By Karen Kirk
October 2023
As kitchen design evolves to keep pace with the times, a pantry has become one of the most coveted design elements to add to the most used and popular room in the house.
Back in the day, these spaces, known as butler’s pantries or sculleries were dedicated spaces in large homes used to store the family silver, china, serving pieces and coffee urns. Today, we want more out of these multi-purpose walk-in spaces that are conveniently located just off the kitchen or dining room. Ideal as a prepping, staging and serving area when entertaining a spacious pantry also offers additional storage space for extra kitchen equipment and bulk foods.
For those of you who missed the opportunity to incorporate a pantry into your new kitchen design, consider converting a set of unused cabinets, a spare closet or large hallway near the kitchen or dining room into a pantry. A closet company, contractor or designer can help you with a design in any size and configuration to suit your needs.
How would you design and use a pantry in your kitchen? Check out these inspiring pantry design ideas.
1. In a modern-day butler’s pantry, you’ll commonly find a stone countertop, cabinets, drawers and open shelving for storing a variety of kitchen and entertaining essentials. Adding built-in appliances like a Thermador speed oven as shown here, or microwave, under counter fridge, and coffee machine can transform the space into a mini kitchen for prep and serving when entertaining. This stunning design features white cabinets, small sink, chrome and antique brass finishes, a diamond-patterned tile floor and natural oak floating shelves for an upscale pantry style.
Builder/Designer: Clark & Co. Homes
Photographer | Doug Petersen Photography
2. During the entertaining season, time and performance are key to a successful and enjoyable family gathering. The perfect size and addition for a pantry, Thermador’s built-in speed oven with spacious 1.6 cu.ft. interior and sensor cooking enables an intuitive sensor mode that controls humidity and automatically adjusts cooking levels and time for meals cooked to perfection.
3. A fun colourful walk-in pantry painted in peach is a dream addition for a family who loves to entertain! When company’s coming, this sweet space stores and chills the wine in Thermador’s under counter fridge built into one of the open shelves and when it’s time for dessert or the morning after wake up call, the programmable Thermador coffee machine offers a variety of barista-style hot and cold beverages made to order for you and your guests in seconds.
4. This classy white pantry with modern glass-paneled French doors and a white marble floor is designed for the wine connoisseur in the family boasting two Thermador built-in glass and stainless-steel wine refrigerators.
Design: Phil Kean Design Group
