Dirty Kitchens Are Now the Top Renovation Ask, According to Designers
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The kitchen above was designed by Light and Dwell.
What’s the one single room that can make entertaining easier, your kitchen cleaner, and your home worth more? It’s a dirty kitchen. The unappealing name for what designers prefer to call a “back kitchen” is a fully functional kitchen—complete with essentials including wall oven, fridge and sink—behind the beautifully designed main room. It’s re-imagined—and more tricked out—update on the traditional scullery or butler’s pantry, spaces where the staff in grand homes were able to prep food or drinks, or wash dishes, out of the way of the bustling main kitchen.
Even if you’re the “staff” at your place, the idea is that this second kitchen serves as a place for food prep, cooking, and cleanup, so your main kitchen stays pristine or, better yet, provides a place for friends and family to gather, sip wine, and nibble on appetizers. (After all, everyone ends up in the kitchen during a party.) Especially if you have an open-concept main kitchen, the behind-the-scenes dirty kitchen keeps the messy business of cooking out of sight and out of guests’ minds.
Dirty kitchens are a luxury, but these uber-functional smaller spaces have been growing in popularity with high-end designers over the past few years. They—and all the people who are buying or renovating homes—are captivated by the dirty kitchen because of how it can facilitate both food prep and more elegant entertaining. “In these back kitchens, dirty dishes can pile up or a baker can make a mess without interfering with the main cooking zone,” Sarah Robertson of Studio Dearborn says. But before you add a dirty kitchen to the top of your must-have list, there are a few things to consider. Read on for all the dirt on dirty kitchens.
What’s the Difference Between a Walk-in Pantry, Butler's Pantry, and Dirty Kitchen?
A walk-in pantry takes up less square footage and is primarily for food storage, which can free up a ton of cabinet space. The smartest designs have shallow shelves for easy reach.
Traditional butler’s pantries are spaces between the kitchen and dining room, often housing hosting essentials for a well-adorned tabletop. Many of them have been converted to breakfast or cocktail bars. The team at cabinetry maker Bakes & Kropp usually incorporates at least one beverage fridge, a small sink, and an ice maker.
Back kitchens or dirty kitchens are full kitchens with cleanup essentials like a deep sink and dishwasher along with a wall oven, freezer, wine refrigerator, and ample space for small appliances.
Who Is a Dirty Kitchen For?
Everyone can benefit from this secondary space, Matthew Quinn of Design Galleria says, citing “entertainers, procrastinators, neat freaks, Tasmanian devils, families with children, and gadget-obsessed homeowners.” Just be careful about adding too much refrigeration, Quinn warns—that can lead to frustration when you’re doing a “five-minute dance trying to find the sour cream”—and make sure to include ventilation. Designer Caren Rideau of the Kitchen Design Group adds that smart organization is key for the room to function smoothly. She suggests separating food storage, appliances (small and large), and serveware to ensure everything is easily accessible.
How Much Does a Dirty Kitchen Cost?
In some cases, a dirty kitchen can be as expensive as your primary kitchen since it calls for cabinetry, countertops, plumbing, and appliances, not to mention structural needs like walls and pocket doors. According to Tanya Smith-Shiflett of Unique Kitchens & Baths, a dirty kitchen can easily start at $45,000 to $55,000 and go up from there. A kitchen remodel can have an ROI of up to 80 percent, according to Zillow, so depending on your budget and future plans, the investment might make sense. Theoretically, adding a dirty kitchen could boost your home’s value by $40,000 or more.
She tells her clients if they’re planning to stay in their home for only five to 10 years, it may not be worth the investment. What else, besides money, are you giving up? Likely square footage in another room. “I usually try to convince a client to move their main-floor laundry room upstairs or to reduce the size of a large mudroom,” Laura McCroskey of McCroskey Interiors says. The reality is you have to find the space or add onto your existing structure. “If you’re a neat freak who cleans as they cook, this add-on might not be necessary,” McCroskey says.
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