The Perfect Pantry
Two designers create a Midcentury Modern-style pantry that expands the entertaining and storage capabilities for the entire home.
Pantries can be mod too! A clever twist on the usually simple storage space, this pantry also enhances the home’s entertaining experience.
Pantries are often conceptualized as simple storage spaces,
but this pantry artfully assists in the flow of the home and adds to its entertaining experience, all while epitomizing Midcentury Modern design. It’s the brainchild of Lisa Ball, designer and owner of Design by Lisa, and Rob Edman, designer and owner of Edmanhill Interior Design.
The pantry in question belonged to a young family from Edina, Minnesota, and its original design—it was tucked into one of three subdivided spaces along the side of the house—was lacking, especially since the homeowner was a professionally trained chef. “The goal was to use durable materials for the young family and turn the area into a walkway between the dining room and the screened porch that opens to the backyard,” Lisa says. “In addition, it had to not only function as a prep area for bigger celebrations but as a gathering place for mixing drinks and serving dessert while entertaining on the porch or the backyard.”
The two designers took their cues from the beauty and utility of mid mod design and remastered the pantry into a feat of function and form. “We recreated designs we had seen in actual Midcentury Modern projects,” states Rob. Oak cabinets and a glass tile backsplash reflect the clean aesthetic of the style, while clever decisions make the pantry intuitively usable. “The pantry houses a hidden dishwasher and ice maker,” Lisa notes. “We implemented lift top cabinets for additional storage.” They also worked around unexpected challenges—like a soffit that needed to be added to the space to accommodate necessary ductwork and ventilation halfway through the project. “We worked with the homeowner and builder to place it in a way that looks intentional,” Rob says. “Now it seems like part of the architecture!” They also ordered transom windows to help add light to the area in a natural and unobtrusive way.
From the materials to the design, the pantry is a true work of Midcentury Modern art and has transformed the entertaining and storage capabilities of the home.