The Kitchen Trend That's Perfect If You Love To Entertain

If you love to entertain, you've probably found yourself scrambling to prep that last appetizer and tuck dirty dishes in the dishwasher before the first guests arrive. Your kitchen is the heart of entertaining, whether that's for prepping food or gathering with your friends and family. But it can also become cluttered and dirty when you're prepping for a party. That's why the back kitchen is coming back in full force for homeowners who love to entertain or want a hidden food-prepping space.

A back kitchen is essentially a large walk-in pantry that doubles as a food prep area. It's similar to a butler's pantry, but a back kitchen often contains more appliances. This might include a refrigerator, oven, dishwasher, cooktop, and microwave. A back kitchen is usually more concealed and out of the way than a traditional kitchen. It centers around functionality for prepping and cooking food. You can still make your prep kitchen aesthetically pleasing, but it's more important to plan a functional space with enough countertops and storage to simplify cooking activities.

It might seem like a feature you would only find in a mansion or a spacious, upscale home, but homeowners who love to entertain might be tempted by the option to have a separate prep area no matter how big the home is. Even if you don't entertain frequently, it's nice to keep the mess hidden. You can keep out your stand mixer, blender, and other appliances all the time without losing counter space in your main kitchen. As a bonus, this second kitchen space takes the bulk of the wear and tear to keep your main kitchen pristine.

Designing the perfect entertainment space for hosting is easier when you can keep the prep work hidden behind the scenes. With a back kitchen, you can chop, cook, and assemble everything on the dinner menu without the rush to clean up before guests arrive. It frees up more space in the kitchen where guests might gather for drinks and hors d'oeuvres. When guests are done eating, their plates can go to the back kitchen to keep clutter hidden. 

Even if you're not the one cooking, you still benefit from having a back kitchen. For a catered meal, the catering team can deliver the prepared food to the back kitchen where it stays ready to go until you serve your guests. Private chefs can also use the space to whip up their culinary masterpieces without limiting the space you have to entertain. This can be especially helpful if you have an open floor plan where activities in the kitchen are clearly visible from other areas where your guests might sit.

Another attractive perk of building a back kitchen is hiding the wear and tear that inevitably happens with food prep. If you install a full kitchen in the hidden space, you can complete all cooking activities that might leave stains, scuffs, or wear marks on your countertops, appliances, and cabinets. Choosing finishes for their durability versus their appearance for the back kitchen can help them last longer. Meanwhile, in your main kitchen you can choose beautiful materials like marble and soapstone that are more delicate and could become damaged with regular cooking activities.

To find space for a back kitchen, you might transform a builder-grade pantry into a butler's pantry or back kitchen. You'll need ventilation and electrical outlets, so the transformation may require mechanical updates. You might be able to use a small nearby bedroom or sitting room that's close to the kitchen. If you're up for a renovation, consider an addition or rework your existing large kitchen to feature two separate spaces — one for entertaining and one for cooking.

Consider how you plan to use the space and how you entertain. For instance, if you like to hire a private chef, consider what equipment they need to prepare a variety of dishes so that all of the prep work can take place in the back kitchen. Think about the roadblocks that keep your get-togethers from going smoothly. Maybe you never have enough space for your baked dishes — you might decide to add an oven to your walk-in kitchen pantry to double your baking space.

You'll find a wide range of designs when it comes to back kitchens. If you're working with a small space, you might include a sink and dishwasher with lots of counter space to make it more of a prep area. Adding an extra refrigerator, even if it's a small one, is also helpful for expanding food storage when you have guests. Use it for chilling drinks or keeping appetizers and desserts cool until you serve them. If you have the room and the budget, you could also outfit the space with a complete kitchen so you can prep, cook, and clean up behind the scenes.