Explore the benefits of the pantry to help you decide whether it's the thing your kitchen is missing.
The humble pantry is a cupboard with a difference, creating a style statement whilst holding a huge amount of practical value. A pantry serves as a place to store food and appliances, from jars of pasta and bottled sauces, to integrated coffee machines and food processors. The kitchen pantry design usually includes a combination of shelving, drawers and door racks to offer a variety of storage solutions, and can be tailored to a person's available kitchen space and shape.
'Pantry' is believed to have originated from the French word for bread, 'pain', as the large cupboard was originally used as a cool, dark place to store perishable foods. Now, thanks to the 'Downton Abbey' effect, the pantry has once again become a desirable kitchen feature, as people strive to have an authentic, traditional kitchen that is both practical and aesthetically pleasing, as a beautiful centrepiece in their homes.
If you are considering a pantry for your kitchen, there are two styles to choose from; the traditional pantry and the butler's pantry.
A traditional pantry is designed with kitchen cabinetry and can either be integrated into your kitchen units or can be a freestanding feature piece.
Starting with your cabinetry doors, choose from Shaker, Ovolo, or Slab, in a classic or bi-folding fashion. Further personalise with your chosen 1909 colour and optional decorative beading: Half Pencil and Scalloped, Georgian or Quarter Round. Include a selection of shelving, draw boxes and racks to suit your storage requirements.
A butler's pantry, traditionally a small room between the kitchen and dining area, is now a separate, walk-in space or utility room that leads off from your kitchen and functions as a storage area, essentially becoming a pantry room.
There are many storage possibilities with a butler's pantry, with many utilising floor-to-ceiling shelving, some including extra work-space and some even housing the fridge-freezer.
This style of pantry would be larger than the traditional pantry, and allows you to make full use of the storage space by allowing room for a range of kitchen gadgets as well as perishables such as food and drink.
Whether free-standing, integrated or butler style, a pantry makes an eye-catching style statement in your kitchen, especially when paired with beautiful finishing touches, such as handles or lighting.
Add to the aesthetics of your pantry by styling any open shelving in a thoughtful way, or create symmetry with your appliances. Check out our guide to styling open shelving for ideas on how to use your storage as a design feature.
With bi-folding or traditional cabinet doors, your pantry can be a great place to hide away any unwanted kitchen clutter, from long-life foods to electrical appliances. If your pantry has a worksurface, you can even use this space to hide away evidence of food preparation whilst guests are over, especially so if you have a butler's pantry.
A pantry is the ultimate practical kitchen feature, with a worksurface, various shelving opportunities and cupboard/drawer space below.
It's the perfect place to make your morning coffee with your coffee machine, cafetière and mugs all stored in one place.
Or it could be the perfect place for baking, with storage for all of your ingredients and a place to store and display your favourite recipe books. With so much storage and many different shelving combinations available, a pantry can be tailored to suit your individual tastes and lifestyle.
A pantry comes in handy if you're looking to store kitchen appliances to free up work space in the rest of your kitchen. Toasters, microwaves and coffee machines can all easily be given a designated place when your pantry is designed, whether on shelving or on a hidden worksurface, helping to keep your main surfaces clutter free for food preparation or entertaining.
However, if you're planning to given an appliance a permanent home in your pantry, make sure to plan in an electrical socket.
A traditional pantry with doors allows for door shelving and storage racks to be used to utilise all possible space. These are great for storing sauce bottles, herbs & spices and tea & coffee, and are perfect for grouping times together. This method of food pantry storage also allows everything to be close to hand when you're cooking.
Ample storage is a big benefit to a kitchen pantry, so a clear use for the feature piece is to storage all of your kitchen essentials; such as cereal, teas and coffees, sugar, and any other dried goods. You can even use a selection of jars and storage containers to display your food to match the traditional appearance of a kitchen pantry, and utilise a mixture of drawers and cupboards throughout your kitchen pantry design to maximise storage space.
A pantry is the perfect place to house your appliances behind closed doors; including toasters, kettles, microwaves, slow cookers and air fryers. That will not only de-clutter your worksurfaces, but it can maintain the aesthetics of your kitchen without the appliances clashing in design.
If you're looking to create a striking, glamorous statement with your kitchen pantry, why not use it as a drinks cabinet? With shelves for your glistening wine glasses, a worksurface to prepare your G&T, and the option to integrate a natural oak bottle rack into your shelving, it's the perfect choice to make your kitchen a great entertaining space.
If you're serious about your coffee, you can make your kitchen pantry the ultimate coffee station. It can be the place to house your coffee machine as well as all the supplies and accessories you need to create barista-style coffees from the comfort of your own home.
A kitchen pantry is the ideal place for a keen baker to store and display their baking essentials. With a worksurface to house a mixer or food processor, shelves and door racks to display essential dry baking ingredients, and drawers to tidy away important utensils; having everything you need at your fingertips will make your baking experience smoother and more enjoyable than ever before.
Have we inspired you to consider including a pantry in your new kitchen? Check out our full 1909 Kitchens collection, including Shaker, Slab and Georgian kitchen styles, which can all incorporate a kitchen pantry.
Are you renovating your kitchen and thinking about how you could style your space? Check out our real homes from across the UK for inspiration.
Book a complimentary design session with your local 1909 expert to start planning your dream kitchen.
With our beautiful brochure, you can explore 1909 inspiration from the comfort of your very own home.
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