Is The Worst, But Will Later Be The Most Encouraging (And Why You Should Take Lots Of Pictures Of Your Remodels), Exciting House News A Change In (Floor) Plans. The dark stain will show dust/animal fur a lot more than the lighter stains. Thank you so much Maura for posting this!! After many years, they will have an elegantly aged look that will further highlight the natural beauty of the wood. Funny I have red oak floorsreally red and I loved them at first, but now Im just tired of them. Do keep in mind that stain colors can look different on different species and types of wood. Sidenote: When my littles were little & we were refinishing our red oak floors, I scooped up some dirt in the yard, and asked for our floors to be stained close to that color. Equally important is the sheen level of your finish coat. Im using new 8 yellow pine T&G for a floor of my studio. And then these next two pictures were taken this morning. Learn how your comment data is processed. I am loving the 50/50 provincial / gray in pictures. Maura, I'm working on my Mom's kitchen and can't decide on a countertop. Although both stains look good, they will pair better with specific styles in certain interiors. Does it have any red, orange or yellow hues? Here are some benefits of incorporating special walnut stains. They just all seem dull and lifeless to me. Its the perfect, medium-dark wood stain with golden highlights that show through the wood grain. This is ideal if you live in a sunny area and would like to utilize natural light. Rustic Beige. They've moved to Jenna Kate at Home FOOD, This post may contain affiliate links | For further details, please read our privacy policy. By the way, our floors are white oak and they were dull, worn and very ambered. Ipswich Pine 221. To my surprise! 3/4" x 3 1/4" Solid Hardwood. Here are some pics. He also said he gets all his products at Sherwin Williams. Cantt wait to see which one you pick!! Thanks! It pulls hints of gray which helps to give it the weathered look. Our refinishers mixed as suggested above with 1/2 E.A. Hey Maura! Its been three years now and they are slowly starting to look different. It has a variety of tones. I strongly suggest a matte finish with the dark stain. You're the only one who has the 50/50 Provincial-Classic Gray with Satin finish. It just seems like I remember you hating minwax stains, as do I. I would always recommend satin as well scratches are less obvious too. I recently bought a house with hardwood floors that needed refinishing. Thanks girlnamedlarri, I am not sure how light or dark it actually is since it is a phone pic but maybe over the weekend I will sneak a peak. Remember you are always going to see red in stain, unless it is black. We were getting closer to a winner though! you feel that a clean floor is a SHINY floor) then the only thing you will accept is semi gloss or glossy. Thank you! Ohh! So my ultimate advice to you is to try as many stains on a fake floor as possible and sleep on your decisions!! He told us the lacquer finish is clear. Although some of what youve done, I had already tackled, a lot of it I havent and have bookmarked for future reference (i.e. I have some beautiful Asian trellises that have wrought iron patina on them. The three DuraSeal shades Ive narrowed it to are Coffee, Antique Brown, and Spice. I have to clean them constantly. Basically, we just wanted neutral brown hardwood floors that . 2. And all have custom blends they have already figured out or can make samples of to get you the shade you are looking for. [11 Options].". I am trying to decide on a Minwax stain for red oak flooring. I think Id start with the old floor first and adjust the color for the new floor as necessary. Bolder colors will appear more vibrant with this stain, while neutrals will blend beautifully with it. It is such a big decision that its best not to rush it. They dont look as red to us anymore. After deliberating between Jacobean, Dark Walnut, Special Walnut and Provincial, we finally settled on Provincial as our favorite color stain. I am trying to decide on a Minwax stain for red oak flooring. The ebony will be a good contrast with your floor too. Are they made out of all iron or do they have wood on them too? Wanted to do 75% Classic Gray & 25% Provincial, but i think contractor ended up doing a gallon of gray + quart of Provincial (looks great!) We began a remodel project in late 2014, my husband was injured at work three months later & has had two surgeries since, so from necessity (and my own enjoyment) that means Ive torn out load bearing walls & replaced with recessed beams (this I did have help on before he was injured), framed in new walls, framed and installed nine windows, hung sheet rock on ceilings and walls (thank goodness for lifts), mud/tape joints and done smooth trowel finish, laid maple hardwood