Butler's Pantry

Kevin here; I'm Fran's husband.  Fran is still feeling poorly; and you know it's bad when I'm the one updating her on the goings-on in the interior design blog-o-sphere.  Anyway, I developed todays post.  

As many of you know, we live in a small Cape Cod house that I purchased several years before I even met Fran.  At the time, it was more than enough house for me - and a bigger house would only have meant more cleaning.  Not to mention, I was oblivious to the benefits of more storage space.  Anyway, in our first year of marriage we re-did the kitchen.  It was a complete gut job: new hardwood floors, new ceiling, new wiring, etc.  At the time, I thought, "Wow, look at all this new storage."  But those spaces quickly filled up.  And I've grown tired of having to trek down the basement to get the waffle iron on "waffle Saturdays".  And, rest assured, the waffle iron isn't the only item stored down there (have I mentioned that our house is small?).

So with the prospect of moving someday, Fran and I have discussed our "wish lists" for the next home.  Are we the only ones that do this?  Anyway, first on my list is a giant basement workroom - off limits to everyone.  But after that might be a butlers pantry.  I know, I know ... it probably seems odd for a guy to appreciate a butlers pantry.  But I actually would, simply because it would help the clean-up/storage process (wouldn't have to run downstairs to re-store certain pots and pans after dinner).

My first thoughts of the ideal butlers pantry took me back to a tour Fran and I took of The Breakers, Cornelius Vanderbilt's 130,000 square foot summer home in Newport, RI.  That pantry has a walk-in safe for the silver, a second level catwalk, and a dumbwaiter.  But maybe that was aiming just a little too high.  So here are a few more modest pantry's.

This first one is a traditional "walk through", connecting the kitchen and dining room.  It's clean, well organized and practical.  But there's no counter space.

This one also appears to be a walk-through and is way bigger with tons of counter space.  But it feels a little institutional and cold.

This one appeals to the Maxwell Smart in me.  I really like the secret passage feel to this one (pantry door is disguised as more cupboards).  From a practical perspective, I would prefer a pass-through.  But this was too cool not to include.  I like the pewter plates too.  But they seem too congested.  And is it me or are they mounted on a mirror?  I don't really like that.

Lastly, here's the mac-daddy.  Holy cow.  This is way nicer and larger than our entire kitchen.  Look at those windows.  It's almost a shame.  I don't want to store stuff in this room ... I want to live here.  This one is very white as well but the floors (pine?) warm it up as does the outdoor greenery.  I like the lights too.  Not so excited about the topiaries, but that's just me.

And now that we've settled on the pantry, we can just build the rest of the house around it.  After we win the power-ball, that is.

Have a great weekend.  And get better Frannie!!!  This blog stuff is way harder than it looks.