The ‘dirty kitchen‘ – why two kitchens are better than one

October 15, 2024

The concept of open-plan kitchen and living areas slowly but surely brought on a new trend for those who are lucky enough to have sufficient space: the dirty kitchen. It’s essentially an extra kitchen space where all the food prep and cooking happens, sparing family or guests from hovering around the chopping board or dirty dishes.

With dirty kitchens increasingly becoming a sought-after home design element, Cube is spilling the beans on what you need to know and consider.

IN A NUTSHELL…

A dirty kitchen is a fully functional secondary kitchen with a sink, dishwasher, oven, freezer, wine refrigerator and plenty of storage for small essential appliances.

WHAT’S CLEAN? WHAT’S DIRTY?

Imagine a kitchen split into two: one for the mess and the other for family and friends to congregate and socialise.

ORIGIN

Family time spent in the kitchen which tends to be open and adjacent to entertaining and living areas saw a rise in demand for these dirty kitchens. They’re actually already a trend in South Africa and Australia.

NICKNAME

The name ‘dirty kitchen’ is not particularly charming, so designers may also refer to them as a ‘back kitchen’, ‘secondary kitchen’ or ‘spice kitchen’.

FUNCTIONS

Dirty kitchens are used as a working space behind the primary kitchen to prepare food, cook and washing up. Whether it’s making a mess during baking or dishes piling up, everything is nicely separated from the main, clean kitchen area.

IS IT FOR ME?

Everyone from families with children to gadget aficionados can benefit from a dirty kitchen. It’s definitely the perfect space for those serious about entertaining because caterers can work their magic in private leaving hosts and guests to enjoy a serene, seamlessly ‘clean kitchen’.

CRUCIAL CONSIDERATIONS

The bottom line is to focus on purposeful design, meaning the space should be mostly functional to keep the main kitchen and living areas mess and clutter-free. Ask yourself how exactly you’ll use the room, what you intend to store and plan it all out from there.

Smart organisation goes a long way: separate storage for food from small and large appliances and dishes for easy access. Be careful with adding too much refrigeration though, as you may find yourself dancing around trying to find the cream.

Try and maximise every inch of available space through a combination of cupboards, deep and shallow drawers and open shelving for plenty of dedicated storage. We’d also recommend a generous sink and ventilation for a more comfortable environment.

NOTEWORTHY…

As with anything in life, timing is important. Your investment into a dirty kitchen may not be worth it at this stage if you are looking to move home in the next five years or so. Fulfilling your dream of a dirty kitchen might be best postponed until you have found your new home.

Money aside, you’re likely to give up square footage in another room unless you are extending your home of course. In order to make the dirty kitchen work, layout and possibly structural changes to the property may well be necessary. 

Finally, if you are the tidy type of person who cleans as you cook then this add-on might not be for you after all. But if you are going for it, make aesthetics a priority. Think fun colours, gorgeous tiles and great lighting. In short: make it a space you want to be in.

COSTS

In some cases, dirty kitchens can turn out to be as big as an investment as your primary kitchen. Costs very much depend on the size of your kitchen and the scope of your project, which is something we can discuss together in more detail. 

Since we launched our design and build service back in 2010, Cube has designed, managed and built almost 300 bespoke home improvement projects, won the ‘Best of Houzz Service’ award seven consecutive times and worked hard to establish a great client rating.

Whether it’s remarkable refurbishments, luxurious loft conversions or excellent extensions, our professional team is here to manage your project from start to finish.

Let’s reimagine your home together:

E: space@cubelofts.co.uk
T: 020 8432 9676