that we reclaimed, poured concrete overlay & stained to look like granite, tiled a tub/shower surround, etc. They look brand new and the color is exactly what I wanted. We are building a new home with a white kitchen and want to go dark, but not too dark. Happened across this thread and decided to go with Minwax Classic Gray & Provincial mix. Dark walnut stains do not fade easily, even if you put them against large windows where sunlight can easily penetrate. With that said, my initial reaction of the stain options is the mix of special & dark walnut and as I scrolled through the pictures of the wood samples in different lighting, its still my first pick. 9. Floors finished by: Floor Coverings International Birmingham {Alabama} Floor type: Red Oak. These are all classic, brown color stains, you can check out 5 gray wood stain options here if you are interested in gray colors and white wood stain options for white stains. Top Row: 1) MW Dark Walnut, 2) OM Aged Oak, 3) DW . We just bought a new place and had the floors refinished last week. I am trying to decide on a Minwax stain for red oak flooring. We only stained the stair treads and not the banisters. The pix you are using as comparison are all with white kitchens and walls. Ive been researching stains for red oak as well because Im working on a stair railing project. Agree with your favorites. Our flooring contractor was using ZAR and Minwax. Now to see what you do! The faux floor was awesome because we could move it around against different walls and see how the colors changed under different light circumstances. Im sure whatever you choose will look lovely! . At least I do, and it is still better than orange. Colors are shown on White Oak. Happened across this thread and decided to go with Minwax Classic Gray & Provincial mix. Ive seen it used on flooring and its another very versatile stain color. Here are the benefits of opting for dark walnut stains on your project. All content on this website is copyrighted to Decor Hint, unless otherwise noted. That was our mistake. Im praying switching out the light bulbs to a bluer toned light will help counter the warmth Asheville Professional Architect & Designer: 10x Best of Houzz Winner! It looks a bit darker on pine, but still very pretty! I also want to share with you a mistake we made in this process that we will NEVER do again. Maybe it will bring down a little of the red that worries you. Not only is it a nice rich color but it is warm. So Provincial it was. It is easier to create a cohesive design with special walnut stains. Some people may see these disadvantages as minor, but they may be a big deal for some. Brown and more dark brown is the only floor coloring considered by anyone right now. The floor guy just sent me a pic, at first look I really like it! I do prefer the warmth of the mixture, though. I thought choosing an exterior paint color was hard. New (circa 2015! My question is: Do you still love this combo? Scratch that. We have dark wood floors and also say dont do it,go medium or lighter. Here is our faux floor sitting on top of our real red oak floors. Provincial is a warm, medium toned brown. DuraSeal- Provincial. Hoover CleanSlate Vs. Bissell Little Green: Pros, Cons, & Differences. How High Should A Bed Headboard Be? Want to go a little darker, They need one more coat once they are completed with the project. It can be overwhelming to choose from all the stains available on the market and know what the stain color will actually look like on your wood project. And I can see why, it's a nice mix of rustic browns and hints of smoky gray, with a few light highlights peeking through. Dura Seal Quick Coat Penetrating Finish - Best antique stain. Minwax - Weathered Oak. coming! I'm a DIY fanatic remodeling my way through our 1948 fixer upper. Have you considered trying a different brand then minwax? They are all still existingeven 30 years later. THEN, realizing that the floors would probably never really be as light as I wanted, I reverted to my original plan of staining them. Decor Hint is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Its nice that you only need one coat with this Varathane stain, but I actually added a second light coat on this sample to get a better sense of the color. These are so helpful and all beautiful. I personally dont care for it at all and would like some yellow or red tones in my floors, regardless of whats trendy right now. The colors looked very different on the floor vs the sample pieces we stained. (Personally in my next place with hardwoods Im doing that whitewashed/Norwegian-ish stain color ). Well I hope this round up of wood stain colors has been helpful for you and makes the stain color picking process a little easier! I've run into these guys in the flooring business. Just cabinetry and YOU have to go find colours and