While butlers aren’t commonplace, the butler’s pantry has become a staple in homes today, whether you are building a new home or remodeling an existing kitchen. The butler’s pantry, also aptly called the ‘back kitchen,’ has become a space that helps to keep modern families organized.
Traditionally, the butler’s kitchen was situated between the kitchen and formal dining room as a prep and weigh station between the two spaces where you could stage each course of a dinner, hide dining paraphernalia, and all the accompanying accouterments needed to host a successful dinner party.
While the butler’s pantry still serves that purpose, it is so much more for today’s family. Paired with a standard pantry, where you store staples and canned goods, the butler’s pantry extends your kitchen and provides a space to store oft-used items that you use regularly but don’t want to clutter up the kitchen countertops.
The best thing about a butler’s pantry is that this multi-functional space is completely customizable for your individual needs, whether you need prep space for entertaining, extra storage, or a home bar in addition to a myriad of other uses.
When designing your butler’s pantry, a few crucial things to consider include lots of counter space to work on and a door to hide the mess. The goal is to improve your kitchen’s functionality. Other considerations include lighting to ensure that you will find items quickly and see your workspace, a durable countertop, plenty of cabinetry, and wide drawers for oversize utensils.
Appliances you may want to include space for in the butler’s pantry are a microwave, toaster, coffeemaker, blender, ice maker, wine cooler, food processor, mixer, dishwasher, sink, garbage disposal, steam oven, warming and cooling ovens, and maybe even an extra baking oven. Adding a wet bar to the butler’s pantry optimizes your butler’s pantry. If you plan to entertain in your outdoor living spaces often, you may consider positioning the area near an exterior door.
When building a new home, consider including a butler’s pantry in your home design. Passage Island Construction can help you make the best choices for your family today and in the future.