When this family of four relocated from Florida to Tempe, Arizona, it loved the natural setting of its equestrian community. But the home it moved into, custom-built in 2008, contained some oddities. The kitchen was the main concern. The location didn’t make sense within the overall layout of the home. And a massive, angled, two-tiered island broke up the floor plan in an unusual way and impeded traffic flow. Meanwhile, large beige floor tiles and basic granite countertops made the style look dated.

Wanting a more open and streamlined layout for entertaining guests, as well as a style that looked fresh and better suited to the Southwest, the homeowners hired designer Kimberley Worswick to spearhead a major overhaul. Worswick rethought the layout, moving the location of the kitchen to the dining room. She ditched the angled peninsula in favor of a large open-base island that can seat 10 people. Another, more standard island now sits in the main kitchen area and has additional seating, storage and the main sink, which creates an efficient work triangle. White-and-wood cabinets, zellige-look ceramic backsplash tile and Mediterranean-style pendant lights deliver an airy and welcoming style that nods to the home’s surroundings.