Kitchen Design Tip 7: Colour-Match Different Wood Species for a Cohesive Vibe

At first glance, this beautiful Vancouver kitchen reno by LM Studio looks as though it were crafted from only a couple of materials—and that’s exactly how founder and creative director Laura Melling likes it. “Our goal was to create a cohesive palette, to make it feel very minimal, welcome and clean,” says the designer. In reality, the kitchen was constructed from many different species of wood: the original Douglas fir floors were refinished, transforming them from an outdated dark orange to a surface that’s modern and airy; the integrated appliances were outfitted in white oak; the island was clad in oak tambour panels; the custom Lock and Mortice-made bar stools are ash. Through careful colour-matching, Melling and her team (as well as the folks at Box Construction and millworkers at Noanoko) created a kitchen that feels effortless—despite the immense effort put into it.

Über Bench

“The window bench is a really lovely feature from a functionality perspective,” says Melling. Bathed in natural light, this kitchen bench has plenty of built-in storage for the homeowners’ three young children.