Pantry Makeover

A pantry can be much more than a glorified walk-in closet. It can be an elegant and functional workspace as well. In this instance, I worked with the homeowner to go from all those great Instagram photos one can find, to something that would work for her in the space she had. Echoing the adjoining kitchen, shaker-style cabinets were chosen, including matching door-pulls. I cut a butcher-block slab to fit, stained it to harmonize with the kitchen colours, then applied several coats of urethane to make it a durable work surface. Shelving was cut and installed to give a semi-custom look while still being easily adjustable for changing needs. Now, instead of just being a place to put the canned goods, it's a place for the cappuccino maker and other small appliances that had been crowding the kitchen, and an attractive space in which to use them.