If you have never heard of a butler's pantry, you are not alone. In past years, when butlers and similar kitchen assistants were commonplace, a butler’s pantry was used for food preparation, polishing silverware, and even keeping food accounts for the home. This space was typically placed between the kitchen and the dining room. The uses of a butler’s pantry have, in this day and age, become more varied.Butler's Pantry Storage and Display
One of the more traditional uses of the butler’s pantry was for storage. Classically, a butler pantry was used for safekeeping of silver, linens, china, and other attractive dining room items. When it comes to these and other more infrequently used kitchen supplies, such as those that come out solely during holidays, a butler pantry can still be a highly appropriate storage and display space today. A butler's pantry with glass cabinets is an excellent option for displaying your most beautiful kitchen materials, from your heirloom silverware to the plates that have been in your family for decades.
Butler's Pantry as Dining Space or Bar
If you are uninterested in using your own dining room for smaller or more informal meals, a butler pantry can be an excellent space to convert into a breakfast area or small dining area, which still keeps the elegance of a space that is intended to remain separate from the kitchen or food prep area.An island with stools surrounding it can also double as a bar if you want to show off your butler’s pantry to guests. If you are using your butler pantry as a bar, whether on special occasions or as a central purpose, a sink or beverage center may be an excellent addition to the space. Install a small refrigerator for chilling drinks, and use the cupboards to store your decorative wine or martini glasses to use for holidays and special occasions.
Designing a Butler's Pantry
Whatever the reason for installing or remodeling such a space, there are a number of ways to create a fresh spin on the classic butler’s pantry. A variety of materials are available for a more traditional look; alternately, you can update the aesthetic for a more modern feel for your butler’s pantry.
