Hi Everyone, this is part II about butlers and kitchen pantries. If you missed part I, which focused on the Victorian butler’s pantries in the Back Bay section of Boston, please go here.
This post is where I’m sharing some of my favorite butler’s and kitchen pantries from Victorian times to the present day.
Many of today’s butler’s pantries are like mini kitchens. In fact, if they added a range, many of them aren’t significantly different than a galley kitchen. However, a pantry doesn’t need to be a galley or even a walk-in situation.
Okay, let’s first look at some beautiful Victorian-era butler’s pantries.
While most of these are in the northeast, none are in Boston.
As we discussed in the last post, the butler’s pantries were where the final preparations were made before the meal was served.
After much research of the old 19th and early 20th-century butler’s pantries, I was fascinated to learn that some pantries are not the closets we associate them with. In fact, some are closer in size to a football stadium! Or at least they were in some dwellings.
Whoa! That’s the butler’s pantry?
At the Breakers in Newport, Rhode Island. Ever been there? The Newport mansions are not to be missed. To be fair, this is the mansion of all mansions, but that’s still one massive space.
Above, another striking and I think even more spectacular, is the butler’s pantry at the Biltmore Estate.
Above, Staatsburg House is beautifully preserved as a museum. McKim Mead and White designed it in the early 20th century. They are the iconic Beaux-Artes architectural firm that also designed the exquisite New York Public Library and many other such buildings.
If you’re interested in learning more about this historic estate and maybe going on a tour, please check out their website.
The Henry Lippitt House of Providence, Rhode Island
As you can see, each of these old butler’s and kitchen pantries are in a richly stained wood.
I love the antique walnut finish in an old home–especially a Victorian or Edwardian period home. The accents of wood in white kitchen pantries are handsome too.
This reminds me of the Greek Revival home we looked at a few years ago. You can see more of this lovely here. She did a fabulous facelift on her kitchen, but kept the old butler’s pantry. Gorgeous!
42 Ledge Rd. in Newport, Rhode Island, is a stunning estate once owned by Edith Wharton.
This grand estate sold not too long ago for 8.6 million. Actually, that’s not too bad for this place, in Newport, RI, with spectacular ocean views. Please check it out here.
Edith Wharton’s Newport kitchen pantry via Town & Country
Above, is another image via The Wall Street Journal.
Above is the entire kitchen pantry from the real estate listing.
Who wouldn’t want this? Actually, I just realized that this is the beautiful kitchen pantry section of the frequently posted kitchen taken by Bieke Claessens.Â
I love hidden kitchen pantries, and it seems they’ve become quite trendy. However, it’s a good one because when your guests congregate in the kitchen, you can make a hasty exit, shut the door, lock it and prepare your meal in peace. :] For more hidden rooms, please go here.
Southern Living – photo: Laurey W. Glenn
It doesn’t get any better than this stunning kitchen.
I don’t think it’s actually in a pantry, but it could be. However, it’s possible that once upon a time, there was a wall separating the kitchen pantry section from the rest. Great move!
In this kitchen we did several years ago, we also took down the wall because the kitchen felt cramped otherwise. In this case, it suited the house so much more; I think to do without the separate kitchen pantry. However, this side of the room acted as such with beautiful pull-out drawers.
You can see more of this kitchen here.
Of course, one of my new favorite kitchen pantries is the one I helped my friend Mary with. She fell in love with the Raphael by Sandburg wallpaper. I think it looks especially nice in this pantry.
You can purchase this beautiful paper here.
For the complete source list for Mary’s kitchen, please go here.
Hayburn
Yes. It’s one of the most popular pins on Pinterest. But, in case you haven’t seen this spectacular specimen, here it is.
This one’s too pretty to have a door on it.
Glass-fronted cabinets that end up at the gates of heaven. This is one of the prettiest little kitchen pantries and has inspired me a lot.
I adore these English pantry cabinets from Smallbone. They hold a lot in a minimal amount of space. American companies have a version of them too. Although this idea isn’t new, it certainly took a long time to come into being.
There are a lot of great storage solutions here.
I adore this kitchen pantry. There are many more fantastic kitchens on their website.
Below are a trio of gorgeous dark blue kitchen pantries.
And I can’t resist sharing Sue Di Chiara’s perfect dark blue butler’s pantry designed by Muse Interiors. It’s quite gorgeous! For the rest of the home, please click the link.
Photo: Emily Followill – Lauren Deloach Interiors and T.S. Adams Studio, architects, via Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles. I love that sexy mirrored wall in this dark butler’s pantry.
A butler’s or kitchen pantry, like a powder room, is a terrific place to do a deep color or a wallpaper that would be overwhelming in a large room.
photo @janetmesicmackie via @jpinteriorschi on Instagram
Oh man, that is some spectacular interior design. It makes me want to see the rest of the home.
Oh, how I wish that I had a collection of vintage china. Remember Nancy Keyes’ beautiful collection? And, don’t you just love that little door? I wonder what it’s for?
