Kitchen Design
Designs for Living: The Perfect Pantry
With so many guests coming and going during the holidays, a fully-stocked pantry can be a lifesaver. Filled with entertaining essentials like large serving pieces, ingredients for whipping up an impromptu meal, and a few extra bottles of wine, it's got all the extras you need when the house is full.
And who says you need a large home for a useful larder? Here, my picks for perfect pantries of all sizes.
And who says you need a large home for a useful larder? Here, my picks for perfect pantries of all sizes.
Simple and effective, this butler's pantry provides storage for wine, a little extra fridge space, and patterned glass doors to keep not-so-pretty packaging obscured. And what's that I see? Looks like another penny tile floor!
A closet off of the kitchen only requires some shelves, cabinets, and a little spare counter space to become an exceedingly useful pantry.
Same thing holds true even if your closet's not a walk-in. This little larder barely takes up any room, but is helpful for storing all manner of serving ware.
If you have the space, a spot to sit and plan a menu is most helpful. This one is near ingredients and a few shelves of cookbooks (cleverly arranged by color, I might add) to provide inspiration for your meal.
I saw this butler's pantry at a showcase home in San Francisco a few years back. It was on an upstairs level, so hungry folks could grab a quick snack without having to go downstairs to the kitchen — ingenious for those who frequently get the late night munchies.
This giant wine fridge might overpower a kitchen, but in the pantry it's a fully-functioning showstopper, no cellar required.
On a smaller scale, this little pantry space works as a handy wet bar, thanks to a tiny sink and plenty of storage for wine bottles and drinking accoutrements.
The sawtooth sides in this cabinet let you easily adjust shelves to accommodate serving pieces of all sizes.
While most pantries are windowless, this one employs open shelving and lots of natural light to ensure each piece of porcelain is easily visible.
This pantry mixes rustic elements like wood shelves and a farmhouse sink with modern amenities—namely that big glass-front fridge.
Most pantries stick to a utilitarian aesthetic, but why not have some fun? A pretty blue color and thin mosaic tiles turn this one into a little jewel box, and makes cooking more enjoyable.