Earlier this year I shared my kitchen on the blog and promised the butler’s pantry tour would be coming soon!
Today is that day and I’ve even made a mini video to take you around the space. Excuse the dodgy hand held production :).
Related article: How to design the perfect walk-in pantry
Related article: How to style and organise your pantry
Layout
Our pantry is 1.5m wide and 3m long. We used an L shape configuration in this space with closed cupboard as you enter, open overhead shelves, lots of bench space, and closed cupboards below.
The closed cupboard has doors above with 3 shelves inside, and 4 deep pull out drawers below. Our kitchen designer recommended we include this closed-in cupboard to keep foods fresh (i.e. stop potatoes from sprouting). It will also prevent attracting animals.
In the overhead cupboards I keep appliances I use less often. In the corner is a drinks section, and in the main open shelf unit, I keep cooking essentials that I can easily see and grab.
The space below the bench has wine fridge (essential!), integrated dishwasher, pull out spice drawer, and cupboard below the sink.
Design aspects I love
I’m really happy with the layout, especially the deep pull out drawers — they’re a great use of space and I can easily access everything inside without trouble.
Having a sink in here is really useful! Even if it cost a bit more and limits the use of the cupboard below. It means I’m not having to always walk into the kitchen to fill up the kettle or coffee machine. I can also hide dishes when we have guests over 🙂
I’m glad I stuck to my guns and went with open overhead cupboards and carried these right up (they’re just over 2.5 metres high). Our kitchen designer thought it wasn’t the most practical use of space and having them so tall was overkill. I do use all the shelf pockets, we just keep a little step ladder in here. Although open shelves do require you to keep the space tidy, I like the homely feel it brings (having them all closed up would feel a bit too much like a filing room for me!).
The microwave at shoulder height is also a winner, making it easy to get things in and out. And a wine fridge is always a good idea.
Aesthetically, I love the white cupboards with matte black handles and matte black tap. Soft close finishes are also a nice touch.
What I would change
We have a second dishwasher in here and embarrassingly it still hasn’t been used. If I were designing this space again, I wouldn’t have a second dishwasher. Now I would have used the space for more pull out drawers instead.
By not having a dishwasher in here, I also would have been able to better use the corner space below the bench. There is dead space in the corner as our kitchen designer couldn’t fit a corner door cupboard in because of the dishwasher and sink either side.
Styling
I used the tips I shared in this pantry organisation post when organising the overhead cupboards.
All the glass jars in here are from The Reject Shop. Last time I went in there this week to stock up, they had some new shapes (the squarish ones) and they’re all discounted too.
I also picked up the black accents with a set of black tins from Kmart for bread, tea, coffee etc.. The the black geometric canister is from Kmart too!
In the back corner I made a little arrangement with a cutting board and some canisters (love the white MENU one I bought this week). I think I’ll add to this by layering some more cutting boards and pieces in future. For now I’m channeling a minimalist vibe 🙂
Update: Check out my latest pantry styling tips here!
Here’s a video tour of the space
If you have any questions about my butler’s pantry tour, drop them in the comments below and I’ll get back to you asap.
Have just stumbled across your pantry and am super inspired. We built our home 4 years ago; our pantry is 1.5m x 3.5m. We threw in an open bench from Ikea along one wall, and hung open shelving everywhere else. It it a giant, discordant mess! We have an Ikea sink against the outer wall, inserted in a base that runs from one wall to the other. It’s all choppy and unappealing. Looking at your photos and descriptions, I am going to tackle this! Watch this space!
I’m so glad my design has inspired you, can’t wait to see your new pantry once you’re done x
Hi there!
Your pantry looks awesome! I’m interested to know the measurements of how wide & deep your pantry is and the depth of your benches on the side and also at the end where the sink is.
We have a wine cellar behind our kitchen which is 3500mmL x 1310mmW which I’m trying to visualize as a butlers pantry. I’m a little concerned it maybe too narrow as I really wanted to incorporate a sink and a second oven.
Your thoughts would be appreciated!
