Pantry Pride, Again

More kitchen pantry ideas for creating useful and attractive storage solutions.

Recently I packed up two sets of dishes to take to our youngest daughter when we visit her next month. That helped clear out cabinet space in our mudroom for overflow dishes I had stored in the little open hall pantry behind the kitchen. It’s a mere 32 x 32-inches, with adjustable shelves, and while I use it mostly for equipment and appliances, if I’m ever able to push that side of the house out into the current garage, expanding the pantry will be a top priority. Meanwhile, I’m collecting kitchen pantry ideas. We have stone houses in our town but no stone inside our house (unfortunately). Still, I’m always attracted to the loo and never more than in the elegant Chalone cabinetry pantry [top]. It has such a wonderful organic feel. In addition to open storage and a wonderful working counter with a deep corner, this premier English cabinet maker shows how beautiful simple open bracketed shelving can be.

As I’ve said so many times, I adore kitchens with fully tiled walls – a theme that’s extended into this airy pantry clad in white subways with dark grout. What’s special here is the marble shelving supported by charming iron brackets. A large window lets in abundant natural light and the divided-lite pantry door acts like a window, too. There’s also a good deal of basket storage below the counter in this  small but very special room that feels like the best kind of updated Victorian pantry. It’s a spot where I could even imagine a lovely pie cooling on a trivet in front of the window.

A farmhouse in Provence couldn’t have a more charming pantry than this one, with it’s fancy lace-edge upper shelf details. Vintage tins, matching canisters, and the suites of storage jars and fabric-lined baskets are beautifully styled. There’s a good deal of counter space as well and, on the left side (out of sight) the hint of a skirted sink or skirt-covered storage. In the age of white kitchens it’s also refreshing to see the strong yellow that’s also integral to the French country style.
In a Vermont farmhouse, the pantry comes complete with primitive style cabinets, dark-painted pine shelves, plus  an antique shutter and door. This period Americana is gloriously respected and highlighted by the owner’s collection of artisanal pottery. My favorite feature may be the rustic shelf (front left) – that appears to pull out to make more setting down space.

It’s rare to see a pantry with an irregular shape but that configuration is put to good use here. Rather than opting for closed cabinets above the open shelving – the ceiling looks at least 13 feet high—the designer chose to keep it open and install a library ladder system for access. I can’t quite image making that climb with something heavy in one hand and the other holding on for dear life but it looks great! The ladder does have a rail on each side and this pantry is formal enough (despite the somewhat dinky chandy) for the upper shelves to be arranged to minimize that issue.  Meanwhile, if you gotta climb to reach the Raisin Bran, consider it exercise. We’ve seen kitchens with library ladders, too.  

A pantry aisle housing floor to ceiling foodstuffs seems so logical and practical — almost like a general store. It’s also a gorgeous element in this serene green kitchen by North Carolina designer Kathryn Long, of Ambience Asheville. Located across from the beverage station with its elegant pro-style espresso machine and grinder, the pantry has completely adjustable shelves that keep everything right in sight.

This elegant white beauty was created for a client by Houston designer Amitha Verma, who feels it’s a perfect pantry space. It’s certainly chock full of expensive millwork that boosts the functionality and gives the owner some wonderful options. Working with full floor-to-ceiling storage on three sides, there are glass-door soffit cabinets for rarely used items (which still remain visible) as well as high open shelves. The short end has a granite counter – hence work space like the Chalone pantry – but with 4 drawers for utensils or small items. Additionally, there is handy open shelving about and below the counter. Each side boasts long expanses of fully adjustable shelving in addition to two banks of bin-style drawers with half-moon cut outs (like the ones inside armoires) for easy opening. Relatively shallow, and with good air circulation, these can be used for anything from napkins, tablecloths and placemats to root vegetables.

(Source: flicker/Chalon, Remodelista, thekitchenpantryideas, country living, decorpad, ambianceasheville, amithaverma)

You also might enjoy: Pantry Pride, Daring the Butler’s Pantry, Kitchen of the Year Butler’s Pantry

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