Home Entertaining Demands a Scullery

The scullery (or butlers pantry) has become a very popular design feature in many new homes in the last five years and their presence has improved the dynamics of a kitchen space dramatically. If you haven’t heard of a scullery, it is basically a small space, normally off the kitchen, that serves as a second, mini kitchen. It commonly contains a sink and additional storage space and is the perfect place to store appliances and food, dump shopping bags, and hide prep when entertaining. With all these items hidden behind a closed door, the main kitchen functionality changes and remains clutter free.

So why the sudden rise in this trend?

With todays busy lifestyle, many families are finding the kitchen the place where people gather to discuss their day and spend time together. It is also becoming the central location for entertaining as more homes opt for an open plan living space rather than a separate kitchen. Suddenly the kitchen is a main focal point in your home rather than a place for preparation, storage, and cleaning. Thus the need for a scullery.

Most sculleries contain a second sink, and this is so that you can prepare food out of site when entertaining and offer another place for dishes and cleaning up. The larger sculleries can contain everything a kitchen contains, including large amounts of bench space and fridges. No longer do you have to have your toaster, kettle, or coffee machine on display in your kitchen or tucked away in drawers – now you can tuck them away in the scullery where they are hidden away but also easily accessible.

If you are thinking of including a scullery in your new home, these are some great tips and inclusions you should consider.

Food storage

The need for kitchen storage in todays busy lifestyle seems never ending. Due to the scullery serving as somewhat of a giant pantry, you can carefully consider your shelving layout and have your food items normally reserved for a concealed pantry, on display. This decreases the amount of time spent looking for items but also increases the likely hood of your pantry being organised and in date. The increase in food storage will also encourage more home cooking, especially if your scullery contains more refrigerated storage.

Many sculleries are designed with short overhead shelving so that food can be labeled in containers and then put on display in single rows for ease of identification.

Appliance Storage

When you are considering your scullery, or building a scullery, remember to consult your electrician and go overboard with power outlets. That way you will be able to prepare meals in the sanctuary of your scullery when entertaining and have all the available tools you need. Many people also charge their electronics in the kitchen – now you can charge them in your scullery out of site.

Wine and Drink Storage

Installing a small bar fridge in your scullery is a great idea not only for your every day beverages you want to remove from your main fridge, but also for entertaining purposes. If you don’t have additional refrigerated storage elsewhere in your home, you should really consider this option. Lacking a wine cellar? Install wine storage in your scullery either on display or tucked away in a cupboard.

A second dishwasher

What a great idea it is to have a second dishwasher in your scullery. If you are entertaining or even if you just want the noise of a dishwasher out of your main living area, consider installing a  dishwasher drawer or unit.

Recipe collection

Many people love having their recipe books on display in their kitchen to bring colour and inspiration to the room. Another option is to store these in your scullery on display but not in the main space of your living area. If you have a lot of recipe books and folders, make sure you have your cabinets reinforced for the weight or risk shelves warping.

*Every Lauren Steadman Home is designed with the option of a scullery.