Thanks
Deb Abraham
Thanks Deb, the pantry is 90cm wide x 59.5cm deep and the bench on both walls is 59cm deep. It sounds like the width of your space will be around 16cm narrower than my pantry which might just be OK from a standing point of view but you wouldn’t be able to fit a regular door at the entry like I have. There are bifold doors or custom doors you can make out of the same joinery that would look good though. Hope that info helps 🙂
Hi Gina,
Just stumbled across your site while researching for our upcoming build, the tour of your pantry was really useful as it’s dimensions are similar to ours, which are on the plans at 1.84m by 2.82m. I think looking at the measurements you’ve given other people above that you must have approx. 90cm of walk space on the floor, does that sounds right? Do you find that roomy enough? I’m trying to work out if we have enough width for a set of open 30cm deep shelves on the facing wall in ours for food pantry storage, but don’t want to to feel too cramped and closed in. I’m not the tallest so worry that having everything on higher open shelves will be annoying for me! Thank you! Claire
Hi Claire, very exciting that you’re building, I hope all the planning is going well. Yes that’s right, I have 88cm depth of standing room (as the stone benchtop has a slight overhang). Along that wall I don’t have any cupboards that open out but I do have those deep pull out drawers which come out 50cm – generally I don’t pull it out all the way to grab what I need and I find it’s more than enough space. I think the 30cm cupboard doors won’t be an issue at all 🙂 Hope that helps x
Hi Gina, Thank you for your very quick reply. Wow, did not think at all about lighting or USB ports. I am planning on drawers where possible. It was so good to see a plan that resembles my area, I am a visual person so seeing the space brings perspective. Will also check out Bonnie’s reno. You have certainly helped. Thanks Cathy 🙂
Hi Gina, I have just come across your pantry blog and will certainly be checking out more style curator. We are renovating our home and I have designed a butlers pantry. 3.480L x 1.6W. I has started to wonder if it is big enough, but now seeing yours being very close to width we are having, I feel much better about it. My questions are “how deep are your cabinets”? And are you sill happy with your design? Thanks for sharing, Cathy
Hi Cathy, thanks for your comment. Our cabinets are about 55cm deep – with the doors and stone bench overhang, the stone depth is 59cm. I’m still happy with our design except that I still haven’t used the dishwasher in here so I’d definitely forgo a second dishwasher next time and opt for more pull-out drawers instead. Since completing Bonnie’s kitchen reno, I also really like a lot of the specialty drawers and organisation options she used so perhaps I’d take more time to research these so I could integrate some better storage options/gadgets. I think I would also run lighting inside the cupboards, and perhaps use some powerpoints with USB ports so we can charge phones or other devices too. Hope that info helps 🙂
Hi Gina, I love your longer looking subway tiles, can you please tell me where you got them? Thanks! Claire
Hi Claire, thank you, they’re a handmade 75 x 150 subway tile from Spain (matte finish) or there is a less expensive Chinese copy called Leggo 🙂
I fear my pantry will never look this good 🙁
Ha ha, if it makes you feel any better, it was a total bomb site while I cleaned it to make it look presentable on the blog 🙂
You’ve inspired me to get my pantry into some sort of order. Thanks Gina, serious case of pantry envy here, Im loving the black taps – ahhhhhhh!.
Yvette xo
He he, thanks Yvette! Glad I could inspire you to organise your pantry. Mine was looking a total mess and readers kept writing in asking me to share it… I was like ‘doo-to-doo’ but figured I couldn’t put it of much longer so did a mad clean of the space. So worth it now though 🙂
I’d love to see progress pics of how your reno is going!! No doubt all this rain has slowed down progress but I’m eager to see how it’s going! xx
Aren’t you lovely! Thanks for getting out the tape measure for me. That actually helps me a lot as ours is only
1.9m x 1.6m so its interesting to see how much you fit into yours. Yes anything to do with council is slow!!! We are subdividing also to fund the build but we are hoping a slab will be poured at the end of the year….fingers crossed.
Any time Di and happy to share any other info you might need. Fingers crossed your project goes as planned 🙂
Hi Gina, love your pantry! We are starting a new build at the end of the year and have a pantry in the plans but was wondering what the dimensions are of your space…if you remember?? Di
Hi Di, how exciting! I just measured our pantry, it’s 1.5m wide and 3m long 🙂 How are the house plans going? I remember the planning and approvals stage was the slowest part of the whole process! x