Butler’s pantries are becoming a ‘must have’ feature of the modern kitchen. Here are our tips on what to consider when designing your butler’s pantry.
Are you dreaming of having more space in your kitchen? A place where you can tuck away groceries, appliances, and other items out of sight? And have more room for food preparation?
A butler’s pantry could be exactly what you need.
What is a butler’s pantry?
It sounds a bit ‘Downtown Abbey,’ but the butler’s pantry is fast becoming a feature of the modern kitchen.
A butler’s pantry is usually a small room or space connected to the kitchen or dining area. It’s primarily designed for food preparation, storage, and ‘out of sight’ serving.
4 essential design features to include in your butler’s pantry
- Plenty of practical storage
Ideal for keeping your kitchen area clear of clutter, your butler’s pantry is the place to keep crockery, serving dishes, linen, special-occasion silverware, and appliances. It’s also a top spot to have a mini wine cellar. Your pantry should include built-in shelves, cabinets, and drawers, to give you plenty or room to organise and store all your bits and pieces.
- Benchtop space for food preparation
With the popularity of open-plan design, it’s common to have the food preparation and the dining areas in the same place. But when you’re busy entertaining, it’s great to have a separate place for food preparation, serving, and staging.
Most homeowners match the kitchen and pantry benchtop material to keep things simple. But as it’s ‘out of sight,’ you could consider a less expensive option than the benchtop in your kitchen.
- Room to tuck away your appliances
Appliances can take up a lot of bench space in your main kitchen area, especially larger items like coffee machines and food processors. You might even have room for an extra fridge for drinks, a wine cooler, or a dishwasher. Make sure you have enough power points installed in your butler’s pantry to accommodate all your appliances.
- Lots of light
Install plenty of lighting, especially if your butler’s pantry doesn’t have a window. We can install under-cabinet LED lighting, pendant lights, or recessed lighting to create a working space that’s both warm and practical.
Things to avoid when designing your butler’s pantry
Your butler’s pantry needs to be both practical and elegant.
Good planning and designing an efficient layout, is the key to creating a space that works for you.
Small spaces can be a little claustrophobic! Depending on the amount of space you have, make sure you don’t try and cram too much into your butler’s pantry. Overcrowding can make it tricky to find things when you need them.
Lack of adequate ventilation is also important if you’re to avoid problems with moisture build-up. Having a poorly ventilated space can lead to issues with mould – and you want to avoid that at all costs.
The team at Designer Living Kitchens can help you plan your ideal butler’s pantry to suit your needs and budget.
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