We’ve embraced ‘open-plan’ as a way of life with combined living, dining and kitchen areas, but what to do when a stack of dishes start piling up halfway through a dinner party? The ultimate solution lies in the addition of a butler’s pantry.
While kitchens are the engine room of the home, the butler’s pantry is a vital cog that keeps the entire space humming. From the breakfast rush to the midnight snack, a well-designed pantry will simplify daily meal preparation and take the stress out of hosting. It provides accessible storage for food, cooking staples and appliances, and can help keep kitchen clutter out of sight. And the benefits don’t end there. Tired of fumbling for spices in the dark or unearthing out-of-date sauce bottles? With clever design and spatial planning, you too can have a functional pantry that serves you and your family well.
What is a butler’s pantry?
A butler’s pantry is basically a mini kitchen within a kitchen. They can be used to store appliances, prepare food and stow away mess mid-party. Spacious ones combine the functions of storage and food preparation, with room dedicated to small appliances, a dishwasher and a wet zone – everything plus the kitchen sink. According to Donna Guyler, founder and creative director of Donna Guyler Design, it’s a renovation goal for many of her clients, even when space is limited. “Sometimes we’ll reconfigure entire floor plans to proportionately fit one into a home,” she shares.
Curious to find out what all the fuss is about? Learn how to design the perfect butler’s pantry by following our tips to create this hardworking space to suit your needs, where practicality reigns over luxury finishes.
1. Know when to save and splurge
Keep costs down by opting for inexpensive materials, as this area won’t be on display. Laminate benchtops and sillica-free surfaces are a fraction of the cost of other finishes and can be closely colour-matched to your main bench, ensuring continuity of style.
“If the area will be used for food prep, a bin is essential. You’ll also want to consider proximity to cutlery drawers or a knife block” – Ania Forster
2. Consider your needs and spatial constraints
Australian households vary wildly in how they cook, grocery shop and entertain. A large, busy family that buys food in bulk will covet ample storage space, while seasoned entertainers who hold lavish dinner parties may dream of a fully equipped butler’s pantry that allows for seamless hosting and post-party clean-up. The perfect pantry is one that supports your household’s daily needs and nestles comfortably into the home’s floor plan. “First and foremost, the questions we ask our clients are about function and purpose. Will the pantry be just for food storage, or will it also serve as a prep space?” asks Ania Forster, creative director of Zephyr + Stone design studio.
And don’t forget size! Think about the footprint you can allocate to a butler’s pantry and how it will be utilised. As a general guide, the width of the walkway should be at least 1000mm, then add another 600mm for benchtops. Consider L-shaped cabinetry to make the best use of space and for a modest pantry; allow a minimum area of 1.6m x 2.2m. For a pantry with a double sink, dishwasher, microwave, fridge and bench space, allow upwards of 2.4m x 2.8m.
3. Opt for open shelving over cupboards
Open shelving will help to stretch your budget further. If you prefer cupboards, try melamine door fronts, which are cheaper than laminate, polyurethane or timber veneer fronts.
“As a rule of thumb, we design overhead cabinetry or open shelving at 320 millimetres deep, which allows for pantry items and crockery to be stored” – Donna Guyler
4. Get organised to maximise space
Floor-to-ceiling cupboards and shelves maximise storage capacity, but visibility and accessibility must be considered to ensure produce isn’t forgotten about. Make sure you store infrequently used items up high, and add a rolling ladder or step ladder for easy, safe access. “We incorporate drawers in pantry storage where viable as they’re ideal for storing things like kids’ snacks, pasta and other dry goods,” adds Ania.
Your choice of pantry door can also impact the zone’s efficiency. Sliding doors or outward opening doors are a space saver for smaller step-in pantries, while bi-fold or stacking doors will provide easy access. When there is more room to move, Donna likes to incorporate a two-way swing door. “This means the mess stays out of sight and hands remain free when moving in and out,” she explains.
Pack in the storage by taking shelving to the ceiling and organising the contents by frequency of use. Glass jars or stackable square containers with locking lids are ideal for organising pantry staples such as cereals and pasta and are available from major retailers such as Kmart.
Wire baskets are good for under-bench storage to make the most of your butler’s pantry and tricky corners can be utilised with pull-out cupboard systems such as Blum’s Space Corner.
5. Map out your storage needs
Space for a butler’s pantry was carved out by adjusting the location and shape of the new kitchen. “It’s a luxury to have everything in this room, all the appliances, a steam oven and a second sink – I feel like I have two kitchens,” says homeowner Kate of the space. (Credit: Photography: Eleanor Byrne)
It may seem like an inconsequential design decision, but the depth and height of your shelves play a vital role in your pantry’s practicality and the visibility of the items you store. “Customising shelf depth based on pantry contents is key to maximising all available storage space,” says Ania. “Shallow shelves are suitable for spices and small jars, while deeper shelves work well for larger items like benchtop appliances, mixing bowls and bulkier goods.”
Increasing the space between adjustable shelves allows for tall grocery items, such as cereal boxes and beverage bottles, while thin, vertical pigeon holes are perfect for stashing your chopping boards and baking trays.
To prevent losing items at the back of the pantry, opt for a U-shaped design with shallow shelves. For smaller items such as herbs and sauces, aim for a shelf width of 200mm. Open shelving is a great option for condiments, salt and pepper, which can be seen at a glance for easy access.
6. Space-saving doors and open flow tips
Creating an open flow from the pantry to the main cooking zone is essential. “Pantries should be positioned close to the food prep area for easy access while cooking,” says Ania, who emphasises this connection with design choices that visually link both spaces. “Although pantries are usually hidden from view, we always continue any kitchen colours, finishes and designer details into our pantry designs,” she says.
