What's A Scullery And Why Do I Need One? (2024)

What's A Scullery And Why Do I Need One? (1)

A scullery is a small kitchen or room at the back of the house used for washing dishes and other dirty household work. Until recently, sculleries were most often associated with the Victorian period and turn of the 20th century in larger homes where the kitchen was not a place to be seen. Think of Downton Abbey. With the popularity of open floor plans and the kitchen as the central gathering place in the home, the desire for a second kitchen was not even remotely popular. The times are a-changing. We believe that many homeowners would be attracted to a scullery, butler pantry or back kitchen because it provides a space to move the messiest aspects of meal preparation and cleanup. Many homeowners have even opted to add a smaller prep or scullery sink to the main kitchen because of the trend toward open floor plans and the extra room they provide.

What's A Scullery And Why Do I Need One? (2)

While their origins are rooted in the past, sculleries, butler pantries or back kitchens address the needs of modern-day families. Think of a scullery as a modern equivalent of a powder room for the kitchen. When homeowners discuss their dream kitchens, they often envision pristine spaces, then reality sets in. When you prepare meals, unload groceries, wash dishes, load the dishwasher, there’s stuff on countertops, on islands and in sinks. A scullery takes those tasks out of view and enables homeowners to maintain the pristine environment of their dreams.

What's A Scullery And Why Do I Need One? (3)

We find that when many homeowners renovatr their kitchens they would gladly replace a wall of ceiling height cabinets with open shelving, windows and/or artwork. Sculleries are great places to house coffee makers, stand mixers, toasters and other countertop appliances. We’ve seen sculleries with refrigerated drawers, a second dishwasher, wine and beverage fridges, microwaves, ice makers, cabinets for dishes and cutlery and shelving, drawers and baskets for dry goods.

What's A Scullery And Why Do I Need One? (4)

Prime candidates for a butler pantry or scullery are working couples with small children who value family time together without having to share that space for storing kitchen contents and meal preparation and clean up. 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. because they realize that the kitchen is where their guests often congregate and typically is in the sightlines of the dining area.

What's A Scullery And Why Do I Need One? (5)

Is a scullery or butler pantry ideal for your new kitchen renovation? Contact us today for a free estimate

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What's A Scullery And Why Do I Need One? (2024)

FAQs

What's A Scullery And Why Do I Need One? ›

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 the point of a scullery? ›

A scullery is a small kitchen or room at the back of the house used for washing dishes and other dirty household work. Until recently, sculleries were most often associated with the Victorian period and turn of the 20th century in larger homes where the kitchen was not a place to be seen.

Is a scullery necessary? ›

A scullery can be a great way to have friends over and to keep the cooking and cleaning areas separate. You can reserve the kitchen for plating or even grazing. The scullery is there to keep the mess out of sight. This makes it a stress-free experience and cleaning-up easy.

What was a scullery used for? ›

A scullery is a room in a house, traditionally used for washing up dishes and laundering clothes, or as an overflow kitchen.

What is a modern day scullery? ›

In Victorian times, the maids and cooks for rich families would toil in the scullery, a dark room at the back of house where they would wash dishes, store cookware, and do laundry. Today's scullery serves many of the same storage and cleaning functions, and includes prepping areas for large meals and dinner parties.

What are the must haves in a scullery? ›

A scullery is generally an additional kitchen, or a second kitchen, specifically used for storing and cleaning dishes. A scullery kitchen offers more room and, in modern times, may also hide unkempt cooking and cleaning tasks from the main kitchen. A scullery must have a lot of storage space, counter space, and a sink.

What is kept in a scullery? ›

A scullery is a working space and generally includes a sink and possibly additional appliances. "The scullery is an extension of the kitchen, which can allow a space to store platters for dinner parties, to use as a baking area, or as a clean-up space.