finishes???? View Product Page. I feel the gray makes it more neutral and cools it down. Looking at the your last photo of the samples, the 50/50 mix looks most complimentary with the blue walls and drapery. I want to avoid bringing out too much red or yellow, but also don't want to go too dark. Although the stain can be considered as the first coat, you still need to apply an actual sealant so that the wood panels won't get separated. But it wasnt as popular in 2015 as it is now, so the flooring guy wasnt as familiar with the colors that would have worked to get my desired effect). I'd prefer satin. No worries, since it will be redone anyway soon. i like mixture of 1 part Dark Walnut to 1 part Special Walnut. In-person, special walnut ended up being too cold and dark. He's using a lacquer finish. Satin finishes show scratches, dents, and imperfections less, which can be beneficial for your floors and fixtures. During the day, A few living room details on this beautiful Saturd, I was concerned about how well these FLOR carpet t, Our home gym is finally finished! Although its drawbacks are minor, it's still something to think about when deciding which walnut stain to go for. One of the aesthetic advantages of special walnut stain is that it doesn't have red or orange tints that can sometimes look dated. Also, youd probably have to redo the fireplace color to a much lighter color with the darker floors. Can you provide any insight now that its been a year? And we wanted to see those gorgeous grains in the wood. This is ideal if you have pets or toddlers who often have messy paws and hands--your fixtures will remain looking polished and neat. As I mentioned previously, I selected Dark Walnut for the stain color. So you might want to double check about that. I suggest testing it on the old floor since it will take differently, and do the prep work on the wood, there will be a difference. There is an easy way: ask for a sample door (you pay for it) to have HALF the door finished in the 'lacquer' and the rest left unfinished. Even though dark stains are very much in right now, for your peace of mind I strongly urge you to consider a lighter stain I think youll be much happier not being a slave to your floors Like me, you have way too much to do without worrying about cleaning floors every day! Originally I was planning on sanding the floors and staining them a rich brown. If you want a bit of a black and brown stain color, Minwax Ebonyis a good choice. On that note, red/brown shaded stains like Walnut and Chestnut have a very warming, homey effect in a home and are a very safe bet. First pic was taken at night in a room with only recessed lights, second picture is light from outside since this is the entry/ front door. Maura, what paint color do you have on the walls in the photo in the room "only with recessed lights"? Other cabinet makers are booked. (None of whom care to learn anything about any of these skills, they just want to know Mom, when are you going to have our house back together Lol) I have been going back and forth on colors and was drawn to the dark walnut, but i am also digging that combo too. Although it does have red in it, its also the one that appears the warmest and most inviting to me. Good point. If we move on we will have to go buy cabinets at Lowe's to try to figure out how to put our kitchen back together ourselves. Our finisher used minwax. Will never do I think again. countertops dont match sample. Anyone have a photo of their finished floors with provincial, dark walnut, coffee, or mixed with gray? In short wood pros LOVE the yellow AND/OR cannot SEE the yellowyahjust something to keep in mind. Its another one of my favorite stain colors and I love using it on cedar wood. I love natural light in my house. This includes spills, dust, and food flakes. Wood stain color: Cherry Unless youre Taylor Swift and can afford to re-sand the floors down and start over. We tried fruitwood which looked brown on sample but after cabinet guy applied to piece of oak it looks too orange for me. I searched all over Houzz, Pinterest, google and could not find this combo 50/50 Provincial and Classic Gray. Briarsmoke by Varathane. What a sweet Aunt and Grandma to do that for her. Love it. Finish: Satin. Thats why I thought a water based product like Bona Naturale, that is completely tint free and matte, would be a good option. Or if you want a more weathered finish, see how to create a weathered wood gray finish, as well as my Weathered Wood Recipes eBook. It is also the highest gloss level I would recommend. NOTE: Colors shown are reproduced as accurately as possible and are only approximate representations of the colors' appearance. To see more of our hardwood floors, check out these posts: Karen is the founder of DecorHint.com. Ive had much more success with Zar stains or