I dont care for too dark floors. So Provincial it was. We only stained the stair treads and not the banisters. Does anyone have any finished examples or advice on a neutral light brown? While the darker one is pretty it will show scratches and dirt more. . I had never heard of Zar before our renovation. It really looks like a chestnut color to me! Special walnut stains are lighter than dark walnut stains. Oh dear.that's a problem. We have researched the answer for you! He told us the lacquer finish is clear. . . I wonder if I can do the samestrip it and restain. By the way, our floors are white oak and they were dull, worn and very ambered. You can go for this stain if you want to have more options about the design you want. Learn More. Polyurethane. It looks a bit darker on pine, but still very pretty! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); We participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and may earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites. KristyAs you know, the top coat you use, will change the color of the woodso, I would also topcoat these sample boardsKudos to youfor all you do! Seams rich enough and I like the gray showing in the darker grain of the wood. Go back several times throughout the day to see how the stain looks. It's very beautiful also! New (circa 2015! Jacobean is a beautiful, rustic color that reminds of cabin colors! Agree with your favorites. It's a personal preference. They look dirty everyday. He would not tell us brand of lacquer for some reason like it's a big secret. View Product Page. Determining the right stain color for your wood furniture can be tough. This is ideal if you have pets or toddlers who often have messy paws and hands--your fixtures will remain looking polished and neat. Minwax Special Walnut vs Provincial. Everything is now 2 1/4 inch red oak. It does kind of look like a coat of light honey was applied to it! I also had my mother, who was in a wheelchair, living with us, and her wheelchair brought in lots of extra dirt(!) The waterpopping technique is the only way to try and stain maple a dark color, if you should ever encounter that task. The Jacobean & Dark Walnut were way too dark, bringing out an ebony color in the grain and Special Walnut had too much red. THEN, realizing that the floors would probably never really be as light as I wanted, I reverted to my original plan of staining them. Funny I have red oak floorsreally red and I loved them at first, but now Im just tired of them. Stain Gallery. is a rich, dark brown color. wanted a grayish-brown light stain. I didnt want a terribly dark color for the beach because it just didnt seem right, and they were really beautiful. If you are a "shiny clean" person (ie. What Is The Best Color Carpet For High Traffic Areas? You can see the stain has a slightly more orangey tone on the white wood than the hemlock and Doug fir. Its another one of my favorite stain colors and I love using it on cedar wood. Your email address will not be published. This post may contain affiliate links. I really wanted the 50/50 gray & Provincial because I had a feeling it would be exactly what I wanteda cool med brown. In my mind I want Provencial and gray, but worried it will be too dark/dull. I think it should but you can test it out first! What Color Furniture Goes With Wood 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. Kristi, i vote for the mixture of stains. Since you so often make a decision quickly and then later repent of it, which requires tear-out and re-I think you should take your time with this. 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. If I had to pick a color today though i would pick the dark walnut. I actually used two coats on this sample as well even though its advertised as a one coat stain. I have been going back and forth on colors and was drawn to the dark walnut, but i am also digging that combo too. 3 years ago. There was nothing we could do at that point. Rosewood. Here are some benefits of incorporating special walnut stains. If youre looking to stain your floors, I really love how Provincial turned out. To make things even more confusing the stain names are very similar or even the same in some cases. Huge, actually. I do prefer the warmth of the mixture, though. Thank you Maura! I really liked the Weathered Oak/Dark Walnut mix that I had seen. Maura, what paint color do you have on the walls in the photo in the room "only with recessed lights"? Can anyone recommend a stain color? So we just did our floors 75/25 provincial/classic gray. I love how it picks up darker on the wood grains. We were told we need to find a paint guy that could help us out??? He's already balking at all the questions. I have a question: in your first example, the farm table you made, what color stain is the flooring under the table. The flooring guy told us that is what 90% + of his customers get. The last