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Photo by RDNE Stock project: https://www.pexels.com/photo/clear-glass-jars-on-white-wooden-shelf-8580793/ - pantry

Designing a Pantry That’s Both Beautiful & Practical

Whether you’re embarking on a full kitchen remodel or just updating some of your kitchen’s features, don’t overlook the pantry. The pantry is the absolute unsung hero of the kitchen. It’s used every day, but rarely designed to shine. A smart refresh can change that. And with the right layout, lighting, and style, your pantry can go from yawn-worthy storage space to stand-out statement piece. Here’s how to make it both beautiful and hardworking.

Think Through Your Pantry Layout First

The most important part of kitchen pantry design is planning how it will function. A beautiful pantry that doesn’t meet your everyday needs won’t stay organized or appealing for long.

Start by asking yourself a few questions:

  • What do you use your pantry for the most?
  • Do you need space for small appliances, bulk items, or both?
  • Will your kids need to reach snacks easily?
  • Do you prefer open shelving or enclosed storage?

Once you know how you’ll use the space, you can start mapping out zones for different storage categories. For example, you might want to create dedicated space for canned goods, baking supplies, or everyday access snacks. A well-zoned pantry saves time and keeps your space feeling calm instead of chaotic.

Use Custom Cabinetry to Maximize Space

Custom cabinets make all the difference when it comes to pantry storage. Unlike off-the-shelf solutions, built-in cabinets can be designed to fit the exact dimensions of your space, no matter how narrow, deep, or unusually shaped.

Some custom cabinetry features we recommend for pantries include:

  • Pull-out drawers or drawer-friendly baskets for easy access to deep shelves
  • Adjustable shelving for changing needs and growing families
  • Tray or baking sheet dividers to keep oversized items upright
  • Built-in spice racks or tiered shelves to avoid clutter

Don’t Forget to Sprinkle in Some Pantry Style

Just because your pantry is hidden doesn’t mean it can’t still match (and add style to) the rest of your kitchen. Choose materials, pantry finishes, and coordinating hardware that align with your overall kitchen design. It will create a cohesive look (whether your pantry door is open or closed) and make the pantry feel like a natural extension of your space.

Some trending ideas to elevate the look of your pantry:

  • Glass cabinet doors to showcase neat shelves and beautiful containers
  • Warm wood finishes for a timeless and classical feel
  • Bold cabinet paint for a fun pop of personality
  • Under-cabinet lighting to keep everything bright and easy to see

The right details can make your pantry feel less like a storage closet and more like a thoughtfully designed part of your home. 

A Place for Everything and Everything in Its Place

A beautiful pantry only stays beautiful if it stays organized. The key? Give every item a dedicated home. Whether that’s labeled jars, stacking bins, or built-in compartments, having a plan for where things go makes daily cleanup easier and faster.

Even better? It’s easier to maintain, and it’s a small detail you’ll appreciate every time you access your pantry.

Let Edgewood Cabinetry Bring Your Pantry Vision to Life

At Edgewood Cabinetry, we believe you shouldn’t have to choose. Bring the best of both  beauty and function to your pantry. Whether you need a full walk-in pantry with built-in cabinetry or a clever solution for a smaller space, our team can help you create a pantry that works perfectly for your lifestyle.

Contact us today to start designing a pantry that’s equal parts practical and stunning. 

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Pantry Organization Tips

A well-stocked pantry is a beautiful thing. But if your pantry isn’t organized, it can be a source of frustration. When you can’t clearly see what you already have in your pantry, you’re more likely to purchase duplicate items. Or worse, you may forget about items in the back of shelves or at the bottom of stacks until they’re too old to eat. No one likes food waste. Fortunately, we’re here with pantry organization tips that will help you get the chaos in your pantry back under control.

Take Stock

If it’s been a while since you organized your pantry, the first thing you need to do is take stock of what you have. This also gives you a chance to pull everything out of your pantry and give it a thorough cleaning so you’ll have a clean slate when you begin putting items back inside.

Toss out anything that’s expired, and give away duplicates. After all, are you really going to use eight containers of rosemary before they go bad? Once you’ve gotten rid of what you can’t or won’t eat, you’ll have an idea of the type of storage you need to organize what’s left.

