Butlers pantry vs butlers kitchen
A butler’s pantry and butler’s kitchen, sure you’ve maybe heard of these buzzwords within kitchen layout and interior design. You may even believe they’re the same thing. We’re here to tell you that they’re not. So, what does their inclusion within a home entail?
A butler’s pantry is a little, room off the kitchen. Its main purpose being to act as a service and storage space, especially for food and drink prep.
A butler’s kitchen is essentially a little kitchen off the main kitchen.
So, what are the mistakes to avoid when planning your butler’s pantry or butler’s kitchen?
Which one is right for you?
If you already have a small kitchen with little to no room to expand, installing a butler’s kitchen or butler’s pantry is probably not the best choice. Why? You will end up with 2 spaces that don’t function or connect.
Flow is imperative in the kitchen - the heart of the home.
If you do have the space, and entertaining and having a clean, pristine main kitchen is important to you, then installing a butler’s kitchen or simply, a butler’s pantry, is a wise investment to make.
Names aside, think about how you will be using this space. Do you host constantly? Do you like to cook with your guests but just want a space for clean up? Is space not on your side and you just want to hide the breakfast appliances like the kettle and toaster?
Butlers pantry at the Avenue house
What is the difference between a butler’s kitchen and a butler’s pantry?
Butler’s pantry
· An oversized pantry with plenty of room for storage
· A butler’s pantry is smaller than a butler’s kitchen and it mainly stores kitchen appliances like your Thermomix and coffee machine and provides further storage.
· Some butler’s pantries have a small sink. This is where the overlap becomes harder to define. Depending on the usage, the sink can be used to fill up the kettle.
· Its central intention is to act as an extension of the kitchen for storage + benchtop appliances.
Butlers pantry, Hillside project
Butler’s kitchen
· A butler’s kitchen is known as a ‘kitchen within a kitchen.’
· Same size as the main kitchen? No, but it does include space for microwaves, a stove, dishwasher, food preparation, cleaning and washing up. Even with a butler’s kitchen, there can be many variations. Some may have a sink, dishwasher and spare oven, but not a stove. It’s all about defining your needs and designing accordingly.
· Its central intention is to keep the main kitchen clean.
Butlers pantry by Shea Mcgee. Photographed by Melissa Kelsey
Step-in pantry
· As the name suggests, a step-in pantry is the storage space for dry ingredients, condiments, beverages and so forth.
· Visually, the functionality of walk-in pantries are similar to walk-in wardrobes. The contents are easily categorised and accessible, but out of sight when the door is closed.
· Its central intention is purely for abundant storage.
Step in Pantry. Project Glen
What to know about designing a butler’s kitchen or butler’s pantry
As with any new kitchen layout design, there are many factors to consider when deciding on whether to include a butler’s kitchen, butler’s pantry or simply a walk-in pantry.
If you were to have a sink in your butlers, then will you be having a dishwasher and bin to support this? If so, where are your dishes going to be stored? In your main kitchen or butlers?
3 mistakes to avoid:
1. Narrow and awkward spaces with no natural light – especially in a butler’s kitchen. You may as well be stepping back into the 1920s into a tiny separate kitchen at the back of the house.
2. Not defining the needs before designing and ensuring the flow works.
3. Not factoring in the cost
Get to know your kitchen feel and flow
Master your Kitchen Layout
Want to transform your existing kitchen into a functional, stylish space? Still not sure whether a butler’s kitchen or pantry is right for you?
In my workshop series, you’ll discover how to design a kitchen that flows beautifully, balancing function with visual appeal. You will also gain access to our most popular kitchen layout designs and dimensions that you can directly use in your own design.