Pantry_Round_Window- Sacris Design
Above, is another glorious pantry featuring Raphael Sandberg in the light blue-gray colorway. You can see more of this lovely pantry in this post about French country kitchens.
cuisine-alex-macarthur_photo Gilles Trillard via Cote Maison.
This is an excellent example of an old kitchen pantry that looks perfectly at home in the 21st century. I love its handsome sophistication.
Every time I see this image, I fall in love with it again. I adore all of Minnie Peter’s work.
Above, is another beauty by Jeannette Whitson.
A small section of Carolyne Roehm’s enormous and gorgeous kitchen pantry. You can see more of it, plus more of her amazing home, in the link above.
Above, is one of those kitchen pantries that everyone went nuts for several months ago when it made its debut on social media.
Fantastic and charming work by Boxwood Interiors. Please follow them on Instagram!
BTW, thank you so much to everyone who’s now following me on Instagram!
Via OKL and a fantastic article by Darryl.
Above, Darryl Carter found these gorgeous doors and then had two substantial display cases made to showcase his wares in his shop in Washington, DC. I am gaga over those very shallow drawers that are more like pull-out trays. So cool!
I don’t I
I don’t know who took this image, but it’s the best one I could find of the entire cabinet.
And one more Darryl beauty I found on his Instagram.
And, I’m finishing off with one of the most spectacular kitchen pantries out there by Jean Stoffer.
xo,
PS: Please check out the newly updated HOT SALES!
And, for a week’s work of kitchen inspo, please go here.
If you have longer than a week, please go here. ;]
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18 Responses
Thank you.
What lovely ideas for a pantry. I am planning to build a home later in the fall and will have a pantry. Likely, not on any of these levels. There is a window in mine, which I don’t like, but for aesthetics on the outside, it must be there. I had not thought of storing my China in there, but think I will. This is one of my favorite posts. Thank you for sharing.
Hello,
I really loved the pantry with the following reference under the picture: photo @janetmesicmackie via @jpinteriorschi on Instagram
1. What color is that blue?
2. Are the counters stainless steel?
Thank you.
Claudia
Hi Claudia,
I’m sorry. It’s not my work. I always say match what you see. The actual color will surprise you 99% of the time. The counters look to be concrete.
The little door – laundry chute?
Hi Susan,
Could be! Or, a dumbwaiter for the dishes? haha
I vote this one of my favorite posts in a long time. I have a real thang for pantries!
In my life before interior design, I was in catering and got to work out of the butler’s pantry at the Carolands, near my place here in California. I drooled the entire time. Not attractive for someone serving food! LoL. Here is a link. The yellow butler’s pantry was the BEST room in the house. http://carolands.org/estate-gallery/kitchens/
Thank you so much, Michelle! Carolands looks awesome!
Love your blogs and your sense of humor.
Keep on keeping on!
Laurel, this is all just “WOW!” Thanks for taking the time to treat us all to a pantry tour. Each pantry holds one’s attention ~ there’s just so much detail to take in! But IMHO, Mary’s pantry wins. It is functional AND beautiful; it feels like the home I hope to create.
Thank you so much Kate. That little room always had charm, but it was kind of dark and dreary before.
Hi Laurel,
Those butler’s pantries are just gorgeous. Those folks must do a lot of entertaining. I don’t entertain in my home. I live by myself & have 4 place settings that I keep in a small drawer next to my sink. It’s certainly a lot less to take care of.
Hi Mary,
So funny, but even with just me, I go through silverware and dishes like crazy. Sometimes I marvel at the giant mess I’m capable of making in a relatively short period of time, too.
Evelyn, a quick search led to this informative page.
https://forestplywood.com/blog/plywood-uses/mdf-vs-hdf-how-theyre-different-and-what-theyre-good-for/
My maple cabinets are as beautiful as the day we bought them, 27 years ago. We spent more on the kitchen materials as it is the hardest working room in the house.
Every one of those pantries is gorgeous! When I see the really huge ones, I think about the truly enormous amount of china, flatware, crystal, and serving dishes that had to be stored. Didn’t the people who owned those estates host dinners for dozens of people? And when setting up for a big dinner, wouldn’t there have been an army of footmen doing the work, overseen by the butler? No wonder they needed all that square footage! In my very modest house, I have lots of kitchen storage plus a very large china cabinet stuffed with all my equipment for entertaining.
I love these pantries. I plan to incorporate one in my new home (if it’s ever feasible to build again). Thank you for sharing these inspiring ideas.
Wow wow wow, is all I can say. All of them are stunning!
New to your blog and I love it. We are in the process of building a new house and was wondering if you have a blog or any advice on wood versus mdd/hdf kitchen cabinets. I have a limited budget but can’t seem to get a lot of info on the long term use of mdd/hdf, what will it look like in 10 years.
Mary’s kitchen/pantry was lovely and inspiring, just the feel I’m hoping to produce.
I look forward to spending time with all of you!