Here is an example of an open kitchen/dining room we did that has a light in kitchen and a dark in dining room. We kept a knee wall rather than rerouting ductwork. We just stopped at the end of the cabinet for the kitchen color. The backsplash helped to end the transition.

Shaker Heights Home Renovation #6 · More Info

Shaker Heights Home Renovation #6 · More Info

Shaker Heights Home Renovation #6 · More Info

Shaker Heights Home Renovation #6 · More Info

We recently remodeled a client's kitchen by opening up the space and connecting it with the dining room. To make sure the space had flow we used the same color palette for the space.

For instance, notice how the granite in the kitchen corresponds with the wall color in the dining area.

If you are set on using the darker color in your dining room, make sure to incorporate some of it in your kitchen. You can choose a corresponding cabinet color for the kitchen, or a similar shaded stone for your countertops. Even adding accessories to the your kitchen in a similar color to your dining room would make a huge difference in the flow of the space.

Kitchens-Toledo, OH · More Info

Kitchens-Toledo, OH · More Info

@CAP Construction, LLC - this is actually pretty similar to our layout, we'll have a peninsula instead of a knee wall but same idea.