A Very ’90s Catskills Kitchen Gets a Luxe Makeover That Marries Form and Function
When you think of ’90s kitchens, you might think of brown cabinets, ivy or rooster motifs, two-tiered kitchen islands, or built-in desks. The 1990s kitchen of real estate agent Matt Horton and his partner, Ben Paciello (@benjaminkp), had a built-in desk area — and in a luxe renovation they turned it into a coffee bar, which is something that better fit their style.
They got rid of other ’90s hallmarks — the beige-y gold color palette, the square-raised cabinets, the cooktop in the center of the island, and more. They “designed for a new kind of living, whether that meant hosting friends, cooking together, or working at the island,” Matt says. It was a part-DIY and part-professional project.
Matt and Ben did “a full DIY demolition of the original kitchen, removing the cabinetry, countertops, island, desk area, and even taking down the pantry wall, all with the goal of creating a more open and functional layout,” Matt describes. “The DIY effort continued with patching drywall and prepping the space for the contractors to install cabinetry and enlarge the window over the sink.”
The new cabinets have a more modern feel.
They used FORM kitchens to pick their new matte white and black oak finish cabinetry and incorporate their new appliances. The wall color is Benjamin Moore’s Ashley Gray.
Working with the custom kitchen planner “wasn’t necessarily the cheapest route overall,” Matt says, but “there were options at every step, from cabinetry finishes to accessories, that kept the budget in control.” He and Ben also worked with a contractor, Peter Dziewa (@dziewaconstruction).
“Finding a contractor that was flexible in not having to do everything from demolition to install was huge,” Matt says. “Doing the demolition and handling tasks like lighting installation, drywall repair, and painting made a big difference in the overall budget … having a clear timeline for both DIY and contractor work kept the project moving forward.”
The layout works smarter, not harder.
“Installing the cabinetry was a turning point, and the impact of the layout changes immediately became clear,” Matt says. He and Ben love the new layout; Matt says it feels “effortless.” Removing the “bulky, outdated, and impractical” pantry and desk allowed for better flow and smarter storage throughout, and now the island is a true statement piece.
It’s free of the stovetop (which moved to the back wall) and is now a space for cooking and connecting. Matt’s an avid baker, and there’s certainly much more countertop prep space now to do that and cook meals, and it’s a space where the couple’s friends often hang out when they host. “This kitchen draws people in,” he says. “Attempts at trying to get people to gather elsewhere in the home are often unsuccessful!”
Centering the window was essential.
One of the biggest difference-makers in the kitchen, Matt says, was installing a new picture window above the kitchen sink. Previously, the window “wasn’t centered or sized to fit the space, making it feel like an afterthought and limiting the beautiful view outside,” Matt says, and now, as he describes on Instagram, it’s the perfect frame for the Catskills backdrop.
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