Design and trends
Show Kitchen vs Working Kitchen in UAE Villas
Key points
- The show kitchen is a living and entertaining space; the working kitchen handles heavy cooking.
- Plan the two together: storage, appliances and circulation should split cleanly.
- Use a statement finish in the show kitchen and a robust, easy-clean finish in the working kitchen.
- Specify plywood carcasses and stable fronts in both for Gulf humidity.
Walk through almost any new villa in Dubai or Abu Dhabi and you will find two kitchens. The show kitchen opens to the living and dining space: an island, beautiful doors, perhaps a coffee station. Behind it, often next to the service entrance, is the working kitchen (sometimes called the dirty, back or closed kitchen), where the real cooking happens, with strong extraction and room for staff.
Why two kitchens?
Gulf cooking can be intensive: large family meals, frying and spices, cooking for guests. A closed working kitchen keeps smells, heat and noise away from the living space, while the show kitchen stays immaculate for family and guests.
Designing the show kitchen
- Lead with the island. Seating, a prep sink and storage on both sides. A stone-effect or oak island from Eclipse or Dapple makes it the centrepiece.
- Hide the appliances. Integrated fridge, dishwasher and coffee machine in tall housings.
- Choose the style. Raised panel (Lantern) or shaker (Meridian) for classic villas; frameless gloss or matt (Prism) for contemporary.
- Light it. Under-cabinet LED behind a light pelmet, and glazed wall units for display.
Designing the working kitchen
- Robust finishes. Melamine or acrylic slab (Dusk, Lustre) wipes clean of grease and spices.
- Storage for bulk. Full-height larders, deep pan drawers and open shelves for large pots.
- Ventilation. Plan the extractor first; bridging wall units fit around it.
- Two zones. Separate cooking and washing-up areas when there is staff.
Making them work together
Decide early which appliances live where. A common split: the show kitchen has a hob or induction for light cooking, an oven and a coffee station; the working kitchen has the main range, the second dishwasher and the bulk fridge-freezer. Use the same carcass and hardware in both so maintenance is simple, and carry one accent colour through for a coherent design.
Materials for the climate
Plywood carcasses are more stable than chipboard in humid air, and thermofoil, acrylic and melamine fronts do not move like solid panels. Read choosing cabinets for the UAE climate.
Our in-house designers plan show and working kitchens together, with 3D visuals before production. About the design service.
Frequently asked questions
What is a dirty kitchen in a villa?
A separate closed kitchen, usually behind the show kitchen, used for heavy cooking so smells, heat and noise stay out of the living space.
Should the show kitchen and working kitchen match?
They do not need to match, but using the same carcass and hardware, and one shared accent colour, keeps the design coherent and maintenance simple.
About the author. Written by Sanyang's design and technical team, drawing on more than 25 years of manufacturing kitchen and bathroom cabinetry and more than 500 containers a month shipped to the United States. About Sanyang.
