CHOOSE YOUR RENOVATION: BUTLER’S PANTRIES

As the trend towards open-plan living continues, a secondary functional space to keep the messy stuff out of sight becomes something of a necessity. Say hello to your new butler’s pantry

Check out four different styles to find the perfect butler’s pantry for your place

1 CLEAN & SIMPLE This busy family hub features plenty of storage and a minimalist palette Designer: Mim Design (mimdesign.com.au).

This sleek and modern build on the Victorian coast eschews the traditional beach house vibe in favour of clean lines and an open interior. But it still has ‘holiday’ in mind with a large kitchen right in the centre of the house affording a beautiful outlook. “I love the fact that it has vantage points from all zones,” says designer Miriam Fanning. “It delivers a working hub and a meeting point.” As such, a butler’s pantry was a must-have part of the brief. Tucked away behind the ‘centre-stage’ cabinetry and splashback, the compact but cleverly designed space features a combination of cupboards, drawers, open shelving and a second sink with its own subway-tiled splashback. It’s also right next to the double oven, making it the perfect place to plate up before presenting food at the table. Dual access points from the kitchen and dining area ensure a sense of flow and efficiency. A direct line of sight into these busy zones means the cook won’t feel cut off from the party.

2 HIDDEN ACCESS Functional design ensures this pantry makes the most of available space Designer: Austin Design Associates (austindesign.com.au).

This beautifully preserved Victorian villa in the Melbourne suburb of Hawthorn East underwent a major overhaul in 2015. “The space that is now the butler’s pantry was a bathroom. The owners didn’t think they had enough room for one,” says designer Fiona Austin. “However, with careful planning, we were able to create a zone where all those kitchen ‘machines’ could live, leaving the new space uncluttered.” To maximise every centimetre, storage consists of space-saving drawers and overhead shelves. To ensure the pantry works visually as part of the whole space, the marble splashback and benchtop continues through from the main room, but the drawers and shelves are fabricated in hard-wearing Polytec ‘Legato’ in a matt finish. There is a pantry in the kitchen for everyday food items and extra food storage in the butler’s pantry, providing a home for ‘bulk’ items such as canned goods and dried pasta.

3 AROUND THE CORNER Easy access is the key in this breezy butler’s pantry Designer: Hannah Daish and HD Projects (hdprojects.com.au).

When is a butler’s pantry not a butler’s pantry? When it’s open-plan – well, almost. The kitchen in this Northern Beaches home wraps around the corner, separating the main dining area from the butler’s pantry, complete with bar fridge, dishwasher, second sink and storage, plus a servery window that opens onto the courtyard. This busy hub is also home to appliances such as the coffee machine and toaster. “I love the second workspace,” says designer and owner Hannah. “It tends to be the area where we can dump and rinse the dishes before they go into the dishwasher. I also hide food prep mess here, keeping our beautiful island bench clear and ready to serve meals or platters when entertaining. I like that it’s an open butler’s pantry as I occupy this space frequently – I can still feel part of all the goings-on around me.”

This butler’s pantry also hosts a study nook for the household computer and homework station.

4 BLACK BEAUTY Dark-black cabinetry creates a distinct zone in this prep area Designer: Alwill Interiors (alwill.com.au)

This contemporary beachside house in Sydney’s eastern suburbs has a large open-plan kitchen, dining, living and office space that is designed for entertaining in style. Therefore, a second space for the functional side of cooking and cleaning was a must. This butler’s pantry, built into otherwise dead space under the stairs, features open shelving so it’s easy to see and organise everything. Features include a filtered water tap, pull-out breadboard and a permanent home for appliances, so it’s always set up and ready to go. “I love that all those appliances are out of sight from the main kitchen, freeing up bench space there, and that everything is so easy to see and access in its own little room,” says interior designer on the project, Romaine Alwill. The black joinery is made out of formply, a product used to form up concrete. It’s essentially plywood sandwiched between layers of laminate, so it’s hard-wearing and easy to clean.