Monday, January 23, 2012

The Butler's Pantry


This post is for all you dishaholics who came out last week.
Admitting we have a problem is Step One, so this post is about the art of display and storage of our "problem."

If you don't have a butler's pantry to store your dishes, then you are probably dreaming of one.

A separate room to store it all would be my idea of heaven!

I would even be happy with a full length cabinet like the one above in my garage!

Butlers Pantry traditional kitchen
Just having a little niche or room! Many readers wrote that they were thinking of turning a spare bedroom into a storage area.

Pantry traditional kitchen
Storage is definitely a problem for us dishaholics!

Reading everyone's comments about their dish obsession and lack of storage space made me realize that I might have a solution right under my nose.
My laundry room!

A butler's pantry/laundry room!
All that needs to be done is to clear out the junk behind those cabinet doors!
Craft stuff, vases, old candles, pots, etc. and organize the cupboards with dishes.
I'm tempted to remove the doors though so that the dishes can be seen and appreciated.
That, or maybe put glass in them.

What do you think? Is it weird to have a washer and dryer in your butler's pantry?

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39 comments:

Unknown said...

Your laundry room makes a great butler's pantry ! Mine is full of tools and all kinds of junk. I have no basement , so it would take a lot of time to redo mine. But I love yours , it's a great idea !

Tricia Rose Rough Linen said...

You could call it a utility room, then you'd have trouble only if the dishes crowded the washer and dryer out!

I need a shed I think: I'm the rustic version - a crockaholic!

Marian said...

My new year's resolution was to put wall cabinets in my laundry room. It's upstairs, but I already have most of my dish collection upstairs in closets, trunks and places I may have forgotten about. I just need a nudge.

Terri~terrileeauthor said...

Great idea Delores. I recently decided to convert a little used coat closet off the kitchen/dining room into a dish pantry. The Hubbs had said I couldn't bring another dish into the house because we had run out of places to stash them. Voila!! Problem solved. Ha ha.

Terri M

Tammy said...

Great post and I have to say I don't think it is weird to have a butler's pantry/laundry room. In fact, when we were in the designing stages of our home and trying to carve a space for all my dishes, I ended up combining the laundry and a butler's pantry which is right off the kitchen. The washer/dryer are at one end with a cabinet between for laundry soap, etc. The rest of the room is the butler's pantry with glass front cabinets, counter with sink and storage below! Love it and is so nice keeping all the dishes together, on display to be enjoyed along with easy access! I would love to see what you can do in your space!

Sonia said...

I think that's a perfect solution. I have a long empty wall in my laundry room and I'm going to have a row of cabinets installed this year...it's on my to do wish list!

Miss Bloomers

Anonymous said...

I think it would be very apropos to have the W&D in the "butler's pantry". You have a lovely area....good luck!!

Nothing But Blue Skies... said...

Great idea! I too, have thought of using my laundry room cabinets for dish storage. I have just been putting off re-organizing it all!

I think if it works for you in your home, then there's nothing weird about it. I say, go for it!

xo
-Lisa

Rose H (UK) said...

Great idea:o)
I weakened before Christmas and bought a large vintage set of dinner settings - used for Xmas and now still sitting on a tray on the dining room table as I scratch my head wondering just where I'm going to store them!

Libby said...

We are in the beginning stages of redesigning what is actually a laundry room... but it is also going to be pantry. Glass door cabinets above for dishes. Lots of cabinets below, but also an ironing board in the wall etc. I like the butler's pantry idea of swing out doors too. Most of my dishes are still in dish packs from the move a year ago! Will be nice to have them all out and useable again...

Kathysue said...

I think you are onto something D!! I would definitely put glass so the lint from the dryer doesn't get all over the dishes. How fun!! I just know you would love that. I have a full closet in my laundry room that does not hold linens but it holds all my little pretties, it is somewhat of a staging closet of things that come in and out of my decor or tablesettings. It is pretty packed, but I am so glad to have it!! Happy rainy Monday, loving the cold cozy weather!! xo Kathysue

savvycityfarmer said...

NOT
ONE
BIT
WEIRD ...


do it

then show us

deb said...

Totally agree with cityfarmer!!

ℳartina @ Northern Nesting said...

I think it's a great idea Delores!!

Mary Ann Pickett said...

I love that idea of using some space in the laundry room for dishes!!! Then I could buy those pretty shallow soup bowls I just saw at Home Goods! Lovely post!!!

Sheila said...

1)Add on a room to your house
2)Add on a separate garage and turn current garage into dish storage
3)Get a bigger house

Today's Treasure by Jen said...

