Butler’s and walk-in pantries are so much more than a ‘nice to have’ luxury item, when designed thoughtfully, these functional and refined spaces complement your daily life and help to create a home that’s not only appealing aesthetically, but a true joy to live in.
Butler’s pantries and walk-in pantries share many similarities but they’re not to be confused with one another – there are important differences between the two that you need to be aware of to ensure you choose the right space for the kitchen of your new home.
Here we look at what these two ‘luxury pantries’ are, the differences between the two, the benefits of each and how to decide which one is right for your family and lifestyle at home. Oh, and we’ll also look at why butler’s pantries are no longer considered just another ‘nice to have’ – these kitchen spaces aren’t making a resurgence by chance, they’re here to stay!
Butler’s pantries are generally larger than walk-in pantries, but there are more significant differences between butler’s pantries and walk-in pantries than size alone – though the difference in size is a prominent distinction between the two spaces. Perhaps the most important distinction between the two kitchen spaces is the functionality they provide.
While a walk-in pantry is designed solely as a storage space, a butler’s pantry is more like a mini kitchen with wide bench spaces for food preparation, serving and tidying up – some even feature a sink for washing up – and often include more extensive storage features, like a wine cooler, deep freezer or additional fridge. A butler’s pantry is a place to ‘do things’ and not just a place to ‘store things’, so, while both provide storage space, a walk-in pantry is used to store food while a butler’s pantry is used to keep those tricky items like appliances, cookware and your ‘good’ glassware.
Butler’s pantries have evolved significantly over time and just in case you’re wondering, no, you don’t need a butler to have a butler’s pantry in your new home! These spaces were popularised around the mid-19th century and were limited to large, stately homes in which a space was required for the ‘help’ (butlers and maids) to store and prepare food prior to serving in the dining room. While times have changed, a butler’s pantry is still a luxury amenity, but it’s one with many benefits that enhance the look, feel and functionality of an open plan design. The benefits of having a butler’s pantry include but aren’t limited to:
Not only does a butler’s pantry give you extra storage space for food and other perishable items, it also provides additional space to store dishes, glassware and other serving items, along with bulky kitchen appliances like mixers and blenders.
As the space was originally intended for, butler’s pantries provide a dedicated space for food and meal preparation away from the main kitchen area, which creates better flow and makes dishing up and serving a breeze!
A butler’s pantry adds storage and functionality to your kitchen space, but it’s also a luxury item that few new homes actually feature, making this an inherently desirable feature .
When exploring the Hallmark Homes range, you’ll realise you have a few options for including a walk-in or butler’s pantry in your new home. Most of our home designs feature a generously sized walk-in pantry, like the Bondi 250 in our Luma Range, the Magnolia 303 in our Nest Range and the Fairview 395 in our Eden Acreage home designs range.
The new Outlook 287, a spacious double-storey home design from our Nest Range, boasts a butler’s pantry in its spacious open-plan kitchen. On display at the Stockland Aura display village on the Sunshine Coast at Bells Creek, visit this stunning display home to get a feel for the added functionality and luxury a butler’s pantry bestows upon a home – not to mention get a real feel for the design and build quality that goes into every home from Hallmark!
As a trusted local home builder, Hallmark Homes has a strong presence across South East Queensland, with display homes in many of the most popular areas to build a new home, such as Brisbane suburbs like Redland Bay and Burpengary East, Gold Coast – including our new SkyRidge display home in Gold Coast – and Aura on the Sunshine Coast. If you have any questions about planning your display home visit, our range of home designs featuring a butler’s pantry or walk-in pantry or the house and land packages we have available, please contact one of our experienced consultants.
Well-planned kitchens and bathrooms can add enormous value to your home but many people prioritise aesthetic over practicality! We have created this guide to make sure you get it right the first time! Here are the top 10 bungles you should try and avoid.