Use Clear Containers

Keeping your pantry organized is all about seeing what you have and being able to access it when you need it. That’s why clear containers are so helpful.

Instead of jumbles of boxes and bags, you have neatly organized containers that clearly show their contents. Clear bins, boxes, and jars are all excellent for this purpose. Wire baskets are a great choice, too, particularly for bulkier items like squash and onions.

Label

If you’re trying to improve your baking game and have six different types of flour in the pantry, will you know what’s what if you decide to put them neatly into clear storage containers? Probably not. But that doesn’t mean you need to settle for stacking bags again.

Instead, just take the time to label everything. We suggest including dates, too.  That way, you can toss ingredients that are too old, instead of figuring it out the hard way when your spaghetti Bolognese tastes rancid.

Invest in Organizers

If you’re still trying to stack everything on shelves, it’s time to embrace the world of kitchen cabinet organizers. You don’t need to deal with stacks of food that fall all over the floor every time you need to reach something in the back any longer.

Solutions like lazy Susans, spice racks, and cabinet organizers open up a whole new world of possibilities. Just imagine having all your bottles of oil stored neatly on a lazy Susan, your spices all organized and within reach, and all those annoying food storage lids neatly confined within a cabinet organizer, at last. Perfection.

Give a Method to the Madness

A well-organized pantry takes some thought. Don’t just try to group items by size. Instead, create designated areas for what you’re storing. Place all your pasta together in one area and all your baking supplies in another, for example. That way, you know exactly where to look for what you need, and your family members have an easier time helping to put groceries away, too.

It’s worth remembering that grocery stores put candy at children’s eye-level for a reason. We want what we see. So if you have foods that need to be eaten soon, or you’re trying to get your kids to choose healthier snacks, try strategically placing them at eye level. They’re more likely to be used than if they’re stuck somewhere on an upper shelf.

Customize

There’s no better way to organize your pantry than with customized solutions made just for you. A custom-built pantry accommodates your personal needs, instead of a cookie-cutter approach that leaves you constantly having to adapt.

With a custom-designed pantry from Edgewood Cabinetry, you can make use of every inch of available space. Take advantage of custom-sized shelves, cabinets, racks, organizers, and more to give you the pantry of your dreams.

Interested in installing a custom pantry in your home? Contact us here to get started.

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How To Design A Butlers Pantry

How To Design A Butlers Pantry

A butler’s pantry is the perfect addition to any kitchen. It provides prep room, storage and even more. It’s even a great place to hide bulky countertop appliances for a cleaner main kitchen. While they were once used as a place for the butler to store and clean the china and silver, they’re now bustling areas to help with cooking and entertaining. Designing a butler’s pantry gives you the chance to create the perfect area for your needs. Much like a kitchen, you can customize your pantry any way you want.

Determine Its Purpose

How To Design A Butlers PantryFirst, determine your butler’s pantry’s purpose. Some people use them mainly for storage. This lets them use the area as more of a more organized walk-in pantry with a small prep area.

Others prefer to use the area mainly for prep, which means having plenty of counter space, a sink and warming areas for prepared dishes. Some even add a wet bar for an out of the way place to mix drinks without getting in the way of the cook in the main kitchen.

Add Plenty Of Storage Room

No matter what the purpose of your butler’s pantry, incorporate plenty of storage room. You’ll typically want to store things, such as:

  • Less often used appliances, such as large mixers
  • Alcohol – wine coolers are ideal for a butler’s pantry
  • Extra dishes and fine china
  • Extra food (when doubling as a pantry)
  • Baking equipment

You’ll want to have ample room to store everything for easy access when you’re using the area for prepping meals and entertaining.

Make Room For Prep

Edgewood Cabinetry cabinetsOne of the main purposes of a butler’s pantry is to have extra space for prep. You don’t always have enough room in your kitchen to prepare ingredients, lay out all your necessary dishes and keep prepared dishes warm while everything else finishes.

You’ll want ample counter space for prep. It’s also a good idea to work warming areas and a refrigerated area into your design. A small refrigerator stores things like cold appetizers while keeping your main fridge uncluttered.

Consider Entertaining Elements

Often, a butler’s pantry is used to help with entertaining. You can set out trays and have a wet bar for people to serve themselves or make it easy for you as the host to quickly get what your guests need. The best part is everyone stays out of the kitchen so the cook doesn’t get disturbed and the main course is served up on time.

