Kitchens are a big ticket item when it comes to renovating. Kitchens are the hub of the home and one of the key areas that most homeowners are seeking to renovate. One of the key trends we are seeing in kitchen design is the rise and rise of Sculleries and Butler's Pantry's. These are increasingly becoming the ‘must-have’ feature for those who like to entertain or for those that simply like the idea of keeping their open plan living areas clean and tidy at all times.
Their popularity stems - in part - from the prevalence of open plan living. With open plan living, our kitchens are sitting bang in the middle of our living area. This means that all of the mess and dishes associated with cooking and entertaining are also front and centre.
Far from being a new idea though, sculleries could been seen as a throwback to the days of the old English manors. The key difference nowadays is that not many of us can afford the downstairs staff that came with the sculleries in older times. The TV series Downtown Abbey comes to mind!
What is a Scullery?
In general terms, a scullery is another small kitchen in itself. It will have space for food preparation, cleaning and washing. It is great for people who like to entertain and a perfect space for caterers to work from in your home.
Key advantages of a Scullery
A key attraction of a scullery or butler’s pantry is that it provides a space to hide all of the dishes and mess while the main kitchen is being used as the entertaining hub for serving food and drinks.
The scullery kitchen will also allow you to increase the capacity of your kitchen to cope with cooking for a crowd. While this is fantastic for entertaining, it is also great for larger families or if you have extended family come over for meals frequently. Alternatively, it can be great for couples where you both like to cook, but need your own zone to work in.
What is a Butler’s Pantry?
A butler’s pantry tends to be a more modest affair and is smaller than a scullery and is usually more of a storage zone with a small preparation area. Effectively, it is a walk-in pantry that may also have storage for small appliances such as toaster, kettle, microwave and limited bench space for food preparation.
Sometimes a butler’s pantry also includes plumbed facilities such as a sink and a dishwasher. This is where the line between a butler’s pantry and a scullery start to blur.
So, what is the REAL difference between a scullery and a butler’s pantry?
In practice, the terms scullery and butler’s pantry are often used interchangeably. Basically, they both refer to a space that is used as a mini-kitchen of sorts. The features, appliance, space and storage that are designed into the room are generally governed by how much space is available on the floor-plan, balanced against what the homeowner can afford in their budget.
The inclusion of either a scullery or a butler’s pantry in your home renovation is certainly a modern-day luxury. One thing is certain, those that have them, love them.
When deciding whether you need a scullery or butler’s pantry, first carefully consider why you need or want it. I would then highly recommend getting a professional kitchen designer on board to plan your space properly.
Should I have a Walk-in pantry or butler’s kitchen, how are they different?
A walk-in pantry and a butler’s kitchen are similar but most definitely not the same. A pantry tends to be a storage area for dry-goods only. Whereas a butler’s pantry will usually contain some elements of kitchen functionality too such as a purpose-built area to use a coffee machine, microwave or an additional sink alongside a bench-top for food preparation.
Should you put your fridge in a butler’s pantry or scullery?
A fridge needs to be in a place that is easy to access for all family members. For this reason, putting it in the scullery or butler’s pantry may not be practical. Some homeowners choose to have both a fridge in the kitchen and a separate fridge in the scullery. The fridge in the scullery becomes more of a drinks fridge and storage place for food platters when entertaining. The fridge in the kitchen then becomes the main ‘working fridge’ and contains all the food and drinks for everyday living.
What is a hidden scullery or hidden butler’s pantry?
With clever design, a butler’s pantry or scullery can be concealed or hidden. This can be done with clever cabinetry where the door looks like a cupboard, or by simply having a separate door to the room. The main thing with a scullery or butler’s pantry is that it is meant to be hidden! That is the whole idea, so that you can shut the door on the mess and dished and hide it all away from plain sight.
In this video below, Steve Burke, the Managing Director of Amerex Renovations and Additions, walks us thru a recently completed project with a cleverly concealed scullery.
If you are thinking about a major home renovation. home extension or second storey addition, contact the friendly Amerex team on (08) 9227 1822 or send an email to info@amerex.com.au. We are here to help you have an awesome renovation journey!
FAQs
A butler's pantry is seen as being smaller than a scullery and is more of a storage zone rather than a preparation and cook zone. It effectively is a large walk-in pantry and has further storage for unused appliances.
