Have you ever heard of a Spice Kitchen?

What is a Spice Kitchen?

A Spice Kitchen is a small separate contained kitchen within a home that is often used for cultural cooking. Spice Kitchens will almost always have a separate ventilation system to capture all of the unwanted smells, strong odors or fragrances and prevent them from seeping out into the main living area of the house. Other names for a spice kitchen include “Wok Kitchen” and “Asian Wok Kitchen”.

What’s in a Spice Kitchen?

The layout and design for a Spice Kitchen will typically be much smaller than a conventional or “show kitchen” of the main home. They have all of the appliance fundamentals: Gas or Electric Range, Microwave, Ventilation, and Sink (double or single). Depending on the culinary needs of the client, they can also have a Dishwasher or other appliances like a residential Teppanyaki grill. They will have enough countertop space for prepping and upper and lower cabinet storage for all of your pantry storage needs.

See the entire Dreamscape Spice Kitchen Project here.
See the rest of the Home here.

Where do you put a Spice Kitchen?

Sometimes, there is no Fridge in a Spice Kitchen; this is to cut down on the footprint and space that it takes up. This is why a Spice Kitchen is often near or close proximity to the main kitchen for easy access to the refrigerator. This close access is also great for easy serving in the main kitchen once cooking is complete. Alternatively, an under-counter refrigerator works great in a Spice Kitchen Design.

How Big Should a Spice Kitchen Be?

There are no standard room sizes for a spice kitchen. At a minimum, you must fix the key elements you require, such as a range/stove and a sink. Common shapes of spice kitchens are L-shaped or Galley-Style. That said, if you did a Galley-style spice kitchen, you could do it in an 80″ space. This would include a 30″ freestanding range, a 30″ single sink, and 18″ of counter space in between, also accounting for fillers.

Other Advantages of a Spice Kitchen?

• Great to cook in! The smaller footprint and quick access to the essentials allow for a wonderful cooking space. Everything you need is within an arm’s length.
• Contain your mess! Keep your mess, oil splashing, and cooking smells enclosed away from your primary living space.
• Spice Kitchens are great for resale, keeping the main kitchen in much better condition.

Cabinet Tips if planning a Spice Kitchen

• Choose a durable and extremely cleanable material for your cupboards that won’t be as affected by cooking oils, grease and oxidization.
• Textured Melamine Cabinets work very well for Spice Kitchens. They are durable, extremely cleanable, and serviceable. The Superior Cabinets Laminate Finishes Line has a few great options.
• If you choose a Wood Kitchen, a hearty and strong stained wood is always a good choice. Try to avoid dark stains here, which will show and illuminate every grease splatter or water drop.
• Avoid finishes that can easily yellow or stain from grease or oil, like textured painted MDF.
• Avoid porous countertop surfaces like certain granite or marble. Laminate or Quartz countertops work great.
• Have an extremely cleanable tiled backsplash and seal your grout. Again, avoid porous backsplash materials.
• It has many plugins for appliances (pressure cooker, blender, rice cooker, electric wok, food processor, etc.).
• Remember, it’s always best to consult your Professional Kitchen Designer/Cabinetry Expert for recommendations. Products, stains, wood species vary from supplier to supplier.