Do you need a butler's pantry in a kitchen?

The kitchen is undoubtedly the heart of the home, where friends and family gravitate to prepare feasts and reconnect. It’s no surprise that kitchen designs are becoming increasingly luxurious to stop potential buyers in their tracks. The butler’s pantry is one of these luxury additions.

However, as the judges on The Block recently pointed out during kitchen and laundry reveal week, a butler’s pantry isn’t always a welcome addition to a home as it can take up precious space.

What is a butler’s pantry?

The butler’s pantry was established back in the 19th century and got its name from the butler who would manage the pantry stock and silverware. The butler would often have a desk in the pantry and, in some cases, even sleep in there to protect the silverware from being stolen. 

In the past, the butler’s pantry was located between the kitchen and dining room and was where food was plated before being served to guests. Today, the butler’s pantry is positioned directly off the kitchen. It’s still used as a space to prepare food, but also acts as clever storage.

With all the appliances available today, precious bench space can be overtaken by coffee machines, SodaStreams and toasters. The butler’s pantry is where all of these appliances can live, leaving the kitchen benchtops clear. It’s also handy to have while entertaining as any mess can be hidden away from guests to make it appear like you’re the ultimate host. 

Is it what buyers want?

There’s no doubt having a butler’s pantry is a luxury feature of a home, which real estate agents will make a point to showcase during viewings.

“We deal with a variety of high-end properties around Sydney and we are seeing a lot more recently that feature butler’s pantries, especially in newer builds and renovations,” says Ben Langsam, sales associate at Raine & Horne Double Bay.

“For buyers, it provides that rare secondary kitchen space for those who like to entertain. We also find it lends itself to families needing extra storage or bench space. 

“With such an emphasis on these modern, open-plan layouts in newer homes, it’s ideal to have that complementary space to reduce clutter and create separation.”

While it’s not often a feature buyers will request in their search for a dream home, it remains a welcome addition for many. 

Langsam says that, for some buyers, the feature will prompt them to make an offer for one home over another.

“Features like butler’s pantries just may be the deciding factor for a purchaser to make that commitment when comparing what each option offers in their specs,” he says.

Is a butler’s pantry for you?

If you’re thinking about adding a butler’s pantry to your own home, there are several factors to consider, the experts say.

Adding a butler’s pantry can mean losing precious space, especially in a smaller home. Georgina Oakley, an associate at Melbourne-based architecture and interior design practice Pleysier Perkins, says she tends to only recommend butler’s pantries if they aren’t going to compromise on space. 

“I think it’s important to ensure that valuable kitchen, meals and living space isn’t being compromised to accommodate a butler’s pantry,” she says. “So it’s important to prioritise the kitchen amenity before considering a butler’s pantry.

“Typically, what we would do is run through a floor plan just so we can gauge the size and overall scope, and if we feel there is what we’d call ‘overflow circulation space’ then we could consider a butler’s pantry.”

With all the new appliances coming to the market, having extra storage space is essential for many, which is why most modern homes are incorporating the butler’s pantry in their design. 

“They’re becoming so much more common than what they used to be,” Oakley says. 

“If we’re designing a new home we will always try to incorporate one in the design, and if we’re doing a renovation, we’ll always try our best to rejig the floor plan to suit.”

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