Should you build a custom home with two kitchens?

For most home buyers, two kitchens might seem extravagant. But for certain custom homebuyers, a second kitchen makes sense for their lifestyle. The two-kitchen trend isn’t new. In fact, this type of home has been on trend for a number of years and buyers’ interest has increased over time.

“We’ve seen a significant rise in the demand for homes with two kitchens, especially among multi-generational and live-in caregiver households,” says Paul Foresman, vice president and director of business development at Design Basics in Omaha, NE.

Despite the home shopper interest in second kitchens, it is far from a standard feature, even in luxury homes.

“I’d have to ask, ‘What is the use for that second kitchen?'” says Andy Sachs, a Realtor and team leader at Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Newtown, CT. “Unless we’re talking about an ultra-luxury residence, where one might have one kitchen for staff and one for everyday living, I think today’s consumer, even one of affluence, would consider two kitchens simply for the sake of two kitchens to be superfluous.”

That said, Sachs adds, there some situations when including two kitchens in the home’s floorplan is a smart move:

A Separate Kitchen for Your In-Law Suite

An in-law suite combines a family home and a small set of rooms for an older relative, or guest. The family home has plenty of square footage with multiple bedrooms and bathrooms, living areas and a full kitchen. The suite is smaller with separate sleeping quarters, at least one private bathroom, a separate living area and, sometimes, its own kitchen.

Multiple Kitchens for Multi-Generational Homes

A multi-generational, or “multigen,” home features two complete homes within one structure. One or more generations of the same family occupies each ‘house’. Each home includes multiple bedrooms and bathrooms, a separate living area and a full kitchen, and each house is larger than an in-law suite.

An Outdoor Kitchen is Calling to You

An outdoor kitchen isn’t just a grill to cook a few hotdogs and hamburgers. Instead, it’s an extension of your home that you can use for cooking and entertaining year-round, weather permitting. A well-equipped outdoor kitchen might include a grill, pizza oven, food prep counter, refrigerator and bar.

You Want a Convenience Kitchen for Your Multi-Story Home

A smaller second (or third) kitchen on an upper or lower level of your home can be a convenient in multi-story homes. Rather than run up and down stairs, you can use the convenience kitchen to prepare snacks and smaller meals when you’re not on your home’s main level. A convenience kitchen might have cupboards and a counter with a small sink, mini-fridge and microwave oven.

You Run a Food Business From Home

If you run a food business from your home, your second kitchen could be your office. State laws vary, so you should make sure your state allows home-based food businesses before you add a second kitchen for this purpose to your new home.

A Work-In Pantry Hides Messes

A work-in pantry, or “prep kitchen,” is a second, usually smaller kitchen that’s hidden away around the corner from or behind the main kitchen. This second kitchen is sometimes called a “butler’s pantry.”

The main kitchen has cupboards, counters, a sink and all or most of the major kitchen appliances. The prep kitchen features food storage areas, countertops and a second sink. It might also have a second refrigerator, cupboards for small appliances, such as a toaster, coffee maker and blender, and a bar station to store liquor, wine and bar glasses.

Foresman says work-in pantries are more popular than two full kitchens, especially for homeowners who frequently entertain around food, such as hosting dining parties.