House Project

what is a scullery?

Welcome to today’s edition of Jen’s Kitchen on What Is A Scullery?

After my post on our scullery renovations last week, I saw the need of explaining what exactly a scullery is. Questions on Facebook and the comment section of that post indicated that several of my friends didn’t really know what it is. Come to think of it. If I had not lived in New England for a five year stint, I don’t know if I would have known what a scullery is either.

basin of dishes

If you Google scullery, it will tell you that it’s “a small kitchen or room at the back of the house used for washing dishes and other dirty household work.” Some definitions also say that it’s for laundering clothes. That’s precisely what my scullery is…a small room right by my back door. It will (when it’s finished) contain a dishwasher and my washing machine.

my kitchen

My kitchen is separate. That will get a renovation eventually, too, so that I can have a proper oven. In the meantime, I’m using a basin to wash dishes in and my vegetable washing sink to rinse (it makes quite a mess, that little sink). My little oven sits on my counter for cooking. It’s really not that bad. They say you can do anything for 3 months (although I’m hoping this scullery renovation doesn’t take 3 months). It definitely helps me stay up on washing dishes.

washing station

Once the scullery is finished and we’ve caught a breather from it, I’ll be able to move that little oven in the scullery so that I can cook while the kitchen gets a remodel. I don’t know the time frame of when that will start. One thing at a time, but the plan is already worked out in my head. πŸ™‚

Have you ever lived in a house with a scullery?

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No Comments

  • Reply
    tinajo
    July 23, 2013 at 5:48 am

    No I havenΒ΄t, but it sounds neat. πŸ™‚

    http://tinajoathome.com

  • Reply
    Elisa | blissfulE
    July 24, 2013 at 8:20 am

    You're right; I didn't know what a scullery was.

    I think my kitchen is a scullery! A small room by my back (which is also my front) door where I wash a lot of dishes. πŸ™‚ My washing machine is out in the shed.

  • Reply
    MaryAnne
    July 24, 2013 at 12:42 pm

    I think all of my kitchens in the UK would have qualified as sculleries – none of them fit more than one person, and one of them had a single SQUARE (12 by 12 inches) of tile, combined with two cupboards, a miniscule three-burner stove, and a tiny sink.

    Good luck with your renovations! I'm excited to see the final product!

  • Reply
    {amy}
    July 24, 2013 at 11:32 pm

    I didn't know what a scullery was, so this helps! πŸ™‚

  • Reply
    Anonymous
    July 25, 2013 at 9:54 pm

    I've never lived in a house with a scullery, though I can see how they may have been useful… in their time! You can survive a reno. But it will be hard! Can't lie: but worth it in the end.

  • Reply
    rooth
    July 26, 2013 at 12:40 pm

    Good to know. Now that explains what a scullery maid is as well

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