A popular butler’s pantry design utilizes white cabinets for lower storage and a natural wood open shelf configuration instead of upper cabinets. Since the butler’s pantry is commonly used for food storage, add rolling bins to your lower butler’s pantry cabinetry. Store potatoes and onions in these open, airy bins to prevent early spoilage.

3. Dining Room

Traditionally, the butler pantry was located off the kitchen or the dining room. Today, they’re often configured between the two spaces. Having the butler pantry near the dining room is a logical idea if it is used to store dinnerware and serving dishes. Its countertops are a great place to keep open containers, water pitchers, and extra rolls during a dinner party.

A dining room butler’s pantry is a great location for a hidden pantry wet bar. Some people like having liquor bottles on display, but the modern butler’s pantry is great if you prefer hidden bottle storage. It’s also easier to refresh your guests’ cocktails in a dining room walk-in pantry than carrying glasses to and from the main kitchen.

4. Layout

A butler’s pantry can combine other useful elements into its space, particularly if the pantry is large. Historically, this area was called the scullery—a small room near the kitchen used for all kinds of dirty household work. Today, we call that space the laundry room, and store our cleaning supplies where we wash our clothes.

Creating a combination butler’s pantry and laundry room is a good use of a generous space near the kitchen. If you are undergoing a kitchen remodel, perhaps reclaim some space from your garage to expand your butler’s pantry into a laundry and scullery zone.

If you have enough cabinetry and shelving, this can also be a convenient place for storing canned foods and other dry goods. Simply unload your groceries from the garage into your all-purpose butler’s pantry.