A walk-in pantry transforms how a kitchen works. It puts everyday cooking essentials, dry goods, small appliances and even prep space into a single, beautifully organised room of its own, keeping the main kitchen calm, uncluttered and ready for entertaining.























































Walk-In, Cupboard or Larder?
There are three pantry formats and the right one depends on the space you have. A walk-in pantry is a dedicated room (often 2-4 square metres) lined with shelving and worktop, with its own door from the kitchen. A full-height larder cupboard is a single tall cabinet (typically 600-900mm wide) with pull-out internal shelves and door-mounted spice racks. A pantry-style cupboard is a wider in-frame cabinet (1200-1800mm) with shelving inside and folding bi-fold doors that open the entire face.
The walk-in is the dream version, especially in extensions, refurbishments and new builds where the floor plan allows. We hand-build the shelving, worktops, drawers and any internal cabinetry in the same materials and finish as the main kitchen, so the pantry feels like a natural extension of the room, not an afterthought.
Features we build into walk-in pantries
- Open and closed shelving: a mix that suits everyday access and tidy storage
- Worktop run: in matching quartz, timber or marble-effect porcelain
- Small-appliance zone: kettle, toaster, coffee machine all out of sight
- Concealed power sockets: along the back wall for everyday appliances
- Dedicated bread bin, fruit bowl, vegetable basket storage
- Concealed door entry: a hidden door that reads as cabinetry from the kitchen side
- Climate-friendly storage: cool, dry shelving zones for dry goods, wine and preserves
For more general kitchen storage (drawers, larders, internal organisers and bespoke storage solutions that don’t require a dedicated room), see our kitchen storage page.
Read More on Pantries
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Walk-In or Cupboard? Choosing the Pantry Format That Fits the Kitchen Space You Already Have
Design Details Explored: Cornices, Pelmets & Plinths
Fitting in a Seating Area in a Bespoke Kitchen
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Blending Old Layouts with New in Historic Kitchens
Frequently Asked Questions
How much space do you need for a walk-in pantry?
The smallest walk-in pantry we have built is around 1.5m by 1.5m, the largest closer to 3m by 2.5m. Anywhere from 2 to 6 square metres works well. Smaller than that, and we usually recommend a full-height larder cupboard instead.
What is a “bootility” and how does it relate to a pantry?
A bootility is a combined utility and boot room: laundry appliances and storage at one end, boot bench, dog area and outdoor kit at the other. It is different from a pantry (which is food and small-appliance storage) but the two rooms are often planned alongside each other in larger extensions.
Can the pantry be concealed behind a cabinet front?
Yes, and it is one of our favourite details. A concealed door reads as cabinetry from the kitchen side; from inside the pantry it is a full-size functional door. The reveal moment when guests see what’s behind it never gets old.
What should I put in the pantry?
Most clients use a walk-in pantry for dry goods, baking ingredients, breakfast cereals, jars and preserves, plus the everyday appliances they would rather not have out on the main worktop: kettle, toaster, coffee machine, blender, food processor. Some clients also store wine and small wine fridges in the pantry.
Can the pantry be built into an existing kitchen, or only in extensions?
Both. We have built walk-in pantries into existing utility rooms, repurposed garage spaces, redundant under-stair cupboards and new extensions. As long as there is sound flooring and a feasible run of cabinetry, almost any space can become a pantry.
Suppliers
Please note, Handmade Kitchen’s use of manufacturer trademarks and trademark devices on this website is only to directly describe
the appliances we are able to source for our customers and we do not intend to imply any connection, affiliation or trading relationship
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