The Butler's Pantry

The definition of a butler’s pantry: A service room between a kitchen and dining room, typically equipped with counters, a sink, and storage space for china and silver.

Typically these days it’s a room hidden behind your kitchen to house all the kitchen crap you don’t want out on show! I’ve seen many with and without the sink, so that’s just a personal preference. For me, I use mine as a storage room to contain all the school bags, notes, kitchen appliances, food and anything else!

Have you got a butler’s pantry? Or if you’re renovating or building a new house here are some pictures to inspire you with some tips below…

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TIPS:

Keep costs down in this area seeing as it’s not on show – you can go for laminate materials in here.
Use lots of open shelving.
Add a few powerpoints around the benches.
Consider putting your fridge and other appliances in here (to keep your main kitchen area more streamlined).
Think about good lighting – I have a huge fluro light in mine. It doesn’t need to look good in there, but it certainly makes working in there a treat due to the bright light.
Use see-through storage items, like glass jars and containers. This makes it easy to find what you’re looking for.
Store all your big items in there – like platters and bowls.
As a general guide, the width of the walk through should be at least 1000mm, then add another 600mm for the benchtops.
Install a door so you can close it all off.
Are you installing a sink? You’ll need to think about additional plumbing.
Consider adding hooks/rails, chalkboard or whiteboard to write shopping lists, or hang school bags.

LAYOUT IDEAS

Here is my kitchen/pantry layout (except I moved the sink to the island)…

…

And here are some other layout ideas I grabbed (sorry some are so small, you might need to enlarge)…

This has been a fun post to write because I think my own pantry needs a bit of a clean up! So many cool ideas when you get lost on Pinterest. ♥ KC.

Comments

Jennie
February 4, 2016
I so wish I had included a butler’s pantry when we renovated.
Lauren
February 4, 2016
I love my pantry! Its huge. No sink but nice and big. So glad we added it in. I need that step ladder though
I use part for office stuff/bills ect as my study is now my massage business room.
But just love it
Mackenna Powell
February 4, 2016
Louise Grant
Karen O'Keefe
February 4, 2016
Julie Poole check these out for your bp
Trish
February 6, 2016
We are putting a butlers pantry in, it will have a sink in it as well as the fridge, open shelving & a little command centre with white board, hooks etc to manage the school/sport/kids life!!
Cathy Camera
June 22, 2016
Love mine! I have my main sink and a second fridge in there. I also have the big fluoro light on a sensor switch lol and yes it doubles as the place for all the junk
Pam Buckle
June 22, 2016
Couldn’t be without mine now. It also hides all the kids bags & junk. It’s almost become my office. I put 2nd fridge and a large second sink in there for washing pots.
Christine Davie
June 23, 2016
What’s your view on sink in island bench vs side bench … I fear I’m getting an expansive island bench that will function only as a dining table and during entertaining and as a dumping space?
- Katrina
  June 24, 2016
  I have mine in the middle – it works well, although we do sit at the bench more than our dining!
Helena
March 19, 2018
How narrow can the benchtop be in a small butlers pantry (very similar to your own layout, except open at both ends). Would 400mm benchtop and 900mm for width of walkthrough be enough??
Susan Henley
April 8, 2018
We have had pantries but nothing like the one in the property we have just bought! Thanks for th great ideas – will be using them when setting up our new butlers pantry.
Lisa Dodson
May 5, 2020
I’m so excited to see our designer’s take on our Butler’s pantry addition. Floor to ceiling cabinets, travertine flooring to match the kitchen and a butcher’s block top. It’s going to be dreamy!