A butler’s pantry or prep kitchen is an absolute must-have for homeowners who love to cook, entertain or simply keep messes out of sight. Tucked off the main kitchen, this is where a lot of the magic happens and designers are ensuring these hardworking spaces are just as beautiful as they are functional.

Photo: Jon Adrian

Yes, Chef

The owner of this Okanagan home, interior designer France Lefebvre, is an avid cookbook collector—her kitchen island is stacked with more than 200 flea market finds, first editions and James Beard-winning bestsellers. So, it makes perfect sense that she would have designed herself a prep kitchen. It features plenty of counterspace, storage and a double oven for testing out recipes.

Fun fact: this is only one of four kitchens in the house. Find out how the main kitchen, outdoor kitchen and downstairs kitchen/bar compare.

Photo: Ema Peter

Ship, Ship, Hooray!

From the island and the banquette to the La Cornue stove, this Kelly Deck-designed kitchen is filled with blue accents. The prep space, meanwhile, is drenched in the colour. The deep, rich blue hue (Distance by Sherwin-Williams) really enhances the home’s American yacht club-inspired palette. Check out the rest of this traditional-meets-contemporary kitchen.

Photo: Ema Peter

Cooking with Gas

With a beautiful gas range, a charming brick-like white tile backsplash and open wood shelving, this prep kitchen gives off some serious BKE (big kitchen energy). It’s “a little surprise around the corner,” says designer Erica Colpitts. Get more kitchen design tips from this North Vancouver home.

Photo: Ema Peter

Walk the Wok

This Kitsilano home is filled with spaces that allow the owners to soak in all of life’s little moments, including a light-filled home office, a casual breakfast nook and a wok kitchen. The latter, hidden behind oxblood millwork, was cleverly designed to fit under the staircase. “The clients wanted to have a playful house, nothing boring or expected,” says designer Denise Ashmore. See the before and after renovation photos.

Photo: Michelle Johnson

Shelf Care

If you’re one of those people who thinks that storage solutions are sexy, you’re going to love this prep space designed by Alykhan Velji. While the drawers can be used to tuck away unsightly kitchen appliances, the open shelves allow the homeowners to stock pantry staples, display cookbooks and more. The checkerboard floors and pale green cabinets are swoon-worthy, too. Explore the rest of this Calgary home.

Kaitlyn Funk

Kaitlyn Funk

Kaitlyn is a design-obsessed writer, editor and content manager based in Vancouver. When she's not busy swooning over gorgeous homes, you can find her reading, hiking and befriending as many dogs as possible.