What are the responsibilities of a scullery? ›

Responsible for maintaining cleanliness and sanitation in the kitchen area, Wash and sanitize kitchen utensils, dishes, and equipment, Assist in keeping kitchen surfaces and floors clean and free of debris, Dispose of waste and recycling according to established procedures, Collaborate with kitchen staff to ensure a ...

Do you put a fridge in a scullery? ›

If you're Scullery will serve as a work area, appliances should definitely be considered. This could be the perfect spot for a second oven or your microwave. If your Scullery is well connected to your kitchen, you could also consider including your fridge or a second 'drinks fridge' here.

What's the difference between a scullery and a butler's pantry? ›

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.

How much does a scullery cost? ›

Costs more than a butler's pantry: The cost to build a walk-in pantry with nothing but cabinets already ranges from $2,500 to $3,000, but you can expect to pay $5,000 or more for a simple scullery. The price can increase to $15,000 for a more spacious scullery with several high-end appliances.

What is the difference between a larder and a scullery? ›

The Larder was for food preparation and usually housed a large table for working on. Washing of linen and dishes and rinsing of food was done in the scullery, were you would find a large ceramic sink.

Where do scullery maids sleep? ›

Housemaids, scullery maids and kitchen maids slept on the attic floor of the house. Two to a room, in some houses they even shared beds.

What is the difference between a kitchen and scullery? ›

Historically, sculleries are associated with grand Victorian homes or English manors where kitchens were not to be seen. Today, the scullery is an additional prep room off of the kitchen for overflow dishes and plenty of cabinet storage.

How does a scullery work? ›

A scullery kitchen is essentially a smaller, secondary kitchen space that can help handle the extra dirty kitchen tasks or the overflow from your main kitchen. A scullery often has plenty of storage for appliances or fancy dishes that don't fit in your main kitchen cabinets, but don't necessarily belong in the pantry.

What are the benefits of a scullery? ›

Benefits of a scullery

A scullery lets you expand the size and capacity of your kitchen to cope with cooking larger than usual meals. Sculleries are handy for bigger families with children, or even a couple who need their own space for 'meal prepping'.

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.

What is the difference between a galley and a scullery? ›

“Galley” (referring to the kitchen) is a term used to name a particular space onboard the ship, along with “mess” (the dining area), and “scullery” (the area devoted to cleaning dishes and disposing of food scraps.

Is a scullery worth it? ›

Sculleries are also a great way to maximise your storage. We recommend using your extra drawers, cupboards and open shelves for food and kitchen items. You can also store all your larger appliances like your microwave, second oven, fridge or even a second 'drinks' fridge in your scullery.

Do you need a scullery? ›

A scullery is a delightful add-on to your main kitchen. It's the place you can keep a washing-up sink, and acts as the room for food preparation and mess-making. It's also the perfect storage space for food and small appliances.

What do you store in a scullery? ›

A scullery can be a food storage place, but also has some kitchen functionality like food prep and a sink and dishwasher for cleaning up the dirty dishes after a meal. A scullery is also a great place for storing plates, silverware, cups, and even china. Some homeowners like to combine the two into a scullery pantry.

What are the duties of a scullery? ›

Duties of the scullery maid included the most physical and demanding tasks in the kitchen such as cleaning and scouring the floor, stoves, sinks, pots, and dishes. After scouring the plates in the scullery, she would leave them on racks to dry.

What does a scullery look like? ›

A scullery is a room adjoining the kitchen where pots and pans are cleaned and stored. Sometimes the laundering of clothes is also done here. In Great Britain and the United States, houses built before 1920 often had sculleries located in the rear of a house.

What is the difference between a pantry and a scullery? ›

No, a scullery and pantry are not the same thing. A scullery is a separate room or area dedicated to cleaning and washing dishes, pots, and pans, while a pantry is a storage space for food, ingredients, and sometimes kitchenware. Both serve different purposes in a home's organization and functionality.

Does a scullery have to have a sink? ›

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. This is your space, so it can be custom-tailored to your family's desires.

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