How much does it cost to add a scullery on a mid-range budget?

ARTICLE Clare Chapman

The options for creating a beautiful and functional scullery are endless, depending of course, on the space available and the budget limitations. A basic scullery can be achieved with minimal cost output.
At the next level, moving up from simple open-shelving and a workbench, and still avoiding high costs, a versatile space can easily be achieved.
Kitchen designer Hayley Dryland says the important things to think about are how the space will be utilised. Depending on whether the space is going to be primarily an area to close off and hide dishes in the midst of a dinner party, or whether it’s going to be used by children as a messy area, will affect how it is designed.
For a mid-range scullery or butler’s pantry, things to think about are what sort of workspace will be needed, whether plumbing is required for a second sink or dishwasher, and whether additional power points will be useful to allow for larger appliances to be set up and plugged in ready to use.
“I often look at a scullery as an open, appliance garage; somewhere people can store all those appliances like the microwave, the blender, the toaster, the food processor in an easily accessible space that doesn’t take away from the aesthetics of the main kitchen,” Dryland says.
Mid-tier sculleries often include a second workbench, either open or closed shelving depending on the budget, plumbing and storage areas. “Having the dishwasher in the scullery can save a lot of space in the main kitchen. In the mid-range, it’s worth considering what sort of aesthetics you are looking for. Will the shelving be open or closed, or example?”
While open shelving is easily accessible it does attract dust, and as budgets increase, people often opt for closed shelving, Dryland says.

“Having all the workings of a kitchen in the scullery is a popular way of setting up kitchen areas now because our way of living has become so open plan, particularly in kitchen/living/dining areas of the home. People often ask to have the fridge in the scullery, again to keep the main kitchen as clear as possible.
“Having that throw-away area that can be shut off with a door is so popular. We aren’t perfect and we’re often messy but we don’t often want others to see that. So while the kids’ breakfast dishes still clutter the sink out the back out of sight, the main kitchen stays tidy. This is one of the benefits of the scullery that really appeals to people,” Dryland says.
A mid-range scullery with plumbing, a second sink, open or closed shelving and a larger bench can be achieved for anything up to $5,000.

If you have a smaller budget to work with, why not read How much does it cost to add a scullery on a basic budget?

Note: prices are rough approximations only and Refresh Renovations cannot be held accountable for their accuracy. All prices in this article are exclusive of installation costs and any variations unless otherwise noted. 

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