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In the realm of culinary exploration, spice kitchens have emerged as a trending concept that combines functionality, design, and an exquisite sensory experience. 

These specialized spaces are designed to accommodate the needs of avid home cooks, large families, and even professional chefs. 

With their distinct features and thoughtfully curated design elements, spice kitchens offer a dedicated space to store ingredients and prepare meals outside of your primary kitchen area. 

At Deslaurier, we have over 40 years of experience manufacturing custom cabinets and offering kitchen design services. We know how crucial a functional and efficient kitchen space is to the entire home. 

We take pride in helping our clients find unique ways to enhance those spaces with features like a spice kitchen!

In this article, we will delve into the features and common design elements of spice kitchens, while examining what homes would benefit from such a unique feature.

Let’s get started! 

What is a Spice Kitchen?

A spice kitchen is a secondary kitchen used for the preparation and cooking of food, commonly located next to the primary kitchen. 

Spice kitchens originated in Asia as a separate space to store and prepare a vast array of spices for cooking. In many cultures, especially those with a rich history of spice trade and diverse cuisine, spice kitchens play an essential role in food preparation.

Now, modern-day spice kitchens in North America are also known as prep or work kitchens and offer a separate space for cooking and cleanup outside the primary kitchen.  

Spice kitchens are typically equipped with additional kitchen appliances and cabinetry, while also having their own ventilation systems to help reduce odours from spreading to the rest of the home. 

The Benefits of a Spice Kitchen

After discovering the captivating history and significance of a spice kitchen, one might wonder about the motivations behind investing in such a culinary space. 

Well, there are three key reasons that make it an appealing choice: 

Firstly, a spice kitchen allows you to contain your mess. Imagine being the host of a Sunday dinner gathering. With a dedicated spice kitchen, you can cook up a storm while ensuring that your main kitchen remains tidy and presentable for entertaining guests. 

Secondly, it helps keep unpleasant cooking smells at bay. We've all experienced the lingering aftermath of pungent cooking odours. A spice kitchen is specifically designed to contain these aromas, reducing the need for excessive air fresheners and allowing you to enjoy a refreshing environment post-dinner. 

Lastly, a spice kitchen offers excellent accessibility. With its built-in storage space, it becomes a convenient extension of your main kitchen, pantry, and fridge. This proximity ensures a seamless cooking experience, making meal preparation a breeze. 

Include Appliances

If you really want to make the most out of your spice kitchen, it’s got to have appliances. 

A spice kitchen can be equipped with a fridge, sink, stovetop, hood fan, dishwasher, and even an oven. Any successful and efficient design will include several of these features, if not some version of them all. 

For a true prep kitchen, you’ll want an oven range and hood fan for cooking. Adding a dishwasher and sink helps to contain any mess or dirty dishes in the prep kitchen, rather than walking them over to the primary kitchen dishwasher. 

Even a moderately sized fridge is integral to a spice kitchen by keeping fresh ingredients in close proximity. 

Efficient Layout

While most kitchen designs focus on equal parts function and aesthetics, the layout of spice kitchens is designed with a focus on extreme functionality. 

They often feature an efficient workflow, ensuring that the essential tools and ingredients are easily accessible during cooking. 

The layout is optimized to minimize unnecessary movement, making it convenient for cooks to navigate the space and create culinary masterpieces. 

Even though a spice kitchen may be smaller, the layout should make use of every inch of space to enhance the cooking process. 

More Cabinet Storage

Another great benefit of a spice kitchen is the ability to increase storage space in your kitchen. 

No one ever complains that their kitchen has too much storage. Whether it’s pots and pans or food storage, increasing your kitchen’s capacity is priority number one. 

That’s the beauty of a spice kitchen, it creates extra space for cooking and storage. Most homeowners use it as they would a pantry. 

Combining the storage and organization of a pantry with the cooking efficiency of a kitchen, all in one area. 

You Need the Space

Speaking of space, your spice kitchen will need a significant amount of room. 

While there are certainly smaller iterations, a functional and efficient spice kitchen – equipped with cabinet storage and appliances – requires a fair amount of space. 

If you’re renovating your kitchen, for example, you might need to make a small addition to your home in order to include a spice kitchen. 

Unless you’re altering the layout of your main floor, you might not have the needed space. Not to mention the plumbing, electrical, and HVAC components necessary for cooking and other appliances. 

Creating a spice kitchen takes up a lot of room. 

Ideal Homes for a Spice Kitchen

Since they are such a significant feature (and investment), it’s no surprise that spice kitchens aren’t suitable for every home. 

Spice kitchens are a fantastic addition to homes where cooking and experimentation with flavours are highly valued. They are particularly suitable for:

Gourmet Cooks 

Home cooks with a deep passion for culinary arts, frequently experimenting with international cuisines, and relying heavily on a wide range of ingredients will find a spice kitchen immensely useful.

For individuals who enjoy exploring new meals, experimenting with homemade spice blends, or indulging in exotic recipes, a spice kitchen will serve as a dedicated sanctuary for their culinary adventures.

Entertainers

If you love hosting dinner parties or regularly entertaining guests, a spice kitchen will provide you with an organized and functional space to create impressive meals with complex flavour profiles. 

Your kitchen can remain pristine for hosting your guests, keeping the mess and chaos of meal preparation in your work kitchen. 

Large Families 

Homes with large families or multi-generational households that routinely prepare diverse home-cooked meals can benefit from a spice kitchen. 

It facilitates efficient cooking and ensures the main kitchen can be clean and available for large family meals. 

Design with Deslaurier Custom Cabinets

As you can see, a modern-day spice kitchen enhances any home. We hope this article inspired you to create the spice kitchen of your dreams! 

If you’re in the market for custom cabinets and kitchen design, Deslaurier Custom Cabinets has everything you need! With over 40 years of experience in our name, we provide our clients with a fully customized design process with our talented team of designers. 

Book a consultation today with a Deslaurier design expert at our Ottawa Showroom or schedule a virtual meeting! 

Live outside the area? Find a Dealer to connect with near you! Interested in becoming an authorized Deslaurier dealer? Visit our Become a Dealer page to learn more!