CHICAGO’S NORTH SHORE · FAMILY OWNED SINCE 1996Toll-free 1-800-615-3211Call (847) 781-0100
Warm wood flooring in a traditional sitting room

ACCESS WOOD FLOORING

Our Projects and Gallery

See our recent floor projects first, then more photos of our hardwood flooring, refinishing and stairwork. Look at the wood grain, stain colors, sheen, and transitions between floors and stairs as you consider what would work in your home.

RECENT PROJECTS

RECENT PROJECT · CHICAGO, IL

Hardwood floor sanding in Chicago

Oak floors through the kitchen and living area of a Chicago home, photographed during and right after sanding, down to bare wood and before the finish. The sanding machine and its hose are still on site in two of the photos.

Sanded bare oak floor in a galley kitchen with a yellow hose of the sanding equipment in a Chicago, IL home
Kitchen Sanded oak along the galley kitchen
Freshly sanded bare oak floor in an open living area next to a kitchen island in a Chicago, IL home
Living area Bare oak right after sanding
Bona floor sanding machine with a yellow hose on a sanded oak floor in a Chicago, IL home
On site The sanding machine and its hose
Sanded bare oak floor through a kitchen and living area with the sanding machine in the corner in a Chicago, IL home
Open floor Oak sanded through kitchen and living area
About hardwood floor sanding

RECENT PROJECT · NAPERVILLE, IL

Dark stained oak floors and stairs in Naperville

Oak floors through the hallway and bedrooms of a Naperville home, finished in a deep reddish-brown stain. The stair treads carry the same dark color, set against white risers, a stained oak handrail and wrought-iron balusters, so the staircase and the floors around it read as one.

Dark reddish-brown stained oak hallway floor in a Naperville, IL home
Hallway Deep reddish-brown oak by the doors
Stained oak stair treads with white risers, wrought-iron balusters and an oak handrail in a Naperville, IL home
Staircase Stained treads, white risers
Wrought-iron balusters under a stained oak handrail above stained oak stair treads in a Naperville, IL home
Balusters Wrought iron under an oak handrail
Dark stained oak floor in a bedroom with a window in a Naperville, IL home
Bedroom Dark stain in window light
Dark stained oak floor in a bedroom with two windows in a Naperville, IL home
Second bedroom Dark oak under two windows
About hardwood floor staining

RECENT PROJECT · CARY, IL

New hardwood floor installation in Cary

Unfinished oak flooring laid through the rooms of a Cary home, photographed after installation and before the finish. We install most of our floors this way, as unfinished solid wood that is sanded and finished on site, so the color and sheen are chosen for your home. Even the floor vent was set flush into the boards.

Newly installed unfinished oak hardwood floor in a room in Cary, IL
New floor Unfinished oak laid wall to wall
Newly installed unfinished oak floor by a black-framed window in a Cary, IL home
Window room Oak by black window frames
Newly installed unfinished oak hardwood floor running through an open living space with a sliding door in Cary, IL
Open living space One continuous oak floor
Wood floor vent set flush into a newly installed unfinished oak floor in Cary, IL
Detail Wood vent set flush into the floor
About hardwood floor installation

RECENT PROJECT · GENEVA, IL

Hardwood floor refinishing in Geneva

Oak floors through the family room, kitchen, hallway and sunroom of a Geneva home, photographed right after refinishing in a light, natural look. The kitchen cabinets, the island, the built-ins and the TV above the fireplace stayed wrapped in plastic while we sanded and finished the floors.

Refinished oak floor in a family room with a stone fireplace in Geneva, IL
Family room Natural oak by the fireplace
Refinished oak kitchen floor in Geneva, IL, with the cabinets, island and range wrapped in plastic
Kitchen Cabinets wrapped in plastic
Refinished oak hallway floor in a Geneva, IL home, with built-in cabinets covered in plastic
Hallway Built-ins protected
Light refinished oak floor by the patio doors in a Geneva, IL home
Sunroom Light oak by the patio doors
About hardwood floor sanding

RECENT PROJECT · GLEN ELLYN, IL

Hardwood floor refinishing in Glen Ellyn

Oak floors through the entry, hallway and kitchen of a Glen Ellyn home, photographed right after the new finish went down. The kitchen cabinets, the carpeted stairs and the doorways stayed wrapped in plastic sheeting while we worked, to keep dust out of the rest of the house.