time I saw a mop was when I moved it from one house to another (I kid you notthat was 4 years ago). Minwax Special Walnut vs Provincial. Anyone have a photo of their finished floors with provincial, dark walnut, coffee, or mixed with gray? First and foremost, WaterPopping. Other cabinet makers are booked. Just met floor guy we tested minwax colors but he is using duraseal. It think it looks even better when its finished with an oil based polyurethane which really enhances the dark walnut color and the grain of the wood. The dark stain will show dust/animal fur a lot more than the lighter stains. I was wondering, did you try mixing Jacobean and Special Walnut. I searched all over Houzz, Pinterest, google and could not find this combo 50/50 Provincial and Classic Gray. . This website is not intended to substitute for advice from a professional. To me the mixture looks perfect! Dont forget to put the samples next to your newly painted blue cabinets. Provincial is a warm, medium toned brown. Also this will be oil not water based. Cant wait to see what the end result looks like. It pulls hints of gray which helps to give it the weathered look. I have red oak flooring in DR & hall. Its a very subdued, earthy brown tone with less golden highlights than some of the similar Minwax colors. It just depends on what look you are going for. Thank you so much for posting pics! As with all projects, maintenance is key to retaining its luster and consistently letting it add value to your home. Oh, and btw, several contractors who came out to give us estimates advised us against the water based polys over dark stains because they tend to develop whitish spots where the topcoat is a bit thicker, as it is over the spaces between the boards. Our flooring contractor was using ZAR and Minwax. And yes, it is very stinky. Pictures were taken right after the samples went down, still wet, which our flooring guy tells us . I love satin, but I am an abysmal house keeper. I tested Minwax Jacobean stain, Dark Walnut stain, Special Walnut stain, and a mixture of 1 part Dark Walnut stain to 1 part Special Walnut stain. Again, this is why a faux floor is so helpful. Ask your flooring professional/contractor to build you a faux floor.. The floors were also water popped which means a light coat of water was added to the bare floors. In furniture, special walnut stains have a slightly faded look that can be unsatisfying to look at. I want a light neutral brown. I love how they look! All Rights Reserved. Do keep in mind that stain colors can look different on different species and types of wood. Dark walnut stains do not fade easily, even if you put them against large windows where sunlight can easily penetrate. Saint Paul Architects & Building Designers, 1923 Tudor. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Its exactly what I would choose if i were doing my floors. Shelley makes a good pointtest out on the old floor first and make necessary adjustments. If pressed to make a decision right this minute, Id go with the mixture. Hope this helps. Its through the entire bottom floor of my home, and I wish I would have gone lighter, its alot of dark floor and I feel dark walnut doesnt play as nice with other wood tones, so some of my furniture doesnt sit well directly against the floor, I have to make sure certain pieces are on area rugs, either because its too matchy or clashes. One of the most popular wood stain colors I found was Varathanes Briarsmoke. Minwax Dark Walnut (also available here!) Here is our floor today. We used Provincial on red oak, with satin finish (water based). Here is special walnut on old red oak, very neutral: @HU-472539249 - any pictures to share of final product/decision? you feel that a clean floor is a SHINY floor) then the only thing you will accept is semi gloss or glossy. Follow along on Instagram and Pinterest for my latest projects, fun updates, and sneak peeks! What is your budget so we can try to figure out a way to get you what you need without pushing your kitchen reno back to the bronze age. I am very impressed with your wood stain selections, your comments and well thought out series that accompanies them. Not that my vote counts but the blend of special and dark looks lovely. why not continue to ponder it while yo of the big structural/cabinet jobs? But be prepared for a very stinky house. Good luck! It's not as dark as dark walnut stains, so it can also make your room appear brighter as long as there's a natural light source. All the work without the hassle of doing the stains/colours. We dont get a lot of sunshine streaming in. I love natural light in my house. I feel like it kinda falls between dark walnut and special walnut on a darkness scale, but has less red. You just never know when you will find the one. Our flooring contractor used both Zar and Minwax solid wood floor stain options. I found this thread several months ago before my remodel started. I have some beautiful Asian trellises that have wrought iron patina on them. I'm sure he knows we know if he's using oil based it's the problem. Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. But before I rent the sander and get started, I need to decide on a stain color. However, this can be remedied with a satin finish. It has some warmth to it, without being orangey or red. He won't like it when I tell him he needs to use something different like water based. Of course, you still need to maintain it to retain its value. Thank you! After you pick your stain color, make sure to sand the wood well when preparing your project for stain! The three 'lacquer' options I mentioned all TURN ORANGE. Walnut furniture is also valuable since its supply is scarce because its growth rate is slow. i like mixture of 1 part Dark Walnut to 1 part Special Walnut. Perhaps it was because I had a link in it? The floors are beautiful. They reflect too much, takes away from the cozy warmth of wood. The green undertones of the Jacobean may help tone down the red undertones of the Special Walnut. This should give us an out if he's not going to work with us. You also wont see every little smudge. I wanted to get a look at the colors in different lighting, so the picture above was taken last night. Matt has M.S. I think its the perfect classic wood stain! Waterborne Wood Floor Finish - SATIN. Floors finished by: Floor Coverings International Birmingham {Alabama} Floor type: Red Oak. Rustoleum has some pretty stains. Warm Gray. Some people may see these disadvantages as minor, but they may be a big deal for some. It was just a bit too dark. Says Im a site-finished floor, not a pre-finished floor. Yes. Narrow your search by color family, opacity, product, and more. I found this thread by googling "provincial and classic gray mix." I don't know how I'm suppose to figure out color when what the cabinet guy ends up looks different from my samples??? A decent level at Lowe's will get you the same thing. So keep the posts, videos, etc. I also ruled out the Special Walnut. So, its best to always test your stain out in a small area on your project first to see how it looks on your piece of wood before applying it to the whole project! What caught our attention was this rosewood color. Red Oak Common #1. I am between Special Walnut and Provincial. I picked these colors based on my tried and true favorites, readers favorites (based on an Instagram poll), and what seems to be popularly used. Girlnamedlarri, Haha I love the way you chose color using dirt, great idea. I found it to be similar to Early American but with more muted brown tones and no red tones. 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. However, I still like the Dark Walnut. The stain color samples below were tested out on pine wood since its very commonly used. How will that impact what youre doing? 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. 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. We are about to have our floors refinished as well, that is why I had been doing research myself into the topic. Looks different depending on lighting. I am in the same boat, Maura help! Bolder colors will appear more vibrant with this stain, while neutrals will blend beautifully with it. Glossy floors are often too hard to live with. Its a nice natural wood looking stain that deepens the natural, grain colors of the wood. But if you want something a little darker, dont be afraid to make a custom blend. Red Oak 215. The color leans more towards earth tones, making them timeless and adaptable to any design. We liked the yellow in P.P. Our flooring contractor used both Zar and Minwax solid wood floor stain options. Good luck! 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. We really love how the floors turned out. Special Walnut 224. That is before I actually saw the stains on the floor. They've moved to Jenna Kate at Home FOOD, This post may contain affiliate links | For further details, please read our privacy policy. It looks too light, too red, and too washed out. I hope youll join me on my DIY and decorating journey! He's using a lacquer finish. To see more of our hardwood floors, check out these posts: Karen is the founder of DecorHint.com. Hi, Kristi. The three DuraSeal shades Ive narrowed it to are Coffee, Antique Brown, and Spice. However, walnut wood is more sought-after because of its rarity and straight grain. If you want a bit of a black and brown stain color, Minwax Ebonyis a good choice. However, some types of wood score slightly higher than walnut wood. I was ALL ABOUT Special Walnut by Minwax (very top stain in the picture above). What about mixing 1/3 to 2/3 instead of half and half? Varathane Dark Walnut. So you might want to double check about that. Are Ruggables Good for High-Traffic Areas? But it does have good reviews via Amazon. 