Do you feel like your kitchen pantry gets too cluttered? Or have you ever wished there was an easier way to manage the space between your cooking and dining rooms? One renovation that can solve these problems is a butler’s pantry. It’s more functional than your usual kitchen shelf and more compact than your usual walk-in pantry – it’s a small yet useful addition to any home.
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What is a butler’s pantry?
In the past, a butler’s pantry was a space where all a house’s silverware was kept. Since it was the butler’s job to keep it locked and guarded, these rooms were almost exclusively used by the serving staff of the rich and powerful families. The butler would also sleep there to make sure that no one stole the expensive utensils.
A modern butler’s pantry is an extra space to store and prepare food. They typically contain plenty of storage space like shelving and cabinets, and sometimes appliances like a microwave or a fridge. Butler pantries can be flexible with their placement between the dining area and the kitchen – some even have an adjoining entrance to the laundry room.
Design and layout: butler’s pantry ideas
Here are a few ways that you can properly utilise a butler’s pantry in your home.
5. A wet bar
For the wine connoisseurs
A wet bar is one of the more expensive uses of a butler’s pantry, but it’s great for people who have a lot of visitors or enjoy mixing drinks at home. The extra space to store wine and spirits means that the bottles don’t take up precious food space in your fridge.
4. Power points for small appliances
When you don’t have enough sockets
Another excellent use of a butler’s pantry is to plug in those devices that you may not have enough sockets for in the kitchen – like your blender or coffee maker. The kitchen and dining rooms already have appliances that take up dedicated space like the fridge or fan, so having the extra sockets can be very helpful in food preparation. And since most butlers pantries are designed with countertops and plenty of open space, it can also work well as a space for hobbies and projects that require special equipment!
3. Additional kitchen storage
Make use of the extra space
If you don’t have that much elbow room in the kitchen, a butler’s pantry can function as a makeshift storage room. As homeowners, we often have plenty of knickknacks we’re not quite sure where to put – extra utensils, candles, the odd toolkit – and a butler’s pantry is a great place to keep these things without cluttering the main living space.
2. Extend your kitchen
Maybe it’s time for an upgrade
If your home’s floor plan allows it, then make the butler’s pantry an extension of your kitchen! As a dedicated serving area, it allows you to avoid the usual clutter and mess that comes with having completed food right beside your cooking station. It’s especially handy in busy homes with plenty of people, as you can also use it as a wash area without getting in the way of cooking.
1. A completely separate cooking area
More room for guests
Finally, a butler’s pantry can function as a separate cooking area in a pinch! This setup allows you to transform your actual kitchen into a cleaner and more welcoming space for guests. Dinner parties are so much more comfortable when the guests are free to perch on the kitchen bench, and the hosts are free to access the food without getting into anyone’s way.
A well-designed butler’s pantry does more than keep your cooking area pristine: it gives you room to manage tricky foot traffic in your kitchen! So measure your room dimensions and get your quote – adding this small feature may be one of the best decisions you ever make for your home.
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