adverse to the name , a pestiferous kitchen helps you keep things clean and sizeable while entertaining .
Not just for preparation and eating , kitchens are often a societal center , too . When you have an attractive and well-off kitchen , particularly one at the spirit of anopen concept layout , it ’s a instinctive gather place . But activity like cookery can be messy , loud , and smelly . That ’s where ‘ dirty kitchen ’ come up into drama — and in this case , the idiomatic expression might not mean what you think .
“ A ' dirty kitchen ' is a secondary , often secret kitchen space designed to keep the main kitchen expect clean and prepare , ” say Brad Ramsey , principal and founder of Brad Ramsey Interiors . “The idea is to use the dirty kitchen forfood prep , cleaning , or other tasks that would be too messy for the main kitchen , helping to asseverate a tidy and esthetically pleasing main preparation surface area . ”

Credit: Tria Giovan
Think of a dirty kitchen as a oeuvre quad that let the primary kitchen to be part of the entertaining outer space , order Crystal Hackl , owner and main designer of Eagle & Vine Interiors . As such , the dirty kitchen typically includes extra convenience like an oven and cooktop , as well as a sink , dishwashing machine , and maybe a fridge;countertop appliancesthat would clutter up a main kitchen can also be set up here .
Benefits of a Dirty Kitchen
“ A dirty kitchen is a useful feature article for people who enjoy entertaining , as it appropriate them to manage large meals and cleaning without disrupting the independent kitchen , ” says Ramsey . “ It helps maintain a fresh environment , ” order Ramsey , notice that odors and pot are kept out of the entertaining space . “ It ’s specially useful in menage withopen storey plans , where the kitchen is the central gather spot , ” add together Hackl .
Dirty kitchens are utilitarian for householder who love to master of ceremonies , but both Ramsey and Hackl also highlight the soiled kitchen ’s benefits for those who lease catering services — the 2d kitchen infinite is idealistic for the pros to do their work .
Dirty kitchen can also invoke to families . “ A kinfolk with younger children may find a back kitchen is a great post to enjoy food preparation and cleanup with their fry in a more contained environment while maintaining a clear kitchen that subprogram as part of the living space , ” Hackl says .

Credit: Lisa Romerein
Lastly , a kitchen plan for entertaining may have dissimilar layout and style priority than a dirty kitchen designate for effective cooking and clean up . Even when not entertaining , the dirty kitchen can be a preferent spot for meal prep . In improver , Hackl signal out that the appliances , surfaces , and finish in a primary kitchen can stay put in better term when a dirty kitchen postulate the article of clothing and rent of utilization ( which might be especially appeal for primary kitchen incorporating luxuriousness fabric and gruelling - to - white details ) .
How Is a Dirty Kitchen Different from a Butler’s Pantry?
According to Hackl , a dirty kitchen can also be called a back kitchen , secondary kitchen , working kitchen , orscullery . However , a unclean kitchen is different from abutler ’s pantry . While both foul kitchens and butler ’s pantry have auxiliary widget and storage , they do unlike aim and even have different locations in the home .
Ramsey sound out the Samuel Butler ’s pantry focalise on organisation and convenience . “ A butler ’s larder is more focussed on storage and serving , often caparison all right china , glassware , and providing a staging area for meals before serving , ” says Ramsey . “ It can also serve as a bar for the dining room , offering aspace for drinksand entertaining . ”
instead , the dirty kitchen does the big lifting of hosting repast prep and houseclean up . Hackl tell a dirty kitchen is positioned adjacent to or behind the primary kitchen , and it ’s hold in from eyeshot so that it can be mussy .

Credit: Werner Straube
Things to Consider Before Incorporating a Dirty Kitchen into Your Home
A sordid kitchen is a full-grown investiture . “ The large thoughtfulness are place and budgetary constraint , ” says Hackl .
“ Before add together a dirty kitchen , homeowner should regard available blank space , ensuring it fits with the home ’s layout and includes right external respiration and bathymetry , ” give notice Ramsey . “ In an existing home , adding a back kitchen imply cut up out a space that does n’t currently exist , ” says Hackl .
In other word , you ’ll have to define where in your home you could steal space to produce a dirty kitchen — and you have to keep in psyche it ’s typically neighboring to the kitchen . “ It may mean stiffen the size of it of the chief kitchen to admit the subaltern space , ” warns Hackl .
Financially , you ’ll be receive costs for a 2d kitchen , including duplicate contrivance and fixtures , plenty of cabinetwork , as well as widen plumbing system and maybe gas to the fresh space . Your home ’s utility program bills will be impacted , too .
finally , a dingy kitchen is n’t for everyone . “ They should assess how often they fudge , entertain , or use catering services to determine if it ’s truly necessary , ” say Ramsey . “ In some slip , a full secondary kitchen just is n’t something we would recommend , " sound out Hackl . Sometimes , " a more robust pantry that can accommodate a breakfast andcoffee station , where minuscule appliances can stay on on the countertop without cluttering the primary kitchen ” is a more appropriate employment of space , recommend Hackl .