Inspiration

For now and forever solutions for a walk-in pantry or scullery

Article by Your Home and Garden

Your Home and Garden deputy editor, Kristina Rapley would love to have a walk-in pantry. We discover what her short and long term options are

pantry

For now and forever solutions for a walk-in pantry or scullery

“I love cooking and I also love having a tidy kitchen – but those two things don’t always mix well! Having a dedicated room tucked away for appliances and pantry staples would be so handy,” says Your Home and Garden deputy editor Kristina Rapley.

Kristina’s kitchen is too small to add a scullery or walk-in pantry, but extending the house to incorporate one would be a worthwhile investment for a foodie like her.

For now solution

Ideally you’ll have a cupboard, room or alcove to extend into for your scullery. If not, Eric Thompson of Pacific Coast Kitchens says his team could create a large, custom pantry with open shelves and a sliding door within the kitchen. If your back door opens onto the kitchen, a scullery could be installed in front of the door, with access through it to the kitchen.

Pros
More pantry space; a more affordable solution.

Cons
Squeezing extra storage into a small space may feel crowded.

Considerations
+ What kitchen space is available and what can be reworked?
+ What are your storage requirements?
+ Are there any awkward spaces that could be redesigned?

Time: Six to eight weeks for a kitchen designer and cabinetmaker.
Budget: $3500-$4500.

Forever solution

To add a larger scullery, you may need to gut and rework the entire kitchen, and consider extending the house.

Pros
Sculleries are so handy and the room can always be re-purposed. This will also add value to the house.

Cons
Building consent is almost always needed due to the repositioning of plumbing, and the fact that some structural walls will need to be reconfigured or removed.

Considerations
+ The scullery doesn’t need to be huge but layout is crucial. Since you will be gutting and rebuilding, you will want to get a kitchen designer on board.

Time: With design, cabinetmaking and build time: nine to 12 weeks if no extension is needed. If extension is required, allow 14-18 weeks once consent is granted.
Budget: $30,000-$45,000 without consent, $45,000-plus with consent.

Words by: Fiona Ralph. Photography by: Maree Homer/bauersyndication.com.au.