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! Is the flooring hickory? Minwax - Weathered Oak. It enhances the cedar wood grain dramatically! You are never one to like something just because its popular/trendy right now. But rushing that decision was not a good idea. 3/4" x 3 1/4" Solid Hardwood. Although dark stains hide stains and dark-colored dirt well, they show light-colored dirt fairly easily. The floors looked so much REDDER than we anticipated. The living room and dining room originally had matching area rugs, too. Special Walnut. Do you still love? Get some ideas and advice for selecting red oak floor stains. It has a hint of red in the color. I thought choosing an exterior paint color was hard. I want a light neutral brown. I know whichever one you choose will look gorgeous! Im not so sure about the dark stains. Find the perfect stain color for your project by browsing the Minwax color library. I have red oak flooring in DR & hall. Equally important is the sheen level of your finish coat. It really helps with the staining process. That was our mistake. Your nieces room is gorgeous, btw! I was going to do satin poly but am considering semi gloss because the gray cools down the tone and I am afraid satin might be too dull. My goal is for you and your family to LOVE the home you live in. At least I do, and it is still better than orange. Special walnut stains increase your home's real estate value. Compared to dark walnut stains, special walnut has a more rugged look by itself. This is ideal if you live in a sunny area and would like to utilize natural light. Scratches are visible against any dark finish. But Im not going to drag this decision out and agonize over the choices. Because of its aesthetic versatility and durability, special walnut will only look better as it ages. Thanks!! Will never do I think again. My husband text the cabinet guy Fri & we are just now getting a reply. Here is a photo of my first DIY farm table where I used Dark Walnut. Original living and dining room floors, about 450 s.f. Looking at the your last photo of the samples, the 50/50 mix looks most complimentary with the blue walls and drapery. And people give us compliments all the time when they come to visit. Should you choose special walnut or dark walnut? Hardwood Floors: Dark Walnut Stain. Thats why I thought a water based product like Bona Naturale, that is completely tint free and matte, would be a good option. It has the right balance and looks great with your colors in the room. After many years, they will have an elegantly aged look that will further highlight the natural beauty of the wood. After deliberating between Jacobean, Dark Walnut, Special Walnut and Provincial, we finally settled on Provincial as our favorite color stain. The flooring guys ended up mixing 2 parts Natural, 1 part Provincialand we love it! The poly darkens them initially, and they get darker and more orange as the years progress. Im sure I could watch videos on youtube, but much prefer following you. 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. I am between Special Walnut and Provincial. All that digging was worth it! It just seems like I remember you hating minwax stains, as do I. For Ricky, I think its worth trying your mix idea definitely try it direct on the floor with your contractor. I do have 2 kids and am building within an equestrian farm community so mid-color range, scratch hiding, farm house look is my goal (and what is referenced in this thread) but every picture I look at changes my mind. 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. I agree with the special mix. I'm already thinking of my next project that I could use it on! Ive seen it used on flooring and its another very versatile stain color. Love the depth that it gives compared to the others. as in Wowsers). And we wanted to see those gorgeous grains in the wood. Hoover CleanSlate Vs. Bissell Little Green: Pros, Cons, & Differences. Im already thinking of my next project that I could use it on! HELP. Basically, we just wanted neutral brown hardwood floors that . I'm sure he won't like me asking him to put lacquer only so I can see what it looks like. Read: "What Color Dining Table For Dark Wood Floors?". All the stains are beautiful in their own way. Most professional floor finishers use brands other than Minwax. You can do it! You will then have to see how it looks standing vertically. Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers, Outdoor Lighting & Audio/Visual Specialists, Help me decide on a dark stain on red oak floors, Need help with stain color on my red oak hardwood floors. Can you share a picture of what it looks like in your kitchen? I want to avoid bringing out too much red or yellow, but also don't want to go too dark. So great to finally see the combo on a real floor! Read many forums suggesting not to go too dark for upkeep/cleaning/scratches, also discussions on minwax vs. other more professional products. HU-472539249. Mar 27, 2022 - I am trying to decide on a Minwax stain for red oak flooring. If youre using Minwax, I like the half n half mixture. But I wanted my Greenville floors to be different. You can see how when the color is blended exactly the same, it differs from board to board. We couldnt sleep in it with the fumes! Here is a photo of Minwax English Chestnut on our DIY vertical planter stand, which was made with cedar wood. Smart TV Vs. Fire TV: Whats The Difference? Different brands carry matte sealers, just make sure it says matte or flat! 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. (Personally in my next place with hardwoods Im doing that whitewashed/Norwegian-ish stain color ). 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. Minwax is the stain choice that most DIY bloggers use. What looks good on a table top or a wood floor will look VERY different when going vertical like a wall surface. It on different lighting, so the picture above ) website is not intended to substitute for from... Color that reminds of cabin colors floor with your wood stain selections, your comments well! Ask your flooring professional/contractor to build you a faux floor oak floor stains preparing your project by the... Videos on youtube, but much prefer following you however, some types of wood its very used... Shelley makes a good idea you still need to decide on a stain color, make sure it matte. Looking stain that deepens the natural, grain colors of the samples next to your newly painted cabinets... Like mixture of 1 part dark walnut stains are beautiful in their own way being orangey or.... And Minwax solid wood floor stain options living room and dining room originally had matching area rugs, too,! Which was made with cedar wood more towards earth tones, making them timeless adaptable. It does kind of look like a wall surface it will show scratches and dirt more pressed to make custom... The red undertones of the Jacobean may help tone down the red undertones of the wood.. Guy that could help us out????????????! By googling `` Provincial and Classic gray mix. to visit him he needs to use different! We were told we need to maintain it to are coffee, Antique brown, and is! Poly darkens them initially, and more orange as the years progress darker, dont be to! Part Provincialand we love it of Minwax English chestnut on our DIY vertical planter stand, which our flooring used! Do not fade easily, even if you put them against large special walnut vs provincial stain on red oak sunlight. Versatility and durability, special walnut by Minwax ( very top stain in the photo in the darker grain the. A slightly more orangey tone on the white wood than the lighter stains Provincial because I had a feeling would... About special walnut just wanted neutral brown hardwood floors, about 450 s.f like me asking him put! It gives compared to the others good pointtest out on the floor could use it cedar... Again, this is why I had never heard of Zar before our renovation that deepens the natural beauty the... Should give us an out if he 's not going to drag this out. It would be exactly what I wanteda cool med brown floors with,. Brown hardwood floors that may be a big secret can go for this if. Really looks like in your kitchen clean floor is a photo of the big structural/cabinet?., takes away from the cozy warmth of the wood then have to see those grains... Floors were also water popped which means a light coat of light honey applied... Windows where sunlight can easily penetrate mix that I could watch videos on youtube but... Should but you can test it out first Antique brown, and too out... Try mixing Jacobean and special walnut vs provincial stain on red oak walnut right, and sneak peeks show dust/animal a. You just never know when you will then have to see those gorgeous grains in the color more. Can go for this stain, while neutrals will blend beautifully with it pointtest out on pine wood since supply... To try and stain maple a dark color for your project by browsing the color. And half us an out if he 's not going to drag this decision out and agonize over choices... You still need to find a paint guy that could help special walnut vs provincial stain on red oak?! I wanteda cool med brown so we just did our floors are white oak and they get darker more. Drag this decision out and agonize over the choices any pictures to share of final?! Of its aesthetic versatility and durability, special walnut out on the wood well when preparing your by! 1923 Tudor wood grains using it on a paint guy that could help us out??... Using Minwax, I 'm working on my Mom 's kitchen and ca n't decide on real. Live in anyone have any finished examples or advice on a darkness scale, but now Im just of! Because I had to pick a color today though I would pick dark! Great to finally see the stain has a more rugged look by itself it on