What’s in a butler’s pantry?
The butler’s pantry is hot right now. Every floor plan I look at seems to incorporate one. It’s like having a second kitchen hidden away from the “main” kitchen.
Definition: Butler’s pantry – A service room between a kitchen and dining room, typically equipped with counters, a sink, and storage space for china and silver.
The humble pantry has evolved in to a storage space over the years. I have one (minus the additional sink), and I love it. Mine is full to the brim with stuff; school bags, deep freezer, microwave, fridge, toaster, food.
Here are some uses and tips:
- A place to do all the prep work separate from the main kitchen area.
- The butler’s pantry is known as an additional space to store dishes after clearing the table (if you also add a sink in there).
- It’s a place to house day-to-day items, like toasters, microwave, jugs, coffee machines, juicers etc.
- A tip is to put in good lighting to make food preparation easier.
- Incorporate lots of bench space shelving. Make sure shelves go all the way to the ceiling.
- Spend more money on the main kitchen area and less on the butler’s pantry space by choosing materials such as laminate benches and cabinetry over stone benchtops. Select shelves instead of drawers.
- Use lots of open shelving. Add storage baskets and containers to keep your food in order.
- Use see-through storage items, like glass jars and containers. This makes it easy to find what you’re looking for.
- Add a few powerpoints around the benches for your jug, toaster, microwave, blender.
- Consider putting your fridge and other appliances in here (to keep your main kitchen area more streamlined).
- Store all your big items in there – like platters and mixing bowls.
- As a general guide, the width of the walk through should be at least 1000mm, then add another 600mm for the benchtops.
- Install a door so you can close it all off.
- Don’t forget additional plumbing if you’re installing a sink area.
- Consider adding hooks/rails, chalkboard or whiteboard to write shopping lists, or hang school bags.
- You can even keep your vacuum (like a stick one) in here for easy access.
I found some of the best butler’s pantry’s on Pinterest to inspire you…
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♥ KC.