Travel back in time to on-screen kitchens that defined the nineties, like those in Seinfeld and Friends.

By Nicholas Tamarin

The 1990s are considered to be a highwater mark of both design and pop culture because they represented the last decade not influenced by cell phones and social media. Here is a combination of those two worlds, captured in the best and most memorable on-screen kitchen designs of the decade — from the cereal-laden shelves of Seinfeld’s scullery to the legendary multidisciplinary design firm Roman and Williams’ days as the set designer to the stars.

1. Friends (1994-2004)

The SoHo loft aesthetic reached its apotheosis in chef Monica Geller’s fictional apartment in New York’s nearby West Village, with a design that pairs the rustic charm of its bohemian past with a highly curated collection of clutter. Accommodating six full-grown adults in a Manhattan kitchen is no small screen feat, yet it’s possible thanks to its L-shaped counter, flush to the wall, mismatched shabby chic teal cabinetry and plenty of funky hand-me-down seating.

2. Seinfeld (1989-1998)

Around the same time, but a little further uptown on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, you could find Jerry Seinfeld’s extensive cereal collection displayed in similarly spacious-for-New York open-layout apartment digs. Seinfeld’s shades were generally more muted, with glass-fronted cabinetry, but pops of brightness were provided by white backsplash tile and his ever-present cherry red tea kettle.

3. Practical Magic (1998)

Long before their aesthetic transformed from industrial to rustic heritage, the famed design duo of Roman and Williams got their start as set designers on this cult classic. This presciently chic farmhouse-inspired construction, set in witchy small-town Massachusetts, featured an open truss ceiling, dark wide-plank flooring, English-style cabinets, rustic Ann Sacks tile and a still-enviable AGA range. Their work on Practical Magic went on to earn their firm commissions for movies like Zoolander and Duplex and the opportunity to design homes for Ben Stiller, Kate Hudson and Gwyneth Paltrow. 

4. You’ve Got Mail (1998)

Another nominee from both ’98 and New York’s Upper West Side is Nora Ephron’s idyllic vision of a Manhattan brownstone kitchen in You’ve Got Mail. The film included AOL’s signature dial-up announcement, but don’t let that distract you from this small but charming kitchen. What Meg Ryan’s cute alcove lacked in size it made up for in style — specifically, an avant-garde amalgamation of disparate flea market finds all tied together with a trademark bold checkered tile floor that made for a memorably cozy cooking area.

5. Clueless (1995)

The set designers definitely had a clue when creating Alicia Silverstone’s chic cookery where she spent time romancing Paul Rudd. Featuring a decade-defining aesthetic of clean white cabinetry, a stainless-steel Sub-Zero refrigerator and dark granite countertops, the look proved so popular it lasted well into the next century.

6. Home Alone (1990)

The McCallisters might have forgotten Macaulay Culkin at their formidable brick mansion, but their sweet cinematic kitchen is unforgettable for holiday movie fans of a certain age. Co-starring was Seigle’s Cabinets MasterBrand cabinetry, combined with the era’s de rigueur bold primary-colored ceramic tile, classic brass handles and a plethora of pale wood stools.

5. Edward Scissorhands (1990)

Watch out for the knives in this kitchen! While the décor wasn’t, er, cutting edge, this highly functional suburban Florida respite featured floral wallpaper, a light wood-grain storage system, a throwback brown stove and plenty of open space for both Johnny Depp and Dianne Wiest to develop their culinary skills. I’ll bring the ambrosia salad!