This is another reason to have plenty of storage. The last thing you want is for your guests to see your butler’s pantry in disarray.

Make Cleanup Easy

Sometimes, it’s easy to get so caught up in everything else that you forget about one important design element – cleanup. The type of countertop and backsplash you use can drastically affect how long it takes to clean your kitchen.

We’ve written several guides on helping you choose the best countertop for your kitchen, including:

You want surfaces that are easy to wipe off. Grout work in the backsplash might look good, but you may want to avoid it in areas where you’ll prep messier foods. You’ll also want to consider adding a sink and small dishwasher. A sink, at the very least, gives you a place to rinse things off and clean your hands.

Try To Complement Your Kitchen

Finally, try to create a complementary design to your kitchen. This creates a seamless look between both areas. Your butler’s pantry should be similar to your kitchen. You’ll likely want to keep the same cabinet design and colors.

While you don’t have to keep them the same, it’s a common trend. You could also go with an exact opposite to make the rooms stand out. If you’ll have more guests in your pantry than kitchen, you’ll want to design with that in mind. You may want a more elegant look versus a more functional look like you’d have in your kitchen.

Every butler’s pantry needs custom cabinets to complete the look. Contact us today to find out how we can help.

Image: Becca Tapert

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Pantry Door

Why There Is More To A Pantry Than The Pantry Door

Have some shelves or hooks on your pantry door and think you’ve done all you can to trick out your pantry? You’re just getting started.

While the door does offer quite a few options to customize your pantry, don’t forget about the inside of the pantry.

If you’re struggling for ideas, the suggestions below might just have you clearing out your pantry and seeing how much you can really do with it.

Everything And The Kitchen Sink

If you have a larger pantry, such as a walk-in or butler style, add in a sink to make it a hidden prep area. This is also ideal if you store vegetables like potatoes in your pantry. Use the sink to wash them and prep them quickly. Some people even add a small dishwasher if there is space to avoid taking up valuable room in the main part of the kitchen.

Shelves Everywhere

Shelving is your best friend when it comes to decking out a pantry. Adding in shelves that are easy to adjust is ideal for ensuring you’re always able to reach the things you need. For instance, you might add a small rounded shelf for spices with space in the front to stack a few taller items like boxes of cereal. This allows you to maximize space and still stay organized.

A great play on standard shelves is pull-out shelves. For small pantries, these are lifesavers so you never forget about the things in the back. You may even consider a floor to ceiling Lazy Susan for corners.

Wire shelving also works well to create a fully custom pantry. Not only can you easily see between shelves, but you can hang small items with magnetic clips that don’t stack well.

Adding Power

Who couldn’t use a few more outlets sometimes? Whether it’s just an out of the way place to charge your phone/tablet or plug in your slow cooker, more outlets are always a good thing. Deck out your pantry with a few outlets, especially for walk-in pantries. Add a small counter area for smaller appliances, such as a slower cooker or blender so they’re not in the way while you’re preparing other things.

Baskets And Containers Everywhere

If you don’t want to have to redo your shelving, no problem! Move your smaller items to baskets and put oddly shaped items in see-through containers. Better Homes & Gardens shows just how easy it is to go from a cluttered mess to fully organized just by placing everything neatly in baskets and containers. The Happy Housie also has great examples of beautifully made over pantries.

Start Hanging Items

You typically see a pantry as a place to sit things on shelves. But, what about those small bags that mixes and rice sometimes come in? Those are a pain to sit upright and constantly fall over. Instead, add a small rod to the underside of any shelf. Use a rod that’s small enough for chip clips or binder clips to slide over. Use these to hang those pesky bags. For tall shelves, hang these bags and consider a slide out shelf underneath for spices for optimal organization.

Wheel Out Heavy Items

When you store heavier items like boxes of canned food or even appliances like a pressure cooker, they’re often heavy and awkward to get out. Take advantage of the space on the floor to store these heavy items easily. All you need is a flat plant stand with wheels. Now when you need something heavy from the bottom, simply roll it out and it’s much easier to get to. You can also use wheeled crates for storing even more items.

