Two kinds of pantry
A walk-in pantry is a storeroom: food, bulk goods, the appliances that do not live on the counter. A butler’s pantry is a working room between the kitchen and the dining room, where drinks are poured, platters are set out and the good glasses are kept behind glass. Plenty of houses have space for one. Some have space for a room that does a little of both, and that is often the most useful design of all. The pantry is 1 of the 6 rooms we build, and it runs through the same 4 steps as a closet.
How we plan a pantry
We start with what you keep. A family that buys in bulk needs deep lower cabinets and tall pull-outs; a household that cooks from fresh ingredients wants shallow shelves where every jar is visible. We look at how often you shop, what sits on your kitchen counters now and what you would move into the pantry if it had a place. The shelving depths, the counter height and the mix of open and closed storage all come from that conversation.
- Open shelves at eye level for everyday staples
- Drawers and pull-outs below for bulk goods, bags and cans
- An appliance counter with power planned behind it
- Glass-front uppers for serving pieces and glassware
- Space planned for a sink or a beverage fridge where the kitchen can serve it
The butler’s pantry
Because a butler’s pantry is seen by guests, it is designed like the kitchen it serves. The cabinet doors, the countertop and the hardware are chosen to sit beside the kitchen without copying it, which is why they are often painted a deeper color with brass or nickel fittings. We plan where the trays go, where the wine goes and where a caterer would stand.
From a closet to a pantry
A coat closet or an unused nook near the kitchen can sometimes become a small walk-in pantry. We measure it, find out how deep it really is behind the trim, and tell you plainly whether it is worth doing before anything is drawn.