We are installing new floors to be finished on sight. We were really leaning towards maple as I wanted something light and not overly grainy. I have now also been looking into white quarter sawn oak on a recommendation from our flooring guy. This is going in a 1920's colonial/victorian house. We do have lots of furniture in darker tones and some rustic looking, but we are modernizing a lot of finishes and floor plan (completely open) and I like the look of old with new.

Our kitchen will have white painted inset cabinets so the oak would look beautiful, but I really wanted to lighten brighten up the space with a light floor, plus the fact that lots of our furniture is heavy (leather couch, dark dining table, rustic pine desk etc)

Can any of you floor experts weigh in on the pros and cons of these two floors. The price is very similar.