Inside a Tuxedo Park Kitchen That Softens Modern Architecture with Warm Materials

A portion of the island was raised to standing height for easy conversation and kitchen prep. An extra perk, no barstools means room for additional storage.

In lieu of a butler’s pantry, allow large doors to hide hardworking areas dedicated to dishes and preparation. No time for cleanup? Simply close the doors.

Modern architecture always requires a thoughtful approach to ensure that there is warmth within its clean lines. This was the challenge presented to interior designer Michael Habachy of Habachy Designs, who devised a kitchen design for a Tuxedo Park abode, then collaborated with kitchen designer Laurie Lehrich of Cardea Home to bring it to life.

From the start, the contemporary architecture by Robert Tretsch, formerly of Harrison Design, set a disciplined framework that guided every design decision. “The ceilings were super high,” recalls Habachy. “We wanted to keep that grandness, but it also had to feel intimate.”

The design team leaned into Tretsch’s vision, using material and proportion to honor the home’s geometry while refining livability. Light oak cabinetry rises partway up the walls before shifting darker above. Over the island, a dropped soffit conceals recessed lighting. “It’s about form and function,” says Lehrich. “You create a kitchen that works, then make sure it enhances the architecture.”

The kitchen’s sleek aesthetic would be at odds with clutter, and many homeowners might have added a scullery to hide the essentials. But the husband’s mother, who lives in the guest house, prepares most family meals. “They didn’t want her tucked away,” says Habachy. “They wanted everyone together in one communal space.” The solution? A “hidden kitchen” behind pocket doors that glide into the walls on precision hardware. With a flick of the wrist, dark-stained wood doors retract, revealing a prep zone and a second sink. “If unexpected      guests arrive, you can close it all up,” says Lehrich. “It’s elegant and clever.”

To add warmth, Habachy chose Taj Mahal quartzite with a leathered matte finish. The stone flows from hood to counters and continues up the hidden kitchen wall in a near-full-slab backsplash. The result, says Habachy, is “grand, sophisticated, and timeless”—a seamless yet highly engineered space. “The best designs look effortless,” notes Lehrich, “but there’s so much happening underneath.”

INTERIOR DESIGNER Michael Habachy, Habachy Designs KITCHEN DESIGNER Laurie Lehrich, Cardea Home ARCHITECT Robert Tretsch, Tretsch Architecture CONTRACTOR Builders II CABINETRY William Ohs OVENS Miele REFRIGERATOR Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove COUNTER STOOLS Habachy Designs + Atelier