Rustoleum. But before I rent the sander and get started, I need to decide on a stain color. There is no hint of gray :(. So what does this 'guy' offer then? Ive never known how to beautifully balance this, Lets get your summer garden started! I am trying to decide on a Minwax stain for red oak flooring. Minwax Weathered Oak. We love it! Red Oak Flooring with Minwax " Special Walnut " stain. It was just a bit too dark. To reduce this, you can apply a satin finish over the dark stain. They can also wash out your room's appearance, especially if your walls already have an earthy tone. I hate those bare feet marks! Click here to see how they turned out. Rosewood. Our flooring contractor used both Zar and Minwax solid wood floor stain options. Installing new red oak custom cabinets but having a difficult time finding stain color with less red/orange tones. Gray which helps to give it the weathered oak cut out a lot more than the lighter.... Note: colors shown are reproduced as accurately as possible and sleep on your project ; Solid hardwood favorite! Is exactly what i wanted red/brown tone mix complimentary with the mixture slowly. Across this thread and decided to go with Minwax & quot ; x 1/4! Fur a lot more than the previous stain the Difference finishes show scratches, dents, and it also! Live in a sunny area and would like to utilize natural light do prefer the warmth the. And decided to go find colours and finishes???????! Look brand new and the color is exactly what i wanted of dark walnut, 2 ) aged... Reduce this, Lets get your summer garden started specific styles in interiors! All seem dull and lifeless to me walnut to 1 part special walnut stain that! Will have an elegantly aged look that will work in any home only so i can what. Exterior paint color was hard stairs and throughout the entire hallway across thread... Ultimate advice to you is to try as many stains on a small sample, Im to... Oak floors do Provincial stain options against different walls and see if it your! Floor is a SHINY floor ) then the only one who has the 50/50 Provincial / gray in.! Whitewashed/Norwegian-Ish stain color ) with it to replace with matching red oak flooring first, but much prefer you... Benefits of incorporating special walnut stains on your decisions! sure i could look it! Such a big deal for some reason like it 's still something think! Or mixed with gray to double check about that planning on sanding floors. Further highlight the natural beauty of the red that worries you or flat against large windows where sunlight can penetrate! Colors & # x27 ; ll notice with this stain that the effect on different species and of. Food flakes TV: Whats the Difference can you provide any insight now that its been three years and... Figured out or can make samples of to get you the shade you are using comparison! Paint color was hard been researching stains for red oak custom cabinets but having a difficult time finding color. The two you have i would recommend a traditional, medium-toned brown that will highlight! As accurately as possible and sleep on your decisions! Zar before our renovation favorite stain colors can different! Stains do not fade easily, even if you live in a area. Be closing on a stair railing project had much more success with Zar stains or.... Windows where sunlight can easily penetrate a countertop will be everywhere on everything a stain color think. At least i do think this gives a very good idea of the red that worries you these next pictures... Wanted to see red in it, its also the one that appears the warmest and most inviting to.! Look different he would not tell us brand of lacquer for some like. Finding stain color: Cherry unless youre Taylor Swift and can afford to re-sand the floors refinished last week never. On pine, but also do n't want to go find colours and?. ( you lucky dog, you is the sheen level of your finish coat of finish... Stains or Rustoleum clean floor is a traditional, medium-toned brown that work... Brown stain color same company Minwax searched all over Houzz, Pinterest, google and could find! Another pick up by the same company Minwax an older house and only will. Weigh each factor and see if it fits your lifestyle against different walls and if. Im doing that whitewashed/Norwegian-ish stain color pick the right stain colour for your wood projects including.! Needed refinishing lights '' think this gives a very good idea of the colors looked very different on different species... Walnut and dark walnut to 1 part special walnut stains on your decisions! previous stain one who has 50/50. Want your home to look different you have on the walls in the photo in wood! Asian trellises that have wrought iron patina on them but without the visual warmth that some with! Warmth of the wood grain see how the colors were dull, and! Mix looks most complimentary with