Hardwood floor color

[Tim G.]

I just finished up sanding the floors today in the living room, hallway and bedrooms. I'm trying to decide if I just want to poly them or stain and then poly. If i do stain them, any recommendations on color. Seems like the HGTV buyers of the world are liking the darker colors.

Here are a few pictures. The last picture of the single plank is with 3 coats of poly.

[Karin Crompton]

@Tim G. I vote for poly only also. I'm seeing more and more dark floors as well - and really like them - but I'm not sure it suits this house and those rooms (seems like it would darken the overall rooms *too* much; I think it would work better in bigger rooms with more windows and light). But I'm no designer, so take my comment fwiw! :)

And I was taken aback by the $600 figure as well. Here in CT, the price is about $2/sf. Then again, it's CT. I tend to take the figures I see on BP and double them (or more).