Playing with Finishing

Since before this project ever officially moved inside our house, we have been trying to decide how we wanted the finished product to look.  Zach made a little sample board, so that we could play with finishes and stains.

After looking at TONS of photos online and in books and magazines, we decided we wanted to leave the floor its original color, and not add stain.  Although we both LOVE the idea of dark floors, we have a lot of dark furniture, so we want to make sure we have a nice contrast. 

When we decided not to stain, we only had to decide on a finish.  The options basically come down to oil based vs. water based. 

Below is our sample...
Top Layer - Water Based Sealer, Water Based Finish - Blah, it does NOTHING for the wood
2nd Layer from Top - Unfinished Wood - As you can see, the top two layers look VERY similar
2nd Layer from Bottom - Oil Based Finish
Bottom Layer - Wax Free Shellac Sealer, Water Based Finish - THE WINNER!!!

We really liked both the oil-based finish and the shellac sealer plus water based finish.  They have a VERY similar look, and, after researching we found that both provide excellent durability and protection for the wood.  We decided to go with water-based finish because of its ease of application and quick drying time.  It will be completely cured in 48 hours, where as oil-based finish can take up to two weeks.  Also, water-based finish doesn't yellow or "amber" over time, which can happen with oil-based finish.