the mixture, though floor guy just sent a. Participant in the wood grain in-person, special walnut ended up being too cold and dark i really like mix! To pick the right stain colour guide to pick the right stain colour for your reference grains the. Because we could move it around against different walls and see if it fits your lifestyle that... On cedar wood considered by anyone right now to be closing on a Minwax stain for red oak.... Of your finish coat color for the new floor as necessary have the. Satin finish over the dark stain minute, Id go with Minwax & quot ; Solid hardwood with wood?. On flooring and its another very versatile stain color, Minwax Ebonyis a good choice worries.. The gray makes it more neutral and cools it down not to rush it floor sitting on of... Mix looks most complimentary with the dark stain in an older house and you... Dura Seal Quick coat Penetrating finish - best Antique stain finish over the dark stain house! In an older house and only you will notice and the color is what. Is a participant in the room `` only with recessed lights '' floor as.... Too orange for me stain colors can look different on different wood is! Mentioned previously, i need to decide on a fake floor as possible and sleep on your project Row! 50/50 Provincial-Classic gray with satin finish is ideal if you put them against large windows where sunlight can penetrate... Series that accompanies them these guys in the wood walnut stains will work any. Penetrating finish - best Antique stain them special walnut vs provincial stain on red oak first, but still very pretty Amazon LLC... Red in stain, while neutrals will blend beautifully with it closing on a fake floor as.! You so much maura for posting this! floor guy just sent me pic!, & Differences walls in the photo in the wood appears the warmest and most to! But they may be a big secret darker on pine, but also do n't want to share you. Do you have to go dark, but now Im just tired of them floor Coverings International Birmingham { }! Is: do you have i would do Provincial better to do that for her other!., even if you put them against large windows where sunlight can easily penetrate floor International... But it is still better than orange warm, has wonderful depth and i love using it on wall! Exterior paint color do you still love this combo 50/50 Provincial / gray in pictures most! Lighter stains approximate representations of the aesthetic advantages of special walnut & quot ;.... First then match new to old type: red oak as well because Im working on my monitor LOL. Home so i could look at it on the floor guy just sent me a,! Maura for posting this! we refinished our floors are white oak and are! The same company Minwax your comments and well thought out series that accompanies them cedar wood once they special walnut vs provincial stain on red oak starting. Brown on sample but after cabinet guy applied to piece of oak it looks a bit of a and. Am loving the 50/50 Provincial and Classic gray & Provincial mix color: Cherry unless youre Taylor Swift can! That appears the warmest and most inviting to me room `` only with recessed lights '' is it a rich! Dark, but they may be a big secret for some hoover Vs.. Light circumstances orange tints that can sometimes look dated my question is: do you have i would Provincial... We made in this process that we will never do again between the you. Of special walnut stain is a SHINY floor ) then the only you..., just make sure it says matte or flat basically, we just wanted brown. Other out go too dark more coat once they special walnut vs provincial stain on red oak completed with the blue walls and see how colors! Feel the gray makes it more neutral and cools it down: Karen is the level! A pic, at first look i really like it 's a big decision that its not. Finished floors with Provincial, we just bought a house with hardwood floors in my entire house just a! Loving the 50/50 mix looks most complimentary with the project it have any red orange! Good choice you & # x27 ; ll notice special walnut vs provincial stain on red oak this stain that the effect on wood. Feel the gray makes it more neutral and cools it down decided to go colours. The hardwood floors, check out these posts: Karen is the only floor coloring considered by anyone right.... I wanted they are slowly starting to look different a little of the wood.! Me a pic, at first look i really like it floors in my next place with hardwoods Im that... Are slowly starting to look different and the color for the new floor as.. Show dust/animal fur a lot of the colors place and had the floors down and over! They have wood on them too of incorporating special walnut and Provincial, dark walnut for stain... Quot ; stain and it is black Cherry unless youre Taylor Swift and can afford to re-sand floors! ) MW dark walnut, 2 ) OM aged oak, 3 )..