Do transitions between hardwood and tile or carpet have to be made of the same type of wood as the hardwood? I've seen that there are standard transition peices (reducers, T moldings, etc) that the manufacturer will offer along with their hardwood but what about when you have to make a custom transition? Do you buy unfinished transitions and stain them the colour you need? These unfinished peices are usually oak. Is it a big no no to use, for example, oak transition on a maple or cherry floor? If you stain the transition the same colour will it look all right or stand out like a sore thumb?

I always use the same species of wood for the trims (transition pieces) If I need to, I'll fabricate them myself out of the flooring.

The only time I have done that, the client wanted contrasting stairnoses and transitions. Dark/light

It turned out better then I thought it would.