Reach-in Pantry Closet vs Cabinet Pantry?
Stacy Rahn-Dennis
13 years ago
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Comments (7)
lavender_lass
13 years agopinch_me
13 years agoRelated Discussions
Need help with shelf spacing for reach-in pantry, please
Comments (8)Hi Kay. Maybe my experience can help. I had to design my pantry with my carpenter standing next to me. I've never had any kind of good pantry storage so I didn't really know what I was doing. Like you, I wanted to maximize space for storage. Here's how mine turned out. Shelf height varies because I stood there trying to fit cans and boxes in to see what would fit. I started at the top figuring how high I wanted my first shelf to be for items I don't access daily then worked my way down. For the can storage, the shelves are spaced with 10.5" of open space. This allows for two cans stacked with enough breathing room to lift off the top can. Most other shelves are this same distance. My oils, vinegars, and other bottle storage needed to be taller so those are 11.75" apart. After all the figuring and shelf moving, I was left with a narrow space about 5.5". I decided to put that at optimum eye height to make sure I didn't lose anything in the back. This shelf works perfectly for loaves of bread and cereal out of the boxes. I was proud of myself for thinking "outside the box" (ha!) to think of storing daily cereal just in the bags. Boxed cereal overflow is stored on the top shelf. You can't see in the pic, but around to the left from the bread and cereal are many little canned homemade jams, fruits, and relishes. I love this shelf. **Caveat: This shelving was my cheap, need-shelves-now storage made from the off the shelf option at HD. I did want something more built-in and custom looking with painted wood shelves and without those ugly shelf supports. One day when the kids are older I'll tackle a pantry re-do. Also, I don't use as many canned and jarred items as shown here. A whole house reno made me turn to more pre-packaged foods than normal. And those paper plates in there make my cringe. Finally, my pantry is much better organized now....See MoreWalk-in Pantry vs. Pull-out Pantry-- Which to do?
Comments (7)Definitely walk in if you have the space in your floorplan (especially for new construction). With the walkin or reduced depth pantries with doors everything is visible and you can plan space for brooms, infrequently used appliances, and bulk storage. Walkin pantries have standard household doors which will last for decades. Downsides of pullouts are that they can move abruptly, which can cause items to shift or tip over. They are also are more fragile since the glides bear a lot of weight even with reinforcement. I can certainly imagine restless kids or grandkids slamming the pullout pantry closed or trying to climb up the shelves like a ladder....See MorePantry vs. Closet help
Comments (18)We had a similar townhouse layout. Could you split the difference and have a less deep hall closet and shallow kitchen pantry. Also, if you move the frig down, you would have another area for great storage and still plenty of counter space. Mostly though, I would recommend looking at the island. If you make it 48 inches wide and then put a rounded seating area for just 2 towards the kitchen table area, I think you will be happy as you will have lots of storage on the island and lose little functionality. I get the seating in various areas and don't consider it redundant. As for the garage - it is what it is - look into ceiling rack storage and wall racks. We had a similar set up. Better than nothing .... Good luck with your choices....See MoreCorner cabinets for pantry storage- hinged or two doors on easy reach?
Comments (2)I had a lower easy reach corner cabinet in my previous home, and am putting one in my new kitchen. I have also have experience with an angled corner cabinet, and a lazy Susan, and much prefer the easy reach cabinet. Mine had a single hinged door, which worked fine. The only problem I had with the hinged door was that it butted up against my range(it was a tiny kitchen!). My cabinets were melamine, and I had a tendency to over stuff that cabinet so the door didn't shut perfectly. When it didn't shut perfectly, it was closer to the range than it should be, and the door ended up delaminating. It likely was a cheap cabinet to begin with. Because my range isn't close to the corner in my new kitchen, and because I won't need to stuff this one as I have more storage, I decided to go with it again. I think the key to being happy with this cabinet style is ensuring that the opening is wide enough to easily access items. The door never felt awkward to me, but then it wasn't full height. One thought is to stack a few easy reach cabinets so you don't have one large door?...See Morelascatx
13 years agojudydel
13 years agoI had a similar experience as lascatx. I had a walk in pantry that was approximately 6' X 3 1/2'. It had shelves on three sides and you could step in. It was always a mess. I hated it. We took it down in the renovation and now we have canned goods, boxed cereals etc. in a small pantry that is only 2' wide. We keep pasta and the food from the garden that I canned, etc. into our "canning cupboard" which is 3' wide and tall. We have an antique hi boy that I use for all our baking supplies, rice and bread crumbs. And lastly, our snack bags are kept in a drawer. Baskets of potatoes, garlic, onions, winter squash, beets are in the crawl space where it's cool. Dog and cat food are in a half barrel.
Once the shelves are installed over our garden sink I'll keep antique canning jars filled with rice, beans, grains, etc. on the shelves for easy access and because I love the look of such bulk goods in jars and on display.
I know it may seem crazy to some people that I gave up a walk in pantry for this new arrangement, but I am soooo much happier this way.
Stacy Rahn-Dennis
13 years agoStacy Rahn-Dennis
13 years ago
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