Good To Know: The Butler's Pantry - W Design Collective

Over the last few years, one of the most requested items from both our new build and remodel clients is a butler’s pantry (also called a back kitchen). These rooms, once a staple of Victorian era homes, have definitely become popular again in recent years, and we’re glad that they’re back. Today for Good to Know, we’re covering everything you need to know about butler’s pantries, what to include in yours, and why they’re a great option for your home.

WHY IS IT CALLED A BUTLER’S PANTRY?

While most Americans no longer have a butler to tend to their home, that’s where the name of this space comes from. Butler’s pantries were once a hallmark of Victorian England and Colonial American home architecture. In those days, these rooms were generally quite narrow, and spanned the space between the main kitchen and the formal dining room. They were used to store the most expensive serving pieces, including china, crystal, and silver. It was not uncommon for the butler to actually sleep in this room, to help guard these most valuable of possessions.

Although the popularity of these rooms declined with the trend of open floor plans, larger great rooms, and the addition of mud rooms, we are glad to see these spaces coming back again. Modern butler’s pantries are certainly different from those of Victorian England, both in design as well as purpose, but they absolutely have a place in the modern home.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A BUTLER’S PANTRY AND A NORMAL PANTRY?

An easy way to think about a butler’s pantry is that it is essentially an upgraded version of a regular pantry. While a normal pantry is purely for storage, a butler’s pantry can be treated as an extension of your kitchen. These spaces are very functional, but are still beautiful and feel like a room in your home. They are not just for storage, but for practical use as well. Butler’s pantries are completely customizable to your needs, so they can be very helpful for preparation space for entertaining, extra storage, a home bar, or anything else you might need. You can easily create a multi-functional space that fulfills a variety of uses. The primary reason to have a butler’s pantry in your home is to help keep your main kitchen more organized and cleaner on a day-to-day basis. The butler’s pantry is more utilitarian, and is the place to make a mess, while the main kitchen can be prettier and less cluttered.

One of the main benefits of a butler’s pantry is to home entertaining. These rooms typically have a lot of counter space, so they are excellent places to stage meals and prep food. They also often have a door, so you can make a mess in private while your guests enjoy the spaciousness of a clean, open kitchen. This detail is particularly important given the popularity of open floor plans in homes. How often have you been finishing a few last minute things, but didn’t want to work in full view of your guests, or have your food preparation on display? The butler’s pantry serves as a buffer between the kitchen and the dining room, and is purely for your convenience. You can keep the clutter and mess out of sight and worry about cleanup later.

The overall goal of a butler’s pantry is to improve your kitchen. You can keep extra appliances in there, and utilize cupboards and shelves to maximize your kitchen’s storage. When planned correctly, a butler’s kitchen can truly make your kitchen more functional, and can improve your experience in the kitchen in a myriad of ways.