subject: Add A Butler S Pantry To Your Kitchen Renovation [print this page] A butler s pantry may sound like a relic from a bygone era, but it can make a useful addition to your home, particularly if you do a lot of entertaining. Traditionally a butler s pantry was a short hallway in between the kitchen and dining room, although it can be located anywhere in or near the kitchen. If you plan to add a butler s pantry as part of your kitchen renovation, consider how you will use the space so you know what features to include. Today s butler s pantries serve a variety of functions.
Display: Do you plan to display your beautiful china, crystal, and serving pieces in a butler s pantry? If so, glass fronted cabinets are a popular design choice.
Storage: In addition to storing dishes, a butler s pantry can be a great place to store bar supplies like glasses and wine bottles, giving you a station for serving drinks. Consider installing a small refrigerator or wine fridge if this is your butler pantry s purpose, or use the space to store items you use less frequently, like vases, pitchers, and ice buckets.
Serving: With lots of extra counter space, the butler s pantry is a great staging area for entertaining. You can set up a buffet or dessert bar. Use it to serve appetizers, drinks, or coffee without taking up valuable kitchen counter space.
Clean Up: Who couldn t use more space for cleaning up after a party? Today s butler s pantries usually have a sink for quick clean up and many have a second dishwasher. If your party is catered, this is a great place for the catering staff to set up and clean up.
Design: Since butler s pantries evolved from homes in the late 1800s, the design choices tend to be traditional. Beadboard cabinets, glass fronts, leaded glass, and subway tiles are common motifs. A surprising number of pantries have chandeliers. Your butler s pantry can have any look you want, even a contemporary design if that is what matches your new kitchen renovation.
