It's been several years since European oak took over as the hot wood flooring trend in Queensland, Australia, says Josh Marques of Nerang, Queensland-based Marques Flooring. The popular flooring is predominantly engineered, and lately there's been a shift from gray stains to lighter or natural colors, along with a preference for herringbone installations. Marques notes that it took a little time for Aussies to embrace the oak trend, as clients preferred native Australian species such as blackbutt and spotted gum. "Oaks in general were a mystery in the beginning," Marques says. "Customers were concerned how soft it might be … but with a bit of a textured finish and an 'on trend' stain, people all of the sudden started to love it."