What is the difference between butlers pantry and scullery? ›
Butler's pantries allow for extra kitchen storage. Sculleries give homeowners a secondary food prep space, which is perfect for entertaining. With the rise of open-concept living spaces, these rooms found new purpose in hiding mess and clutter behind closed doors.
Do you really need a butlers pantry? ›
Today's kitchens are part of the “whole space” are exposed all of the time. Therefore, the role of the Butler's pantry really remains the same. It is to provide food storage, surface area for food prep, storage of kitchen serving items, and appliances not requiring day-to-day access.
What's the difference between a butler's pantry and a pantry? ›
A butler's pantry is essentially a mini kitchen with ample bench space and quite often a sink. Whereas a walk-in pantry is more so designed to act as a storage area. Of course these large types of pantries may not work for every home space or budget.
What is the modern term for butler's pantry? ›
In practice, the terms scullery and butler's pantry are often used interchangeably. Basically, they both refer to a space that is used as a mini-kitchen of sorts.
What should a scullery have? ›
Michelle concurs… “The basic elements of a scullery must include plenty of storage space, counter space, and a sink. But you can add other things to your scullery design to suit your needs. Perhaps a dishwasher, microwave, and other small appliances.
Do I need a scullery? ›
For busy families, a scullery is part pantry, part prep kitchen and part convenience store. Individuals who love to entertain and do so frequently are also ideal candidates for sculleries. They welcome a hidden space to store dishes, linens, dry goods, small appliances, etc.
Does a butlers pantry add value to a home? ›
Increased Home Value: Having a thought-out and functional kitchen design that includes amenities like a butler's pantry and warrantied high-quality materials like Cambria quartz countertops can add value to your home. These are attractive features for potential buyers who appreciate both convenience and luxury.
Are butlers pantries outdated? ›
In the grand estates of yesteryears, the butler's pantry was a hallowed space where the butler orchestrated culinary magic, ensuring seamless service during lavish dinners and soirées. Fast-forward to today, and the butler's pantry has gracefully stepped out of the shadows, making a stylish comeback in family homes.
Should I have a sink in butlers pantry? ›
A regular pantry is primarily a storage area for food items and groceries. On the other hand, a butler's pantry is a utility area designed for storing dinnerware, serving dishes, and even preparing or staging meals. It often includes a countertop and sink, and sometimes, small appliances.
A scullery is another small kitchen in itself. This gem of a kitchen within a kitchen provides a hidden space to store dishes, linens, dry goods, small appliances, and more. For busy families, a scullery is part pantry, part prep kitchen and part storage space.
How big should a butler's pantry be? ›
What size is a butler's pantry? A butler's pantry is typically no smaller than 5 feet by 6.5 feet.
Are butlers pantries still a thing? ›
Modern Uses
These days, traditional butler's pantries are few and far between, but many modern homes have taken elements of the original rooms and modernized them.
What is the difference between a butler's pantry and a scullery? ›
A butler's pantry is a more modest and smaller space than a scullery. In the days of the old English manor, the butler's pantry would serve as a space for the butler to ensure the food presentation was to a high standard before it was taken out to the household and their guests.
What is the new name for a butler's pantry? ›
The caterer's kitchen is similar to the butler's pantry, but usually specifically between the kitchen, pantry, and formal dining room. It is not usually closed off with doors like the scullery but does serve as a good place for overflow items including delicious desserts for the holiday seasons and special dinners.
What is a larder? ›
A larder is a cool area for storing food prior to use. Originally, it was where raw meat was larded—covered in fat—to be preserved. By the 18th century, the term had expanded: at that point, a dry larder was where bread, pastry, milk, butter, or cooked meats were stored.
Why is it called a scullery? ›
The root of the word is in doubt, but it probably comes from the Latin word for wooden platter, scutra, or the Old Norse skola, "to wash." "Scullery." Vocabulary.com Dictionary, Vocabulary.com, https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/scullery. Accessed 24 May. 2024.
What is the point of a scullery? ›
A scullery is an area usually off the main kitchen sometimes called a “back kitchen” that is used for cleaning and storage. It's typically a tucked away or concealed space and for a good reason – it's purpose is to hide the kitchen mess!
What is a modern scullery? ›
However, we don't have knights and medieval times, so scullery now means a modern-day kitchen, usually located in the kitchen of a large country house or a large apartment. Typically, a scullery consists of a sink, a work surface, a cabinet, and a door leading to the garden.
