Home » » » Butler’s Pantry VS Scullery – What’s the Difference?
Last week, I was following along in a forum discussion about kitchen designs. A woman was asking questions about here plans for her new kitchen. She seemed to really have a grasp on what she wanted, but she asked if anyone could answer the question, “butler’s pantry vs scullery – what’s the difference?”There were a few people who got it correct, but I was surprised at how many people had never heard of a scullery and weren’t really sure what was the purpose of a butler’s pantry. Needless to say, that sparked this little article.
This is a modern-day farmhouse kitchen – and a very nice one at that. Today, we enjoy gathering in the kitchen with family and friends. For most homes, the kitchen is the heart of the home. However, if you could stroll back into days gone by to a kitchen as elaborate as this, you would eventually arrive at a time where the only people you would find here would be the servants.
Lavish homes like this would most likely be a place that held frequent events, fed multitudes of people, and required many kitchen hands to get the job done. Enter the scullery – and yes, this kitchen has one of those, too.
The scullery was the place where the cleaning up could be done. I am sure that you have heard of a scullery maid before. Well, she had the wonderful job of doing what we would now think of as a bus boy’s/dish washer’s job.
So, where is the scullery in this kitchen? If you haven’t located it yet, shift your eyes to the space behind the refrigerator. (FYI – I have a few mood boards on Farmhouse styles here, if that is your design of choice).
Now, if you could walk behind that refrigerator, this is what you would see – a modern-day scullery. Pretty snazzy, wouldn’t you say?
Sculleries are located just off of a kitchen, but not in view of the other parts of the home. It has an extra sink and may even have a dishwasher. A lot of the time, extra appliances or rarely used appliances are kept in the scullery, as well.
Butler’s Pantry VS Scullery –The Scullery:
Having a scullery is definitely a luxury. So, if you are on the fence about having one, just ask yourself a few questions? How many events/dinners do I host a year? How many people hang out in my kitchen during these events? Crowded?
Would you like to be able to keep the dirty dishes out of the “gathering zone”? Do you frequently use caterers? If you answered yes to most of these, you probably could use a scullery. And, I guess I will just keep dreaming. :-)
Butler’s Pantry VS Scullery –Butler’s Pantry:
A butler’s pantry, on the other hand, is not so far out of reach for most of us – assuming you can find 3 x 2 feet of space near the dining room. If we go back in time again, the butler’s pantry is just what it says – the butler’s pantry.
The butler’s job typically would consist of prepping and serving, and that is just how this space is intended to be used. (If you have ever watched an episode of Downton Abbey, then you are familiar with the traditional differences between a butler and a kitchen hand).
You would normally find all of the nice place settings located here, as well as the good silverware and the linen napkins. This is the place where you want to stop off just before making the grand entrance into the dining room with the desserts. So, a countertop is necessary.
But, a butler’s pantry doesn’t have to be elaborate. It can be anything from a simple sideboard placed strategically in a nook, to a fully accessorized and stocked serving pantry. Additions that you might find in a modern-day Butler’s pantry are wine coolers, mini fridges, prep sinks, and maybe even a warmer.
So, I guess I could wrap it all up in a nice little bow and say that a scullery is for cleaning and a butler’s pantry is for serving/prepping. So, why even have a kitchen in the first place? Let’s all just have a scullery and a butler’s pantry instead. I can only imagine my husband’s reaction should I tell him that I am converting our kitchen in such a way. (and, you totally get that if you are constantly tackling new home projects like I do). ;-)
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About Rachel Lynn
Rachel is a home improvement expert with more than 20 years of experience in renovations, carpentry, and interior design and has more than 10 years experience in graphic and web design. She used the combination of her experience and knowledge to start her own digital media publishing company where she shares her knowledge across three different websites.
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Comments
Kelly Mahan says
Huh, I really hadn’t heard about these two yet. Thanks for the info, loved reading the post! =)
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Rachel Lynn says
You’re welcome Kelly!
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Kristine says
The scullery I saw, was explained as that all the heavy messy baking went on in there. You could bring out all the appliances, flour and sugar everywhere and close the door until you had time to clean the mess up later. It was set up with a fridge and oven as well.
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Rachel Lynn says
Yes, they can be as detailed as one would like (or afford). The key word in your description is “mess.” ;-) I have a friend who had a scullery added next to her kitchen, just so the caterer would have a secluded area to cook and clean. It was decked out with all the bells and whistles, too.
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