The Secondary Kitchen: Added Luxury For Your Home
In modern luxury living, beauty and function coexist in perfect balance. Behind every pristine, sculptural kitchen — the one where guests gather, where design and materials take center stage — there’s often a quieter companion: the secondary kitchen.
Also known as a prep kitchen, scullery, or spice kitchen, this separate and often hidden space is designed for cooking, food prep, and cleanup — all while keeping the main kitchen looking flawless.
At Foscari Interiors, we see the secondary kitchen as a hallmark of thoughtful, modern design — a space that blends functionality and elegance, bringing calm and control to the art of daily living.
What Is a Secondary Kitchen?
A secondary kitchen is a distinct, fully equipped area designed to complement the main kitchen. It often sits just behind or adjacent to the primary space and serves as the hardworking counterpart to the main “show kitchen.”
While the main kitchen remains open, social, and perfectly styled for entertaining, the secondary kitchen handles the behind-the-scenes work — from cooking with strong aromas to cleaning up after dinner parties.
It may include additional counter space, appliances, and storage, all designed to support a seamless household flow. In many luxury homes, it becomes the unsung hero of entertaining and daily convenience.
The Functions and Features of a Secondary Kitchen
A well-planned secondary kitchen doesn’t just add utility — it transforms the way you live and host. Here’s how.
Foscari carries all the cabinetry brands and has the knowledge to design your luxury space.
1. Keeps the Main Kitchen Clean and Pristine
The most immediate advantage of a secondary kitchen is its ability to hide the mess.
When guests arrive, the main kitchen — often visible from the living and dining areas — remains an immaculate focal point. Dishes, prep work, and cleanup stay tucked away in the secondary space, so the “show kitchen” remains serene and beautiful.
It’s a design solution that celebrates both aesthetics and real-life functionality — because luxury should never mean compromise.
2. Aids in Entertaining
For those who love to host, a secondary kitchen is a game-changer.
It’s the perfect place to manage food preparation, cooking, and cleanup during large gatherings or catered events. Private chefs can work behind the scenes without disrupting the flow of conversation or cluttering the main kitchen.
During dinner parties, the primary kitchen becomes a stage for presentation — champagne chilled, hors d’oeuvres displayed, surfaces gleaming — while the secondary kitchen hums quietly in support.
It’s luxury living in motion: effortless, elegant, invisible.
3. Reduces Clutter and Visual Noise
Small appliances often clutter even the most beautifully designed kitchens. A secondary kitchen provides a discreet home for them all — blenders, coffee machines, mixers, air fryers, and food processors can live there, out of sight but within easy reach.
This allows the main kitchen’s countertops to remain clean, minimalist, and gallery-like — a reflection of the home’s modern aesthetic.
Think of it as your kitchen’s backstage — organized, efficient, and designed for seamless transitions.
4. Manages Odors and Noise
For homeowners who love to cook, certain dishes — think searing fish, frying, or toasting spices — come with strong smells or smoke.
The secondary kitchen provides a place to cook freely without filling the main living area with lingering aromas or unwanted noise.
It’s particularly effective in open-concept homes, where the kitchen connects to the living and dining spaces.
Proper ventilation, soundproofing, and smart layout design make this hidden kitchen a sanctuary for both the chef and the guests.
5. Provides Extra Storage and Organization
Storage is luxury — and the secondary kitchen offers plenty of it.
It’s a perfect place for:
- Bulk ingredients and pantry items
- Extra dishware or entertaining sets
- Cookware that’s used less frequently
- Specialty tools and serving pieces
With custom cabinetry, adjustable shelving, and integrated organization systems, every inch can be optimized for convenience and beauty.
The result is a main kitchen that feels light, calm, and uncluttered — exactly as it should.
6. Specialized Appliances and Custom Features
Because every homeowner’s lifestyle is different, a secondary kitchen can be tailored with specialized appliances or functions.
Some of the most requested features we integrate include:
- A second sink or dishwasher for cleanup during entertaining
- A wall oven or stovetop for heavy cooking
- A wine fridge or beverage cooler
- An integrated coffee station
- Extra refrigeration or freezer drawers
- Additional counter space for food prep or catering setup
In larger residences, the secondary kitchen may also include a walk-in pantry or laundry integration, enhancing both efficiency and flow.
Where Are Secondary Kitchens Located?
Location is key to the success of a secondary kitchen — it must feel convenient, yet discreet.
They are most often:
- Adjacent to the main kitchen, tucked behind a wall or accessed through a discreet doorway
- Connected to a pantry, mudroom, or utility space for efficiency
- Integrated along service corridors or between kitchen and outdoor entertaining areas for seamless flow
When thoughtfully placed, the secondary kitchen functions as both an extension of the main kitchen and a buffer zone — keeping the heart of the home serene and composed.
Common Names for the Secondary Kitchen
Depending on region and culture, you may hear the secondary kitchen referred to by different names.
Each version reflects a slightly different use or tradition:
- Scullery: a traditional term for a space devoted to washing and cleanup.
- Prep Kitchen: emphasizes cooking and food preparation.
- Spice Kitchen: common in South Asian and Middle Eastern homes for preparing aromatic dishes.
- Chef Kitchen: refers to a space designed for hired chefs or catering staff.
- Working Kitchen or Grease Kitchen: practical spaces where the real cooking happens.
Whatever the name, the intent remains the same — a functional, elegant space that supports a luxurious way of living.
Designing a Secondary Kitchen the Foscari Way
At Foscari Interiors, every kitchen — whether primary or secondary — begins with an understanding of how you live.
We design secondary kitchens to be invisible when not needed and indispensable when in use. Each one is tailored for seamless integration into your home’s architecture — proportioned, lit, and finished to the same level of refinement as your primary kitchen.
Our design priorities include:
- Cohesion: Matching finishes, proportions, and detailing between both kitchens for visual harmony.
- Flow: Ensuring circulation between spaces feels natural, not utilitarian.
- Lighting: Layered illumination for functionality and atmosphere.
- Acoustics and ventilation: Keeping noise and odors contained.
- Storage strategy: Maximizing hidden organization while maintaining easy access.
The result is a pair of kitchens that function in perfect harmony — one for presentation, one for performance.
Secondary Kitchens in Luxury Home Architecture
As modern homes evolve, the secondary kitchen has become a defining feature of elevated design.
In new luxury construction, it’s standard to include a full-service back kitchen during the planning phase.
In high-end renovations, designers often reimagine large pantries or utility spaces to achieve the same result.
It’s a detail that elevates a home from beautiful to exceptional — balancing the aesthetic purity of open-plan living with the practicality that daily life demands.
A Modern Essential, Hidden in Plain Sight
The secondary kitchen is the epitome of quiet luxury — discreet, efficient, and transformative.
It allows you to entertain effortlessly, live beautifully, and keep your main kitchen exactly as it was designed to be: a masterpiece of calm and refinement.
At Foscari Interiors, we believe luxury isn’t about more — it’s about better.
The secondary kitchen embodies that philosophy: understated, purposeful, and indispensable in the modern home.
