Other cultures also lean towards two kitchen areas — kosher cooks like to have more than one preparation space, while having an outdoor cooking space for the smelly stuff, as they do in many parts of the Continent, seems like a no-brainer (although possibly not with the British climate).

Those with grown-up children might also benefit from a second kitchen — as Raymond and Sharon Everall found after buying the Grange, a house near Northampton, in 2007. It had a main kitchen in the house and a second, smaller one in an attached annexe.

They — or rather, their daughters, Madeline, 16, and Alana, 13 — use the latter all the time. “We entertain a lot, and our daughters spend a lot of time with their friends in the second kitchen,” says Sharon, 47. “It’s a great thing to have.”

It has a multitude of other uses, too. “It’s handy if we have people over for dinner in the evening — if the kitchen’s a mess the next morning, we can use the other one for breakfast,” she adds. “If we have friends to stay, we have a rule that they can stay three days and we will entertain them — longer than that and they can self-cater.”

When considering whether it is worth adding one to your own home, think all about balance: there’s no point stuffing your house full of kitchens if you’ve only got two bedrooms. “If it’s a big house with a ‘boys’ section’ that has a proper entertaining space, that’s when an extra one is needed,” says James Pace, head of Knight Frank’s Chelsea office. “A big media room in a basement needs a kitchenette next to it rather than a dumb waiter from the main kitchen.” If you employ live-in staff, they will need their own living space — which includes a kitchen.

Robert Bailey, director of the buying agency of the same name, says that if you’re planning to install an extra kitchen, you should first think about potential future buyers. “If you’re using redundant space in the house, you’ve got to consider what is going to be of more value — a media room, a pool or a second kitchen.”

If you are really keen, though, why stop at two? According to Johnny Grey, the bespoke kitchen designer, some clients want even more. “We have been asked to create a mini kitchen, located off the master bedroom on a third floor, for clients who want a private breakfast space — and on one occasion, next to a study for making working lunches,” he says.

Meanwhile, John Wischhusen, a developer, is building a house in Sandbanks, Dorset, which will have no fewer than five kitchens: a regular one, an outdoor one, a small one in the self-contained guest suite, an industrial catering kitchen and a kitchenette on the third floor.

“In an 8,000 sq ft house, it’s too much walking to have just one,” he says. “If you want a croissant and a coffee when you wake up, you don’t have to bother going down two floors.” An extra kitchen, he adds, is like “a grown-up Teasmade” — just a bit more expensive.

The Grange is for sale for £1.375m through Jackson-Stops & Staff (01604 632991, jackson-stops.co.uk )

Thinking of installing a second kitchen? Here’s how to do it:

How much space do I need? You will need enough room for a minimum of a cooker, a sink, a worktop and a fridge, as well as some storage, says Tony Adams, business manager at MH Costa Construction, a London-based building company. You don’t

even have to devote a whole room to it: there are some extremely compact ones on the market. John Strand, for example, offers a “designer mini kitchen” that fits in a space as small as 100cm wide x 60cm deep x 90cm high (from £475; johnstrand-mk.co.uk). Culshaw Bell’s 150cm x 65cm x 216cm “kitchen in a cupboard” includes an integrated sink, a microwave, a fridge and a hob (£4,876; culshawbell.co.uk ).

Where in the house should I put it? Wherever you like, but it makes sense to have at least one outside wall to route

drainage and ventilation. Building regulations also stipulate that there must be a door separating the lavatory from food preparation areas.

Can I do it myself? There’s no reason why not, as long as you are reasonably competent — you need basic carpentry, plumbing and decorating skills. Unless you’re a registered electrician, you’ll need to submit a building notice to the local authority. If the work involves demolishing supporting walls — or one you think might be — you should consult an architect or building engineer.

How much is it going to cost? The final sum depends on the specification of the kitchen you put in, but Adams estimates that a DIYer could install a small kitchen, with simple plumbing, electrical and ventilation, for about £1,000, excluding appliances.

Will it add to the value of my house? Not necessarily, but it could help its saleability, according to James Pace, head

of the Chelsea office of Knight Frank estate agency. “A big house of 3,000 sq ft or more that doesn’t have separate accommodation for staff — including a kitchen — could be devalued, because that’s what that kind of buyer wants,” he says. Don’t bother if you live in a smallish house or flat — it may be viewed as an oddity and put buyers off.

Will the mortgage people object? Quite possibly. “In your average property, lenders would be questioning a second kitchen,

as would a surveyor,” says Richard Morea, a mortgage broker at London & Country. “Their concern would be whether that part of the property might be let out. The key is to make sure that it’s highlighted to the lenders.”

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