The Dirt On Dirty Kitchens

What is a “dirty kitchen”? 

A dirty kitchen is essentially an extra kitchen where your cooking and prep can occur, leaving your main kitchen ready to serve as an unblemished entertaining hub.

Is a dirty kitchen the same thing as a butler’s pantry or a scullery?

While all these spaces are offspring of the same matriarch (the kitchen), they each differ in functionality.

Think of the butler’s pantry as a toddler: cute but limited in what it can do. It is typically located between the kitchen and the dining room, and houses tableware, glassware, linens, and other hosting essentials. It can often include a small beverage fridge, a small sink, and/or an ice maker.

The scullery is the sensible older sibling: pragmatic and traditional but lacking a bit of innovative thought. The term evolved from the Georgian and Victorian eras, when the scullery was a place where the scullery maid cleaned dishes and scrubbed pots. In more recent times, a scullery has served as a staging area for caterers. It is primarily for simple prep and post-meal cleanup.

The dirty kitchen (or back kitchen) is the teenager: fun, inventive, and not afraid to get their hands dirty. It is a fully functional, often tricked-out kitchen—complete with culinary essentials like a wall oven, fridge, freezer, and deep sink. Adding to its allure, dirty kitchens typically have counter space to accommodate appliances and gadgets of all sizes.

Photos by Spm Photography (Design by Susan Jamieson of Bridget Beari Designs)

What’s with all the buzz?

Several factors have contributed to the popularity of a dirty kitchen. The first is the movement toward open floor plans. The kitchens of old were separated from living areas by actual walls, meaning a messy kitchen could remain concealed while entertaining. In the absence of walls, your kitchen becomes a central visual component of your party venue. The dirty kitchen is a hidden gem that allows your main kitchen—all primped and polished—to remain the leading lady. Additionally, there has been a renewed interest in both home entertaining and traditional hobbies like cooking and baking in recent years. The dirty kitchen frees up space for friends and family members to congregate in the main kitchen and allows for culinary abandon backstage.

What are the keys to a good dirty kitchen?

1. Think through the flow. Mentally divide the space into zones based on function (i.e., prep, cooking, and cleanup) then design it in terms of layout and storage based on that progression.

2. Utilize as much of the available square footage as possible and contemplate the organization schematics. Cupboards, deep and shallow drawers, and open shelving are all good options. Many successful dirty kitchens also have at least one wall of floor-to-ceiling storage, replete with open sections for large trays and pans, chopping boards, and other items that can’t be easily nestled away.

3. Durability is paramount. You want a pretty space, but you also want one that will stand the test of time. This means heat-resistant countertops, sturdy cabinets, and flooring that is slip-proof and durable.

4. Maintain a cohesive aesthetic but introduce a surprise. While you want the dirty kitchen to complement the style of your main kitchen, a wallpapered ceiling or unexpected cabinet color can add to its panache.

5. Let its light shine. While we tend to give less thought to lighting in utility spaces, a dirty kitchen should be the exception. In terms of function, task lighting, under-shelf LEDs, and lighting on motion sensors are welcome inhabitants. When it comes to final touches, a statement-making pendant can be just the right accessory.

6. Personalize to suit your culinary passions. Make sure your dirty kitchen connects with who you are, whether that is an aspiring baker or a pizza lover who wants to craft their own pies.