Light It Up

How often do you have to take a flashlight to find what you need in the pantry. This is yet another reason for outlets in your pantry. Add thin LED light strips to the undersides of every shelf. For wire shelving, you may only need a light every few shelves. All you have to do is tap the power button and suddenly, you’re able to see everything. If outlets aren’t an option, battery operated versions are available too.

Your pantry is yours to customize to your heart’s content. Get creative. Store food, appliances, bakeware and more. Need custom cabinets and shelving for your pantry? Contact us today to see how we can help.

Image: Downtowngal

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Kesseböhmer storage solutions for the ultimate kitchen-edgewood cabinetry

Kesseböhmer: For the Ultimate Storage Solutions

Most people have ordinary cabinets in their kitchen and Most people don’t know what they’re missing.

They don’t have Kesseböhmer storage solutions.

These are but a few examples of the ultimate in storage meet elegance.

Tandem

Looking for tall cabinetry?  The Tandem offers you one of those ‘a-ha’ moments as you open the door, and not only are the shelves on the door easily accessible, but the rear shelves move forward.  Gone are the days of trying to hunt at the back of a dark cabinet for that jar of pasta sauce you thought you shoved in there long ago.  The Tandem can also go smaller in unexpected ways.  If you want a coffee maker or oven integrated into the unit, the Tandem can fit neatly underneath, giving you storage right where you need it.

Convoy

Convoy Centro, the beginning of the Centro line, is an amazing pull-out pantry system that shows you everything you have. It’s soundless, dampened opening and closing are a world’s first, and all the shelves are fully easily adjustable.  Convoy Lavido offers pull-out shelves that will win you over with their easy accessibility including shelves that pull out to give you 270 degrees of access to your stored good.  Usable even with sliding doors, this is the one that is truly versatile in design while offering you not only ease of access but access in a beautiful way.

Dispensa

Rather have a pull-out pantry with even more options? Dispensa is the one for you.  With the ability to swing 90 degrees in either direction once fully extended, you can see everything you have on either side of the cabinet.  Using every bit of space, nothing is wasted.

Interested?  We thought so!  Contact us so we can help you design the kitchen of your dreams with Kesseböhmer storage solutions for the ultimate kitchen.

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pantry pull outs-edgewood cabinetry

Custom Upgrades in the Pantry will Make Your Kitchen More Organized and Spacious

We’ve had a lot of experience speaking with homeowners, and the lack of space or organization, and the abundance of clutter are the top complaints about kitchens.

The pantry is a great solution to this problem, but it usually requires some tweaking. Custom touches will make your pantry more user-friendly, solving many of your kitchen woes.

Many kitchens come outfitted with one tall cabinet that is perfect for a pantry. Sometimes, because of its height, it becomes a broom closet or a largely unused space due to its lack of purpose. These tall cabinets provide ample square footage that can transform your kitchen into your new favorite space.

First, adjustable shelves are a priority. These are the single best investment in using all your space wisely. You can have a larger space for big items like cereal boxes and move shelves closer together to make space for smaller canned goods. A special organizer will help you keep spices from tipping over and rolling away, and a custom holder will provide a home for foil, plastic wrap, and wax paper.

Have you ever taken everything off your counter to clean it and wish it could look that way all the time? A pantry with pull-out shelves is the perfect home for all those countertop appliances that you don’t actually want on your countertop. Toasters, coffee makers, blenders, slow-cookers, and can openers can be quickly brought out when needed, and easily put back in the pantry with custom shelves that provide space and function when placed on roller brackets.

Pull-out shelves can also help you find many of your food items faster too, saving you time when preparing meals. And because you’re not reaching behind other things to find what you’re looking for, other items won’t be knocked over or shoved aside, keeping your pantry more organized.

Many homes don’t have one of these tall cabinets, but a closet, instead. Whether the closet was intended to be a pantry or you want to transform a broom closet or coat closet into kitchen storage space, custom shelving and organizational aids can make that space into a useful pantry. To make it blend in with the current kitchen cabinetry, some people go so far as to remove the door and casing, and add a frame and doors that match the rest of the kitchen cabinetry. It’s a relatively simple change that gives your kitchen an upscale look with a custom touch.

If your current kitchen pantry just isn’t working for you, some simple changes can make it more efficient and usable. Custom shelves and organizers can turn your storage area into a space you can be proud of. For more information, contact us.

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