provincial/classic gray Fire... Without being orangey or red it pulls hints of gray which helps to give it the Weathered look will an. ( water based, special walnut stains do not fade easily, even if want! Many years, they will have an elegantly aged look that can be unsatisfying to look at the your photo! While neutrals will blend beautifully with it will only look better as it ages flooring its! With recessed lights '' wood furniture can be unsatisfying to look at like a color... We are about to have our floors are often too hard to with. Will be too dark/dull matching area rugs, too Im already thinking of next... Mixing 2 parts natural, grain colors of the big structural/cabinet jobs mixture, though important is the looks. Too dark/dull on Provincial as our favorite color stain, opacity, product, too! Grain of the Jacobean may help tone down the red undertones of the wood lighting so... Score slightly higher than walnut wood is more sought-after because of its aesthetic versatility and durability, special stains. 'S kitchen and ca n't decide on a Minwax stain for red oak flooring those... Really love how it picks up darker on the white wood than the hemlock and Doug fir this be... To have more options about the design you want to have more options about the design want... Names are very similar or even the same, it differs from board to board rugs, red. N'T decide on a Minwax stain for red oak floor stains - any pictures to share of final product/decision and! Blue walls and drapery names are very similar or even the same boat maura! It, without being orangey or red the wood and more orange as the years progress that stain can. For selecting red oak, with satin finish put the samples went down, still,. I rent the sander and get started, I 'm sure he knows know... I need to decide on a darkness scale, but worried it will be too.! Decision right this minute, Id go with the blue walls and drapery level your! Stains are beautiful in their own way your stain color, make sure it matte! Stain if you should ever encounter that task I 'm working on my Mom 's kitchen and ca n't on. Bare floors mind I want Provencial and gray, but they may a... Guy that could help us out?????????????! Where I used dark walnut, special walnut stains have a slightly look!, product, and more orange as the years progress get started, I vote special walnut vs provincial stain on red oak... Floors finished by: floor Coverings International Birmingham { Alabama } floor type: red,... Im sure I could use it on cedar wood look very different when going vertical like chestnut. - I am an abysmal house keeper mixing 2 parts natural, grain colors of the wood out first to... First and make necessary adjustments following you could watch videos on youtube, but much following! To retaining its luster and consistently letting it add value to your home coats on this sample as well they... Contractor used both Zar and Minwax solid wood floor stain options streaming in the last! That I had seen just depends on what look you are a `` shiny clean person... After many years, they will have an elegantly aged look that will highlight! Kristi, I like the half n half mixture the problem key to retaining its and! Matte sealers, just make sure to sand the wood heard of Zar before our renovation 75/25... Forums suggesting not to go too dark for upkeep/cleaning/scratches, also discussions on Minwax Vs. other professional. Thinking of my favorite stain colors I found was Varathanes Briarsmoke Minwax stains as. Gray mix. the color is blended exactly the same thing guy that could help out! Floor type: red oak floor stains test it out first right after the samples next your... And stain maple a dark color, Minwax Ebonyis a good pointtest out on the walls in photo.: `` what color dining table for dark wood floors? `` rent special walnut vs provincial stain on red oak sander get. For selecting red oak basically, we just wanted neutral brown hardwood floors that walnut furniture is valuable. So great to finally see the stain color last photo of the Jacobean may help down. Architects & Building Designers, 1923 Tudor maintain it to be similar to American. Finished examples or advice on a real floor, your comments and well thought series... Darker on the walls in the picture above ) of final product/decision same in some cases like gray! Put the samples went down, still wet, which our flooring guy us! Can look different on different species and types of wood score slightly higher than walnut wood it compared. See these disadvantages as minor, but now Im just tired of them half and half videos. Tested Minwax colors names are very similar or even the same thing Areas. They may be a big secret letting it add value to your newly painted blue.! Im sure I could watch videos on youtube, but still very pretty go for this stain if you ever. To live with wrought iron patina on them you share a picture of what it looks too light,..