Refinished oak floor in a Glen Ellyn, IL home, with plastic dust containment still up along the wall
Entry Fresh finish on the oak floor
Refinished oak kitchen floor in Glen Ellyn, IL, with the cabinets and island wrapped in plastic sheeting
Kitchen Cabinets wrapped in plastic
Refinished oak hallway floor at the foot of the stairs in a Glen Ellyn, IL home
Hallway Floor meets the stairs
Newly refinished oak floor beside the oak stair railing in Glen Ellyn, IL
Stair landing Oak floor next to the railing
How we keep the dust contained

BEFORE & AFTER · ROUND LAKE, IL

Hardwood floor refinishing in Round Lake

An oak floor with an old, outdated finish was sanded down to bare wood and refinished in a custom blend of Classic Gray and Provincial stain, finishing with a fresh protective topcoat.

Before: worn, outdated finish on an oak floor in Round Lake, IL
Before Old, outdated finish
During sanding: the old finish removed down to bare oak
In progress Sanding to bare wood
After: oak floor refinished with a custom Classic Gray and Provincial stain blend
After Custom stain, new finish
Close-up of the new stain color on the refinished oak floor in Round Lake, IL
After Stain color close-up
About our floor refinishing
Oak hardwood floor in an open kitchen with a beamed ceilingView project photo 01 Custom wood inlay floor with a Greek key borderView project photo 02 Refinished oak parquet with a high-gloss finishView project photo 03 Refinished oak floor under a dining tableView project photo 04 Stained oak floor in an open living roomView project photo 05 Wide-plank oak flooring in a bedroomView project photo 06 Light oak flooring in an entry hallView project photo 07 Natural oak flooring installed during a renovationView project photo 08 Newly installed wide white oak planksView project photo 09 Light oak flooring in a bedroomView project photo 10 Light oak flooring in a bright roomView project photo 11 Rich reddish hardwood connecting a dining room and kitchenView project photo 12 Dark wood flooring beside white kitchen cabinetsView project photo 13 Light wood flooring in a bright room with garden doorsView project photo 14 Gray brown wood flooring in an empty roomView project photo 15 Wood flooring meeting a dark stone fireplace hearthView project photo 16 Warm hardwood beneath a living room coffee tableView project photo 17 Warm hardwood beneath a living room coffee tableView project photo 18 Hardwood flooring in a double height living roomView project photo 19 Glossy natural hardwood reflecting sunlightView project photo 20 Natural wood boards with varied grain and colorView project photo 21 Wood staircase with turned balusters and matching handrailView project photo 22 Dark hardwood across a living room with a fireplaceView project photo 23 Honey colored hardwood in an open living room and kitchenView project photo 24 Wood flooring along a narrow hallwayView project photo 25 Dark patterned wood floor in a furnished living roomView project photo 26 Wood stair treads viewed from the foot of a staircaseView project photo 27 Close up of gray brown wood grain and plank jointsView project photo 28 Dark wood floor beside large glass doorsView project photo 29 Light hardwood in a furnished living roomView project photo 30 Dark wood flooring in a sunlit roomView project photo 31 Wood floor connecting a hallway and kitchenView project photo 32 Warm wood flooring in a traditional sitting roomView project photo 33 Wood floor in a window alcove with two chairsView project photo 34 Wood stairs and upper landing with matching railingsView project photo 35 Brown wood floor connecting rooms through a wide doorwayView project photo 36
Call (847) 781-0100
Enlarged project photo

Find a Direction for Your Floors

A lighter finish can emphasize the natural variation in wood, while a deeper stain creates a different feel. Plank width, board layout, and the surrounding paint and trim all influence the result.

Save the examples that catch your eye and share them with us during your estimate. We can discuss the materials and finish options that suit your existing floors or new installation.

Think Beyond a Single Room

When planning a renovation, consider how flooring connects hallways, living spaces, and stairs. Viewing these details together can help you choose a consistent direction for the project.

Access Wood Flooring works with homeowners in Winnetka, Highland Park, and across the North Shore, with services ranging from floor recoating to installation and stairwork.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I request a look similar to an example in the gallery?

Yes. Show us the example you like, and we will discuss the wood, stain, and finish choices that could achieve a similar result in your space.

Will the same stain look identical in my home?

Not always. Wood species, age, previous treatment, and lighting affect the final appearance. We discuss those differences before you choose a finish.

Can you help coordinate flooring and stairs?

Yes. We can review both during the same estimate and help you choose complementary materials and finishes.

Start Planning Your Project

Tell us what you like and what you want to change. We will help turn those ideas into a flooring plan for your home.

Request a Free Estimate Call (847) 781-0100

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