Keeping your pantry off-limits is as simple as installing a door. A great space-saving option is a cavity sliding door or a bifold.
7. Find the right sink
Including a second sink, dishwasher and bin in a roomier scullery means the majority of food preparation and cleaning can be concealed. “This allows the visible kitchen to remain tidy and servery-ready most of the time,” explains Donna. A deep sink with a pull-out mixer tap makes light work of scrubbing larger pots and platters, while a dishwasher positioned in close proximity to where crockery, cutlery, mugs and glasses are stored means you can quickly unpack the dishwasher after a cycle. “Position these elements to create an efficient work triangle, similar to a regular kitchen layout,” suggests Ania.
Factors such as cupboard placement and pot size will help you determine the most suitable butler’s pantry sink for your space. If budget allows, consider a fireclay sink for the ultimate butler’s pantry statement.
“Adding a wet zone with a sink in a larger pantry allows for dishwashing and food preparation without cluttering the kitchen” – Ania Forster
8. Ensure your pantry is well-lit
Good task lighting is a must in a butler’s pantry. An overhead light will help you find what you need in a step-in pantry, but a roomier walk-in design with a food prep area requires focused task lighting. “To create the ultimate light source shining directly on the benchtop surface, incorporate LED strip lighting to the undersides of overhead cabinets or shelves above your benchtops,” says Ania. When dimensions allow, harness daylight with the addition of a window or skylight. “There’s nothing like the beauty and warmth of natural sunlight pouring through the pantry window,” says Donna. “This also helps with ventilation, which is very important.”
Consider using a ‘micro switch’, where a trip catch attached to the door frame turns the light on when the door is open.
9. Power up your appliances
Allocate a spot for regularly used appliances within the pantry and calculate your space requirements. Remember to install extra power points to use appliances in place and maximise efficiency. It might seem like a luxury but pantry joinery design that incorporates space for small appliances including toasters, coffee machines and blenders keeps your main kitchen benchtops blissfully clutter-free. Donna suggests positioning power points conveniently out of sight but close to where the appliances will be used. “Inside a breakfast or coffee station, we will typically install two double power points just above the benchtop, either in the back panel or the side panel if the design of the cabinetry can accommodate this,” she explains. This means you can enjoy your homemade coffee without creating a mess in the more visible kitchen area.
10. Little extras make all the difference
The bare bones of a pantry can be enhanced with additional organisational flourishes. “The more specialised the storage, the easier it will be to keep a space tidy and organised while maximising use and accessibility,” says Ania. She suggests pull-out baskets, corner cupboard pull-out shelving systems, drawer dividers for utensils, and wall hooks for aprons, tea towels or kitchen tools. Doors with built-in shelves or affixed shelving units are perfect for the items that often need to be grabbed quickly, such as sauce bottles. “We also love adding wine storage if we can,” says Donna. Cheers to the little luxuries!
Shop these butler’s pantry essentials:
01
The Cooks Collective 12-piece airtight food canister in White
$59 (normally $119.95), Myer
Best for: Banishing pantry moths
Say goodbye to weevils and pantry moths and hello to sleek, silicone-sealed and organised pantry shelves. This starter kit is really all you need to get things organised and ordered onto shelves in your butler’s pantry and keep them that way! Extra units are available to buy separately or in sets of two once you establish your favourite sizes.
Key features:
- Includes: 4 x 500ml canisters, 5 x 800ml canisters, 2 x 1.2lt canisters, 1 x 1.9lt canisters
- Dishwasher safe
- Silicone seals also suitable for fridge
- Leak proof lids
02
Kilner round clip top 1-litre jar
$16.95, Biome
Best for: Gorgeous-looking shelves on display
Who doesn’t love a traditional clip-top jar? A row of vessels filled with whole foods makes a satisfying display – particularly when your butler’s pantry is visible from the main kitchen. Designed for preserving and endless reuse, these jars punch above their weight to keep dry foods fresh long term and their dashing good looks don’t hurt.
Key features:
- Kilner jars come in all shapes and sizes to suit all your pantry needs
- Dishwasher safe (remove rubber seal and handwash)
- Glass with metal latch
- Old-school design
03
Cut out storage tub
$3.25, Target
Best for: Grouping dry food and snacks
These little tubs are a wonder in the pantry (or anywhere in the house!) offering streamlined storage for any number of items. Gather snacks, legumes, nuts and herb packets in groups for easy access and simple sorting. At just $3.25 each, measure up and employ an army of these little do-gooders to sort your foodstuffs, stat!
Key features:
- Fit sideways with cutout or lengthways with handle opening for easy access
- Dishwasher safe
- Dimensions: H10.3 x W24 x D17cm
05
4-drawer wire shelf unit in White
$47, Target
Best for: Making the most of your space
You will literally elevate your pantry storage with a few of these simple wire drawer units. Double your storage capacity on shelving and in cupboards while keeping everything visible and within easy reach. Super affordable, measure up and buy as many as you need to solve storage issues anywhere in the home.
Key features:
- Drawers pull out on narrow edge for maximum depth capacity
- Powder-coated iron with MDF top
- Dimensions: H70.5cm x W50cm x D51.5cm
06
Turner Hastings ribbed fireclay butler sink
$1285 (usually $1428), The Blue Space
Best for: Quintessential butler’s pantry style
It all starts with the sink in your butler’s pantry and a ceramic fireclay sink is the OG in how to get the look.
Key features:
- European-made, scratch and chemical resistant
- Optional protective sink grid or silicone mat
- Choose from 6 finishes of basket waste to match your tapware
- Dimensions: H254 x W600 x D450mm. Bowl capacity 51 litres, drain outlet D90mm
- Choose from gloss white or matte finish
- Top mount, semi-recessed or under counter
Be the first to read this story by subscribing to Home Beautiful magazine.
