The Butler's Pantry

Increase Storage & Organize with a BUTLER’S PANTRY

by Katie HoKe // pHotograpHy by trenton busH

WHAT IS A BUTLER’S PANTRY?

Located adjacent to the kitchen, the butler’s pantry acts as the workhorse behind closed doors while allowing the kitchen to remain neat and tidy. More than just a simple closet with wire racks, this space is often just as beautiful and refined as the main kitchen. The room provides extra cabinetry and countertop space to help with meal prep, storing dry goods and housing large countertop appliances.

A BRIEF HISTORY

Commonly found in large historic homes, the Butler’s Pantry almost went extinct in the 1930s during the Great Depression when many estates closed their doors as they no longer had the funds for a household staff. The creation of the “modern kitchen” was a result of smaller homes being built to suit the needs of the rising working class after World War II. However, these kitchens were typically tucked away in a small room disconnected from the rest of the living spaces and not focused on entertaining. The butler’s pantry made its resurgence in the early 2000s with a rising demand for the kitchen to be the heart of the home, open to both the living and dining rooms, and once again serving larger estates that often had catered parties. Now that the open living concept is prevalent in all sizes of homes, the butler’s pantry has become a staple of modern kitchen design.

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WHAT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR BUTLER'S PANTRY

The size and features of your butler’s pantry will be based on how much room you have, how you will use the space and your budget.

ESSENTIAL ITEMS

+ Ample countertop space with cabinets below to house occasional-use countertop appliances and provide extra space for food preparation.

+ Dry food storage which can consist of open pantry style shelves or 12” deep cabinets.

+ Upper cabinets to store extra dishware, large platters and serving trays.

+ Floating shelves should be used sparingly but create a great opportunity to display special dishes or canisters.

+ Natural light, ideally through incorporating a window or skylight into the space to keep it bright and cheery.

+ Luxury amenities, adding a few of these items can elevate the butler’s pantry to prep kitchen status, and most aren’t expensive or difficult to add.

+ A second kitchen sink is very handy if you plan on using the space to prepare food and beverages.

+ Additional appliances like a dishwasher, wine/ beverage refrigerator, second refrigerator and freezer, microwave and second wall oven.

+ Coffee station or espresso bar, either built in or free standing.

+ Liquor and barware display and storage.

WHY THEY ARE THE HOTTEST NEW TREND IN KITCHEN DESIGN

The open kitchen layout is a trend that is here to stay. Anytime guests are over, they naturally congregate in the kitchen. While the open kitchen is great for engaging with family and friends, it doesn’t allow for much storage or a place to keep the mess of food prep out of sight.

“Clients who enjoy cooking and entertaining always ask us to create kitchens that marry functionality with a really refined, showcase aesthetic,” says Caleb Amundson, Interior Architect with Hoke Ley Architects. “The best way to accomplish this is to minimize the visual clutter of items that typically live on the countertop and are often just used for breakfast prep like coffee pots, blenders and toaster ovens. In many ways, we’re really divvying up spaces based on function more like a commercial kitchen. It not only makes more sense for the way people really use their space, but also keeps things nice and tidy.”

Daily, the pantry can be used as a coffee station, prep kitchen for slow cooker meals, a place to store and use countertop appliances, storage of dry foods and additional cold food storage. For special events or entertaining, the pantry allows the homeowner to prepare food and stage finished items out of sight until they are ready to be served. Imagine preparing a holiday feast and not having to scramble to clean up your main kitchen before the guests arrive! HOW TO PLAN FOR ONE IN YOUR HOME

Adding a butler’s pantry to a home is best done during the early phases of design, whether for a new build or remodel. The pantry should be located next to the kitchen with easy access to where the cars are parked and can even be combined with a mudroom.

“We always ask clients about their process of parking and unloading groceries to better understand where the butler’s pantry should be located. For this client, we wanted to provide easy access to the pantry whether they parked in the driveway or the garage. This meant that the pantry worked best in an internal space without access to natural light. We suggested large glass pocket doors and the relocation of a skylight, which make it a warm and pleasant space to be in. The doors have the added benefits of maximizing floor space, containing pets in the mudroom and keeping views out of the pantry while entertaining,” Amundson says.

Depending on the size of the home, the pantry can be very large to house full-size appliances, or it can function just as well in a space as small as 6’ x 7’. The key is to allow for ample countertop space and dry storage. A rule of thumb is to provide countertops that are 2’ deep by a minimum of 5’ long and dry storage that is 12” deep x 4’ long. Avoid using deep cabinets or closets as they create a stacking effect causing you to lose sight of the items stored in the back.

Essential to any modern kitchen, the butler’s pantry is making a comeback as one of the most useful rooms in a house. Large or small, the butler’s pantry allows the hardworking storage and preparation spaces to be hidden behind closed doors, while the kitchen can remain a visible, clean and beautiful statement for the house. n

Editor’s Note: Katie Hoke is Principal/ Owner at Hoke Ley Architects