Here is a picture of natural #2 Common White Oak. Natural Oak will amber over time. If that is a big concern, going with a light to mid tone stain color (like special walnut) would probably be a good idea.

Do you know what kind of finish you're going to be using? Here's a great article that goes over the pros and cons of the most common types.

@Emerson Hardwood Floors, I don't know what finish we'll use. I was thinking a satin finish as I read that glossy shows scratches and matte can show footprints. But that's as far as I've gotten. Thank you for the article.

Satin is great for people looking for "low gloss" (it has a slight glow to it...but does not classify as shiny nor matte). And semi-gloss works well for people who want to see some shine (for those people who want to see a 'shiny clean' floor every time they clean it).

The extremes (matte or full gloss/glossy) are hard to live with. I like the middle of the road options. The difference comes down to personality. If you are someone who feels a sense of satisfaction when you clean...because you are left with a "clean shiny" floor, then the semi-gloss is your go-to finish. If you are someone who really doesn't care and has NO OPINION one way or the other, then satin will do just fine.

Again...think about how you FEEL after cleaning. Are you a "shiny clean" person or are you "who cares I know it's clean and that's good enough"? A "who cares" person can live with anything. The "shiny clean" person can be GREATLY upset by a satin. They will clean and polish and clean and clean...just to see the floor "shiny" (ahem shiny = WET with a satin finish). They are also the same people who complain that their floors look dull and lifeless and they need SOMETHING to get them to perk up. That's the definition of a "clean shiny" person. That's fine. Nothing wrong with it...but it means the RIGHT finish MUST be chosen to get a happy homeowner.

Personally I would say go with a very light stain (get some depth...that's what has drawn you to the #3) and then get 3 coats of a HIGH END clear coat (water based polyurethane) so that you have the tough finish you want...in the gloss level you crave.

A water based poly over white oak can pull tannins (tannin pull) and REQUIRES a sealant/primer. The person putting down the finish needs to know this. The sealant is still needed for a stain, but it isn't as critical when as stain is used.

@Cancork Floor Inc. Wow! Thank you so very much for your in depth response and the perspective. When I clean, I am a "shiny clean" person and I want our floors to make a statement, through both their rustic charm and their beauty. I had thought satin finish was the 'go to finish' for hectic households like ours, but semi gloss sounds like it will give me the sense of pride in our floors that I may miss with the the dull look of satin. This is a huge decision for our family ... a dream that has been years in the making is about to come true. I'm afraid of messing it up and am so very grateful for all of your help.

A couple more quick questions, if you don't mind. We are installing this ourselves and have seen videos of installers buttering the whole floor with a wood filler and then sanding it off.

Can you tell me what type of wood filler product that is?

And is the sealer beneficial with a water based polyurethane with a light stain as well?

JC--how did the finish look on your white oak floors? I just put down #2 white oak and too am afraid of the "orange" look. Unfortunately I should have been concerned about the "yellow" look. After one coat of Bona Mega poly (no stain) my floors have a yellow tint that I fear we cannot remove without re-sanding the floors. Were you able to maintain the natural color of the wood?