Designed to fit each family’s unique needs, mega-pantries are generally located in their own space directly off of or beneath the kitchen. More than the latest homeowner trend—they are a much-needed addition. When designed with everyday function and efficiency in mind, these magnificent spaces can solve food storage and clutter issues plaguing many homeowners.

Blue Arnold, kitchen designer and principal of Kitchens By Request, says that the best pantries
do much more than simply store food. “A pantry of that caliber should be considered not only a place for bulk storage but it should also double as a secondary area, an extension of the kitchen.”

He explains how he radically reconfigured a condo by transforming a walk-in closet from a bedroom near the kitchen. The closet was walled-off and a new entry from the kitchen was created. The space was then redeveloped as a large new pantry to provide wine and food storage as well as large drawers for linens.

Glass cabinets and white marble counters reflect the rest of the kitchen's upscale look. “Still,” he adds, “the key to any pantry is organization. The point of creating this space is to de-clutter your kitchen and to be able to find things in an easier way.”

Interior designer Barry Dixon couldn’t agree more. “A properly designed kitchen pantry should eliminate the need for searching. Bins, cabinets, and labels are the secret to making your pantry work for you. The more storage that you have, of course, the better, but if the space is not properly organized, it just won’t work.” He suggests starting with the basics—this means examining your space and deciding what needs to be at eye level and what can be stored on lower shelves or higher up in cabinets. For example, storage bins work best for raw vegetables like potatoes, onions, and sweet potatoes. They can be stored [in the bins] on the floor and don’t necessarily need to be located at eye level.

Dixon adds that having ample storage beneath cabinets for large, tricky items is essential. “Under cabinet storage is a great way to store in bulk, anything from dog food to cases of soda to paper towels...the trick is to put a skirt across so that [the bulk items] are not visible to the naked eye.”

Plain or even patterned material can spruce up the skirting, says Dixon, who encourages bold hues. “Accent with whatever color you are using on the walls... and don’t be afraid to use a bright color [on the walls]. Using a skirt makes it much more pleasing to the eye while keeping items that you use everyday right at your fingertips.” He suggests adding hidden panels and also making use of areas that have no doors or adding glass doors. “These are great ways to open up space. Just make sure that everything is clearly labeled in each area on the outside of the given space in an easy-to-read fashion. This concept of having everything ‘hidden in plain sight’ streamlines the process and refreshes the vantage point.”

And when it comes to lighting, proper illumination is fundamental. “You need to be able to read the labels easily,” says Dixon who uses overhead lighting that shines down on each discrete area of storage.“The labels and lighting allow you to not spend a lot of time opening cabinets and searching for things. It is like having a library of food right at your fingertips.”

Dirck Bartlett, of Ilex Construction, adds that though lighting and organization are essential, it is crucial not to overlook the need for climate control. In one multi-room pantry Ilex constructed for a client, a prep room, a refrigeration room, frozen storage, and a wine room define separate temperature and humidity zones. “Obviously, the walk-in freezer and the walk-in refrigerator are kept at a different temperature than the wine room and the dry goods storage area,” says Bartlett. “Each area has its own mechanical system to keep the goods from spoiling.”

This pantry’s design reflects the distinctive needs and lifestyle of the enterprising homeowners, who grow their own vegetables and hunt their own game. “The household is run similar to an old plantation where everything is grown right on their land. Things need to be preserved accordingly to avoid spoiling,” says Bartlett.

Designed in conjunction with the architect/homeowner John Thompson, the only real guidelines that were given for the 20 by 30 foot space was that it should have the feel of oldworld root cellar. To achieve drama and medieval charm, Bartlett installed a two-inch thick, green slate floor, decorative sconces and limited, recessed, low-voltage lighting throughout. He enlisted Ilex's own cabinetmakers to design and build distressed pine cabinetry.

Design experts today agree, creating a wine-niche within a pantry is an efficient way to incorporate a wine cellar on a smaller scale. Just like your pantry's other efficient nooks and recesses, a wine cellar should be easy to access yet located where temperature and lighting can be controlled.

Dixon holds that order should never supercede style. In fact, when designing pantries, homeowners should feel free to add some personal accents.“Using colorful bottles and jars gives the pantry a whimsical feel in an otherwise extremely organized area,” he says. You can also add things like photos in small, decorative frames or other collectible items that fit into the space without being overbearing. “The trick is to add a personal touch without overdoing it,” says Dixon.

Likewise, Bartlett notes that adding personal affects gives the space a warmer feel. In the pantry Ilex constructed for Thompson, “the homeowners added wine crates and artwork to make it more their own,” says Bartlett. “A few small touches can really add a lot.”

And the right mix of these small touches with big ideas for organization can add up to a stylish and functional kitchen storage area even if you aren’t in the market for a multi-room mega pantry. To help with attractive organizational systems, companies like Chesapeake Closets and California Closets will customize your space to match your style.

A leader in storage solutions since the late 70s, California Closets does more than the company name might imply. With stylish options for the kitchen, canned goods, bags of chips, and bottled water won’t be something you want to hide. Good organization brings the stuff of life out into the open, as Dixon says, “hidden in plain sight.” According to local California Closets designer, Lauren Goldstein, storage solutions are all custom suited to each kitchen, and the options are endless, from “pullout wine racks, platter organizers, and adjustable shelving to baskets for spices, dry foods, and appliances.”

Similarly, local familyowned business, Chesapeake Closets carries a variety of accessories their designers can work with to personalize an organizational space in any room of the house— including kitchens. With a variety of drawer inserts, shelving, and racks for separation, you can maximize your existing pantry space for storing foodstuffs, linens, and that fondue set you never use. Chesapeake Closets also offers a 3-D visual of your design before it’s installed so you know just what to expect.

So whether your pantry is a small closet that needs better organization or a large multi-room, multi-purpose work and storage space, a structured logical arrangement and few personal stylistic touches are key to turning a cluttered mess of cereal boxes, small appliances, bags of dried fruit, and coffee filters into a well-ordered, functional, good-looking part of your kitchen.

© Summer 2007 Chesapeake Home