Queen Anne house with planked area (Where rug used to be), how do I finish this area?

what you could use is some wood puddy that is a simular color to the wood floor to fill all the cracks and gaps. then to make it look better you could sand it then stain it to a cherry wood, golden oak, light or dark oak then once it is stained you could brush on a clear protective coat that adds a shine and gloss to the wood. or go over the wood with all new wood or take out the wood and redo it to look like it was or go with something new like a floating wood floor.

It it best to hire a person to restore this area? I am a do it your self person, I would fill the crack with wood filler, if the cracks are big ones do not attempt ,to fill them all at one time, put some in let it dry than give another coat .After it is dried, Sand it with a belt sander, make sure you sand with the wood grain. Change sanding belts until you are down to at least a fine 280 grit. i rub on linseed oil to bring out the beauty of the wood grain, and than a clear shellac coat, you may have to go to your local paint store so they can match the existing floor color,

Good Luck!

I think you should go to a Lowes or some place like that and price new wood flooring just for that room. then also go to a store at does nothing except flooring!! but before you do replace all new floors try to match the old wood to new wood and make it aged looking like the rest. in our area we have amish guys that do a wornderful job at replacing hard floors. Also check and see the historical society in your area before you do any thing major it might deminish the value of your home.

due to the age of your home and the enormity of the job to be done i would enlist the help of a restorer and not attempt this as a diy.....ask around with your neighbors and see who did work on their hardwoods....