Not weird at all. Maybe chicken wire instead of glass and then shirred fabric behind one or two doors for the items you want to keep hidden? That look would be perfect with the wallpaper. ~Jen

The Tablescaper said...

Sounds like a great idea! I'd be a bit hesitant to put in all glass. Sometimes things don't group well enough to have it all on display.

- The Tablescaper

jessica said...

Would be beautiful!! {I would put my bedroom in with my w/d if it looked like yours :)} I've seen people have very clever ways to disguise their w/d if you were worried about the look of dishes on display and the w/d... just a thought.... seriously, you have a very beautiful laundry room!!! :)

RobinfromCA said...

It's not weird at all! I did that in the laundry room cupboards of a previous house we owned and it was a great solution! I would go with glass doors though because, no matter how well ventilated your dryer is, there will be some lint.

You found some "to die for" spaces to share today!

Robin

Karin said...

I do think you can jam more stuff in if you have closed cabinets. Alternatively, put glass fronts in the doors to keep the dust out.
I'm contemplating a purchase of Bleu de Roi (solid blue band) and/or Ye Olde Indian Tree (only because I like the turquoise in it). What do you think? I saw them at a thrift store today.

At Rivercrest Cottage said...

when your laundry room looks like yours, you could put anything in those cubboards. Seriously, love your decorating. As for me, we have a powder room across from the kitchen and next to the laundry room, which I want to convert to a butler's pantry. Who needs a third bathroom when you don't have as much storage as you'd like?

La Vie Quotidienne said...

Great idea. I think that the glass doors would be fabulous too.

Christy said...

HAHAHAHAH! Love your last line of this post. NOT WIERD AT ALL! That's right, make the first use of this room something as dream-worthy as a butler's pantry and, oh yeah, i happen to wash my laundry in there as well. :)

sounds prefectly fine to me!! you go girl!!

A Runner's Mind said...

I think it's weird to have a Butler's pantry without a butler!!!! (KIDDING!) It's a great idea and knowing you, it'll save the downstairs bedroom that you would probably take over! Have fun!

Unknown said...

Sounds great to me!

Angie B. said...

to me as well, do it! loevly pictures of thos old shabby things. French Soupiere, I love it!
Angie

On Crooked Creek said...

Delores,
I think the idea of having a butlers pantry in your laundry room is a cleaver solution! When we arrived On Crooked Creek, I thought behind the two bi~fold doors in the dining area was just that...a butler's pantry! Turns out to be my laundry room, instead!Keep us posted on your decision and your progress!!!
Fondly,
Pat

Sarah said...

Sounds like a great idea. Not weird at all! I've such limited cabinet storage in our kitchen that we have installed metal shelving in our attic for dishes. It's not convenient though, so I dream of a butler's pantry. ~ Sarah

Debbie said...

I think it's a great idea! I have looked at my own laundry as well, but I'm not all that fond of the options in there.

Marlis said...

I say do it.. turn those shelves into something useful! Your laundry room is lovely and provides enough space to lay out pieces! I used to have the laundry room of dreams.. 20 feet long with shelves on each side. But that was at the beginning of the dish journey so not many dishes in there! Oh to have that now.. xo marlis

Victoria said...

That is precisely what I am doing with the old glass-fronted cabinets now that I am renovating my kitchen. I don't think the idea of a butler's pantry cum laundry room is weird at all. In fact, I think it is brilliant. Let's exchange photos when we finish.
XOXO Victoria

Kayla @ Your Day Simplified said...

Thats such a great idea! Can't wait to see the finished product. I think you have the prettiest laundry room I've ever seen. :)

Anonymous said...

No, it's a great idea. Use the space you already have. I do love the idea of a little clothes drying line and a nice, burlap runner over the washer and dryer though.

gme said...

Oh my, I'd kill to have a laundry room as beautiful as yours!

Upscale Downhome said...

I've always wanted a butler's pantry, too. My great aunt's house had one and I loved sneaking a peek at what she had stored there. Your laundry room would work great. I love the idea of appreciating the dishes by open shelving/glass on the doors. They are meant to be enjoyed and think about how happy you would be every time you had to do laundry when you saw your pretty dishes?!

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

If my laundry room looked like yours, I'd have a dinner party in it! laurie

Anonymous said...

It would be weird if the laundry room was any less gorgeous than yours! Such a pretty space and would be perfect for the dishes; especially if your laundry room is close to your kitchen!

peacelovedecor.blogspot.com

Fifi said...

My washer/dryer are in a closet in my kitchen. When entertaining, I cover them with an cloth and use the are as a make-shift butler's pantry. Do what works for you.

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