After updating their décor, Bethesda homeowners enlisted Four Brothers Design + Build to revive the abode’s outmoded kitchen. “They wanted more storage,” recounts project designer Kristen Mendoza. “And they really use this kitchen, so counter and prep space were a must.” Though large enough, the existing kitchen was awkward, with a heavily sloped ceiling that limited cabinet height. Window and door openings interrupted every wall, and a peninsula bisecting the room restricted flow and work areas.

The new plan replaced the peninsula with a central island; it houses the cooktop beneath a paneled, white-painted hood that serves as a focal point. Walls of cabinetry and appliances offer abundant storage and quartz countertops allow plenty of workspace.

Collaborating with designer Cynthia Allan, who furnished the rest of the house, Mendoza devised a crisp black, white and gray palette that conveys a timeless sensibility. Cabico cabinets are painted in Farrow & Ball’s dark-gray Down Pipe, offset by black peripheral counters and backsplash and a white quartz island countertop with a waterfall end. The kitchen ceiling was already clad in beadboard, so the team extended it to the walls for texture and interest. Says Mendoza, “Since kitchens can last upwards of 20 years, we wanted to ensure a classic feel.”

Interior Architecture & Kitchen Design: Kristen Mendoza; Jose Paranos, lead carpenter, Four Brothers Design + Build, Washington, DC. Interior Design: CG Allan Interior Architecture + Design LLC, Potomac, Maryland.