About this project.

This modern kitchen and living room project brings together deep black cabinetry, natural walnut, light quartz surfaces, and clean slab doors for a warm contemporary design.

Merit cabinetry carries the same materials and detailing across both spaces, creating a strong connection between the kitchen and living area. The contrast between Carriage Black stained maple and natural walnut adds depth, while the simple Icehouse door style keeps the overall look clean and balanced.

Modern Two-Tone Kitchen Design

The kitchen uses a dramatic two-tone palette to balance warmth and contrast. Carriage Black cabinetry grounds the island, base cabinets, and full-height storage wall, while natural walnut upper cabinets bring warmth and movement to the room.

The black and walnut finishes are repeated throughout the space, helping the large kitchen feel connected rather than divided. Matte black cabinet pulls continue the darker palette without competing with the natural grain of the walnut.

Merit Icehouse Slab Cabinetry

Merit Icehouse slab doors give the kitchen a streamlined contemporary look. Their flat profile allows the finishes to become the main design feature, from the rich Carriage Black stain on maple to the natural variation of the walnut.

Full-height cabinetry surrounds the refrigerator and built-in wall ovens, creating generous pantry and appliance storage while giving the room a finished architectural appearance.

Natural Walnut Cabinetry and Display Shelving

Natural-finish walnut is used on the upper cabinetry to soften the black base cabinets and add warmth above the main work area. The wood grain creates visual movement across the long cabinet runs while maintaining the simplicity of the slab-door design.

Open walnut display shelves beside the sink provide space for art and personal pieces. Integrated lighting highlights the shelves and adds a softer layer of illumination to the kitchen.

Cambria Hawksmoore Quartz Countertops

Cambria Hawksmoore quartz countertops brighten the darker cabinetry and create a generous work surface around the kitchen. The light cream background and subtle flowing veining complement both the warm walnut and the deep Carriage Black finish.

The large island provides additional preparation space and a natural gathering point, while the same quartz continues around the perimeter for a consistent finish.

Custom Living Room Cabinetry

The cabinetry continues into the living room with a custom media and fireplace wall. Carriage Black slab panels create a tailored built-in appearance, provide concealed storage, and visually connect the living area to the kitchen.

A walnut-trimmed television niche repeats the natural wood used in the kitchen. This small detail helps connect the media wall to the natural walnut cabinetry and display shelving used throughout the adjoining space.

Dekton Awake Fireplace Column

The fireplace column is finished in Dekton Awake by Cosentino.

Dekton is an ultra-compact porcelain surface with strong resistance to fire and heat, making it well suited to applications such as fireplace surrounds. Awake has a light background with expressive veining in warm rust, cream, grey, and subtle blue tones, creating a dramatic focal point beside the black media cabinetry.

Using Dekton on the fireplace and Cambria quartz in the kitchen allows each surface to suit its specific application while maintaining a coordinated palette across the open living area.

Kitchen and Living Room Design Features

• Merit Icehouse slab cabinetry
• Carriage Black stain on maple
• Natural finish on walnut
• Two-tone black and walnut kitchen design
• Cambria Hawksmoore quartz countertops
• Large kitchen island
• Full-height pantry and appliance cabinetry
• Built-in wall ovens
• Open walnut display shelves
• Integrated cabinet and display lighting
• Matte black cabinet hardware
• Custom living room media cabinetry
• Walnut-trimmed television niche
• Dekton Awake porcelain fireplace column
• Heat-resistant fireplace surround

Get in touch with us to plan your next project today.

We have two showrooms in Nanaimo and Parksville, and a diverse team of designers across central and north Vancouver Island. Connect with us to see what’s possible.