Aloha Jeremiah,

By whitewashed I'm assuming you can see the color and wood grain peeking through the paint? If that is the case you want to keep the floor color as close to the maple color as possible. If you can't see the wood tone in the cabinet, it's a matter of taste. However, if there are hardwood floors stained trim or molding in other parts of the house you should try to match all the wood tones.

If you can send a photo of the cabinets via internet to the web address below we will give you a FREE professional opinion. Best of luck!

Hi I will just give you my personal opinion based of course on what I have seen in new constructions and with my expertise as I also help sellers stage their homes for sale!

When selecting a color it is important that the tone of flooring will enhance the cabinets in the kitchen, in other words, one should not outdo the other and the tones / shades should compliment each other.

So Hoping to imagine the right white washed mable cabinets, in my personal view you have two choices
a) pick up the left over maple color on the white washed cabinets and put that one on the floor! Otherwise if you cannot match that shade of brown or light brown as maple comes in various shades and I am not sure whether you had darker wood whitewashed....

Otherwise if nothing in the shading of the cabinets allows you to color coordinate, then
look at the counters, as the floor the counters and the cabinets should create a pleasant color pallette!

You may be able to pick up a brown wood color from the coloration of the counter tops

Otherwise if matching is impossible you may then want to offset the light cabinets with a darker floor color!

And as you make your decision, you may want to consider BAMBOO as the wood choice (its g r e e n which means renewable source of wood, it can be harvested again and again every 4 years or so!!! instead of cutting down a tree that takes 30 years to grow!)
Hope this all helps....
Edith YourRealtor4Life!
Anyone moving to the Chicago or Northern Illinois area you know, send them my way.
Great service awaits them
edithdoesitright@yahoo.com

J,

Have you gone the sample route?

Many flooring stores will allow you to take samples to try with your decour to get a feel for their effect. This is advisable.

There are many shades and tones for wood flooring. You specifically mention light and dark but overlook the medium range colors.....this may be where you need to be.

Bottom line....the choice is up to you and what you prefer.

Good luck

J
My post has a couple of different points
First, I would ask an interior designer for an opinion. Not all Realtors have the taste the corresponds to yours.
Second, If you are thinking of selling at some point in the future, I would suggest asking a Realtor or two for opinions.
Third, if you were thinking of selling at some point I would look at new construction homes in your area to see that they are doing.

K.

what kind of lighting do you have in the room? I would get samples and lay them out and see what they look like in the natural light of the room. The room needs to be full of light and if it comes across as being dark and dreary you won't like it. also which will show dirt more? sometimes a dark floor will show more than a light floor, so check that out as well

I suggest the dark because your floor needs to anchor the room & a dark color willdefinitely do this.I wouldn't go too dark though,maybe something a few tones darker than the cabinets(I have the same on my cabinets and love them)