6 Tips For Designing Your New Butler's Pantry
Organise + design your Kitchen Reno resources
A Scullery or Walk-in-Pantry is the ultimate kitchen accessory…or is it?
Because if positioned incorrectly you could find yourself with two kitchens! We share our TOP 6 Dos and Don’ts for designing your new Kitchen Scullery or Walk-in Pantry.
Zephyr and Stone • Classic Coastal Butler’s Pantry
Zephyr and Stone • Classic Coastal Butler’s Pantry
Fit For Purpose
First things first, you’ll need to decide the purpose of your new kitchen Scullery space. Will it be strictly for pantry and kitchen storage? A tea and toast station? An area to prepare and cook food and make school lunches? Do you want to have your collection of small appliances on standby and ready for use?
Deciding what purposes your new kitchen Scullery will serve is vital, so you can plan appliances, plumbing, storage, power points and lighting to suit.
Position
The position of your new Scullery is actually one of the most crucial factors to its success. Why? Because if the connection and flow between your kitchen and Scullery are awkward or the spaces are separated or disconnected, your Scullery could end up being a second kitchen rather than extra storage and workspace!
Positioning your butler’s pantry so it’s an EXTENSION of your kitchen is key so the two spaces can work as ONE. Then add a sliding or hinged door to allow their separation, so you can quickly and easily hide any Scullery mess out of sight when guests drop in.
Then for absolute domestic bliss, position your Scullery so it sits between your kitchen and laundry. The butler’s pantry with laundry allows seamless workflow between the three spaces.
Zephyr and Stone • Classic Coastal Kitchen
Zephyr and Stone • Retreat House Butler’s Pantry
To Sink Or Not to Sink
It’s not unusual to find two sinks in modern kitchens - one in the main kitchen area and one in a butler’s pantry. However this does come at an extra cost, and from personal experience, only one of the sinks gets a regular workout!
If you’re planning for a second sink - make a decision on which one will be the main washing-up sink - this is where you’ll want to also install any dishwashers and a bin. You may also opt for a dishwasher at your second, less-used sink, however, we find two dishwashers at the one main sink work best! Then be sure to position storage for high-use items close to your main sink and dishwasher to ensure easy unloading.
You’ll also want to consider installing a bin at both sinks to ensure any food scraps can be disposed of at the sink where you’re working, rather than having to carry them across your kitchen.
Appliances
If you’re Scullery will serve as a work area, appliances should definitely be considered. This could be the perfect spot for a second oven or your microwave. If your Scullery is well connected to your kitchen, you could also consider including your fridge or a second ‘drinks fridge’ here. Position your Scullery fridge out of sight from your main kitchen to ensure that designer looks without the need and expense of fridge integration!
Zephyr and Stone • Coral House Butler’s Pantry
Zephyr and Stone • Contemporary Coastal Butler’s Pantry
Ventilation + Lighting
If you’re planning on cooking or using kettles or small appliances in your Scullery, some form of ventilation should be considered. A window is the ultimate as it can provide both natural light and ventilation. However, if a window is not viable, consider including an exhaust fan, good lighting like integrated LED strip lighting, or an LED-powered skylight to provide the illusion of natural light by day.
Make Storage Smart
You’ve got all this extra room for storage - so make sure you maximise it! Include hard-working storage like drawers for food and kitchen items. Then add a combination of open shelves and cupboards with doors to store a range of items including tall, bulky appliances, items you want to keep on display, and those you want to keep out of sight.
Finally, ensure there’s ample benchtop space to allow for any food prep and utilise the space above your benchtop with open shelves or overhead cupboards.
Zephyr and Stone • Contemporary Coastal Butler’s Pantry
When it comes to your new Scullery design, one size definitely doesn’t fit all! It really is a matter of designing and choosing fittings and storage based on how you want to use your space!
Above all else, do yourself a favour and make sure the flow between your kitchen and Scullery is seamless - to be guaranteed any kitchen tasks are a #pieceofcake.
