Thinking about adding a butler’s pantry? Consider your lifestyle and serving habits. Then decide on the location.

 

A butler’s pantry is well suited for those who entertain frequently, have large families, or who like to serve formal meals with several courses. Those who prefer to eat casual meals or eat in restaurants might not find it useful.

 

Location. Location. Location.

The location of the butler's pantry solves many problems with serving and preparing food, said Matthias Jans, principal of Starfire Homes, which builds custom houses priced from $400,000, and Matthias Jans Architect, based in Palatine, IL. "Think of the walking distance between your kitchen and dining room."

 

The butler's pantry can be used for warming parts of a meal, stacking dishes that have been cleared from the dining room table, and serving wine. "Maybe the mashed potatoes cooled off, so while you're serving the turkey you put the mashed potatoes in the microwave, serve the turkey and come back and the mashed potatoes are hot," Jans said.

 

Also, the plates can be cleaned in a dishwasher with a special cycle for china, then put away in the same room. This saves someone from carrying their dishes and glasses from room to room. "The storage of good silverware is an issue for many people," Jans said. "Everybody has just barely enough room (in the kitchen) for their everyday dishes."

 

Layout

Most butler’s pantries are built as "walk through" pantries. The space is a separate room with a door leading to the kitchen and one leading to the dining room. The advantage to this design is that is accessible from both rooms, but can be closed off for privacy.

 

Butler's pantries also can be U-shaped and accessible from one room only. These are similar to walk-in pantries seen in lower priced housing, but they have a sink, refrigerator or other appliances and are designed for food staging as well as storage.

 

A Modest Version

The smallest version of a butler's pantry is one that is built along one wall between the kitchen and dining room. The space is designed for storage and food preparation, but is not part of an enclosed room. This style often is used when someone is remodeling and the space does not allow for a separate room. While this layout varies from the original style of the butler's pantry, it provides extra counter space to use when serving meals.

 

Most walk through butler's pantries are at least 6-feet by 8-feet. This allow for one wall to have a row of base and wall cabinets for storing linens, glasses and dishes. Home owners often use the same cabinetry in a butler's pantry as in the kitchen, as this approach carries the same design theme through the two spaces.

 

Features to Consider

Among the features to add:

 

·         base and wall cabinets on two sides of the room

·         a food preparation area on one wall

·         large drawers in the base cabinets for storing table linens, serving platters and small appliances

·         glass doors in the pantry cabinets to showcase china and crystal

·         a sink

·         a small refrigerator for storing wine

 

Also consider decorative lighting to highlight detailing in the cabinetry or in the woodwork  in the room. Lights placed near the toe kick area of a base cabinet can draw attention to a section of granite that runs horizontally near the bottom of a base cabinet, for example.

 

Instead of using the entire room for storing items used for formal dining, think about adding a microwave for heating portions of a meal and a sink for cleaning vegetables for dips, for example.

 

The Cost

While all this luxury is convenient, it also comes with a price tag. The cost depends upon the size of the room, the amount of detail and the cabinetry and appliances that are added. Aside from the overall construction costs for creating the room or reconfiguring an existing space, there are several costs:

·         Cabinets

·         Countertop(s)

·         Appliances

·         Lighting

 

A 6-foot long granite countertop, for example, costs approximately $9,600. A 36-inch high refrigerator that fits under the counter costs $1,000. A dishwasher with a special cycle for cleaning china costs $800.