Different looks
How do you choose your new wide plank flooring?
First, there are no set rules. It’s going to be your hardwood floor, in your house, and the most important thing is that you should be happy with your choice.
Over time, it has become traditional to use certain types of wood flooring in certain architectural styles. For example, wide plank white pine is very closely associated with a “country” look. It was the wood most widely available to our ancestors. Most of the homes of that era, by necessity, were rustic, and the style has remained. In contrast, classic white oak, another perfect choice for wide plank flooring, is often associated with elegant, or more formal wood floors.
But the guidelines we give here are just that – guidelines. It’s going to be your floor. The most important part of purchasing wide plank flooring from Kellogg Hardwoods is that you love the look, you love the wood, and that you’ll enjoy your wide plank floor for many years to come. Keep those thoughts uppermost in your mind as you read the guidelines below, and as you browse through the many examples of wood flooring on our site.
Over time, it has become traditional to use certain types of wood flooring in certain architectural styles. For example, wide plank white pine is very closely associated with a “country” look. It was the wood most widely available to our ancestors. Most of the homes of that era, by necessity, were rustic, and the style has remained. In contrast, classic white oak, another perfect choice for wide plank flooring, is often associated with elegant, or more formal wood floors.
But the guidelines we give here are just that – guidelines. It’s going to be your floor. The most important part of purchasing wide plank flooring from Kellogg Hardwoods is that you love the look, you love the wood, and that you’ll enjoy your wide plank floor for many years to come. Keep those thoughts uppermost in your mind as you read the guidelines below, and as you browse through the many examples of wood flooring on our site.
Wood Floors for Traditional Style Homes
- Eastern White Pine - A fine, smooth-grained, knotty wood, with a very soft texture. Very authentic for older homes, creating a warm, classic tone. Available in country and select grades.
- Cherry - A subtle, tight grain, medium hardness, and a deep red color are the hallmarks of cherry flooring. The red color of cherry continues to deepen over the years, resulting in a warmth of tone that is almost unmatched. A cherry wood floor works well in formal or country settings. Country, select, and rustic grades are available.
- White Oak - A tight-grained, dense, hard wood. A white oak wood floor is seen in many classic American homes. The select grade gives a more traditional look, while country grade white oak, more knotty in appearance, can be used to create a more rustic looking wood floor. Country, select and character grades are available.
- Heart Pine - One of the best-loved of all American woods. A heart pine wood floor is another time-tested American look. It is a very hard wood, with a dramatic, flame-like grain, and an orange pumpkin color. It works beautifully in a country or a traditional setting.
Wood Floors for Modern or Contemporary Homes
- Hard Maple - This durable wood has a tight, close grain, and is one of the hardest woods available. Hard maple flooring has a clear, light look, and is perfect for light, contemporary rooms with plenty of windows. Country and select grade hard maple is available.
- Birch - Another hard-wearing, dense wood, birch has a tight grain, and a subtle, sometimes swirling pattern. Birch is the perfect wood for a modern, light floor.
- Hickory - A very hard, tight grain, usually with some knots, and sometimes the grain can be dramatic. A hickory floor can work just as well in a country setting as in a modern one. Available in select or country grades.
- Walnut - A popular choice, walnut is medium-hard, with marbleized coloring, and well-suited to natural finishes. Walnut flooring is a very versatile wood, suitable for many architectural styles.
Wood Floors for Country Style Homes
- Heart Pine - The classic heart pine wood floor looks as good in a country setting as it does in a traditional one. For a country, or rustic wood floor, wide plank heart pine is a perfect choice, with its flame-like grain and color like a pumpkin.
- Eastern White Pine - The smooth-grained, knotty, eastern white pine creates a wood floor that will look right at home in a country style house. It has been the wood of choice in American country homes for generations.
- Character Grade White Oak - For a more rustic looking wood floor, the flecked pattern of character grade white oak, very suitable for quarter-sawn flooring, is an excellent choice.
- Red Oak - Coarse-grained, quarter-sawn, wide plank red oak flooring creates a timeless country look that will enhance any country style home.
Wood Floors for Every Style of Home
Home styles and architecture are not limited to a few classic looks. There is an infinite variety of decors, and wood floors complement them all. From a heart pine wood floor in a French country farmhouse, to eastern white pine flooring in a log home, to a rich, red, santos mahogany floor in a classic, 19th century style library, the choices are almost limitless. Let your imagination loose. Browse the variety of wood floors on our website, and then give us a call. At Kellogg Hardwood, we have many years of experience helping homeowners choose the perfect wood, and the best grade and cut, to make their custom wide plank flooring the floor of their dreams.
