A family in Howard County, Maryland, called on Davida Rodriguez of Davida’s Kitchen & Tiles to update the kitchen in their 1990s-era abode. They wanted a more functional layout and a contemporary sensibility to complement the modern aesthetic in the rest of the home.

The original kitchen was dated, with traditional bleached-maple cabinetry. An awkwardly shaped island left a surfeit of unused floor space and twin pantry closets created a wall that blocked traffic to the staircase.

“We gutted everything and started over,” says Rodriguez. The couple, who often entertain their large extended family living nearby, wanted multiple areas where everyone could congregate. “It was challenging,” Rodriguez recounts. “We added a dry bar, coffee station, speed-cook ovens and a range.”

To accommodate two islands, Rodriguez removed the pantry wall and borrowed space from the adjacent laundry/mudroom, which is now smaller but more efficient. Appliances were relocated, the expanse of the floor was narrowed and overall traffic flow was improved. An angled wall now holds the range, while a pantry cupboard in the opposite corner is similarly positioned for symmetry.

Dark-stained lower cabinetry in a wood-grain laminate is paired with white upper cabinets to keep the space light and bright. Gray-veined quartz countertops connect visually with the large-format ceramic-tile floors and taupe walls; waterfall edges on the island countertops contribute to the contemporary vibe. A glossy white ceramic-tile backsplash completes the look.

Kitchen Design & Contracting: Davida Rodriguez, CKD, Davida’s Kitchen & Tiles, Gaithersburg, Maryland. Cabinetry: Wood-Mode, Brookhaven I. Quartz Countertops & Backsplash: Davida’s Kitchen & Tiles. Appliances: BlueStar, GE Advantium, GE Monogram, Elkay. Pendants: ET2 Lighting.