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We always manage to fill a kitchen, no matter how big or tiny, with this and that, which is why space-saving storage is such a pain for practically everyone. Thankfully, one of our favorite kitchen features is back in style, promising to give your appliances, accessories, and ingredients a dedicated home rather than cluttering up every single one of your countertops. Yes, the kitchen larders have returned, and they're better than ever.
These useful and elegant additions, which come in a variety of forms and sizes, are once again at the top of every kitchen owner's wish list, whether they have a large or small kitchen. That's because modern larders may highlight the finer points of our handcrafted cabinets while also highlighting a variety of ingenious storage choices on the interior.
We're not sure if the recent comeback of kitchen larders and pantries is due to the extra touch of elegance they add, the nostalgia they evoke, or the practical benefits of having so much extra storage while freeing up entire walls. All we know is that we're all for the revival of these classic kitchen fixtures, and we're going to explain why you should be, too.
Built-in larders are stunning in and of themselves, but if you want to make yours a subtle focal point, simply add a bright splash of color and some unique touches. For example, if you have a navy blue larder hidden nicely in the corner of your kitchen, some brass handles on the exterior and an accent color inside, especially one that celebrates the special objects you've put in there, could make a statement.
Every kitchen should be designed with personality and utility in mind, and a well-thought-out larder does just that. Your larder can be transformed into a clutter-free area to suit your everyday needs, from creating a dedicated hot drinks station with everything needed to make and serve the perfect brew to extending your kitchen worktops inside to create a purpose-built prep station – complete with microwave and coffee-maker.
Adding some basic strip lights to the inside frames of your kitchen larder is a terrific way to make it more functional and distinctive, whether you've been dreaming of one to hide your clutter or create a place to exhibit your favorite objects. A strip light will not only help you find what you're looking for in the darker parts of your pantry, but it will also contribute to the ambience when you open the doors.
Our built-in larders are custom-made to your specifications, allowing you to be creative with your storage options and make the most of every inch of available space. Bespoke larders allow you to customize your space with your kitchen preferences in mind, from varied height shelving options to putting storage baskets on rails, inserting spice racks on the inside of your doors to designating a place to your most-used appliances.
Larders are more than just a clever storage feature; they're a celebration of craftsmanship, design, and details, which is why you should paint them in the right color. Enhancing their appearance is a terrific way to give your area more dimension. Turn them into a focal point with a vibrant pastel color that will grab your eye every time you go into your kitchen, or simply paint them a slightly different hue than the rest of your cabinetry and walls.
You can always take use of the benefits of a purpose-built pantry, no matter how small your kitchen is if you think vertically. You can maximize the storage space you have by building a narrow floor-to-ceiling larder and then adding generously spaced vertical shelves to store your larger and bulkier objects, resulting in less clutter in the rest of your cabinets (and worktops too). Jars, bottles, bread machines, vases, cereal boxes — whatever it is, you'll have plenty of room to experiment with it, and it won't take up too much of your kitchen space.
Adding a larder to your kitchen, whether it's a farmhouse-style kitchen or an ultra-modern one, is a terrific way to create a more homey ambiance and improve the vibe you already have. You might use them to frame your state-of-the-art wine fridge to bring functionality and modernism together, or you could use them to create an extra storage option that sticks out in the corner of your country home.
The secret to a good pantry is to maximize your storage space so that it feels luxurious both when you open the doors and when you're looking for anything. It's all about creating an aesthetically beautiful and incredibly easy-to-navigate environment, which is why we always suggest open shelving and soft lighting. After that, finish the design by selecting storage containers and mason jars that complement the rest of your kitchen.
McKenzie (Dandelion & Quince), a James Beard Award nominee, provides an eye-opening and extremely practical guide for developing and using a well-stocked larder, complete with dishes "meant to release you from monotony." Larders, also known as pantries, are often used for kitchen storage, but McKenzie's allows her to maximize productivity while putting in minimal effort. She asserts that "one ingredient can change the essence of a dish, lifting it from flat to transcendent," and she offers readers practical advice for enhancing meals using ingredients already on hand. The first half of the book concentrates on a variety of ingredients, including tried-and-true favorites like capers and sea salt, as well as some less common ones like banyuls vinegar, Job's tears (a grain that "looks a bit like a fat, ivory teardrop"), and 'nduja (a spreadable salumi). She not only describes the flavor, the best types, and how to use them, but she also includes recipes. Crispy chickpea fritters, skillet-charred beans, and a robust cauliflower and radicchio salad with fried pine nuts, barberries, and sumac are just a few of the foods on the menu. This inviting and instructive compilation will extend palates and repertoires, as well as introduce home cooks to new foods and delicious ways to use them.
Many homes used to have walk-in larders, but with the development of fitted kitchens, they became obsolete. However, having all of your dry goods storage space in one area makes it much easier to find items, and larders are enjoying a well-deserved comeback.
A larder is more important than ever before, as the necessity for compact, well-organized storage space for all dry products is essential in today's typically open-plan kitchens.
Consider a larder to be similar to a utility room: a place where all relevant food items and culinary equipment, such as food mixers, are gathered. Consider what needs to be saved or hidden, as well as what requires quick access. It can be as big as your room allows or tucked away behind a row of cabinets.
A well-designed larder is a place to keep all of your non-perishables — dry goods, veggies, bottles, and anything else you need to see in one glance.
Everything from open vegetable racks to wine storage, deep drawers, and plenty of open shelving will be included. Some even feature sinks for preparing veggies, as well as marble shelves for storing coolers.
Your larder can be either walk-in or Crittall-style, with pockets doors that slide and pivot out of sight (a terrific solution for storage, especially in small spaces) or behind Crittall-style glazing, which requires you to be a little neater if observed from the kitchen. It's also possible to hide it in a row of kitchen cupboards.
A walk-in larder is the ultimate storage solution if you have the luxury of space. It opens to reveal storage space hidden behind a door or doors in a row of cabinets. Wine coolers fit perfectly in a walk-in pantry, and it's even better if the fridge-freezer is close by.
The larder can be modified to meet the space you have available and the aesthetic of your kitchen if you pick a bespoke design. The best bespoke larders are large, with plenty of shelf and internal storage. drawers that are large enough to hold cereal packages
Another advantage is that a larder allows you to see everything at once rather than digging around in the back of a cupboard — large drawers that carry a lot of stuff help with this because you can see everything from above. They'll usually have the same finish as the rest of the kitchen, so they'll appear good when viewed from other angles, such as through glass. Your fridge and freezer can also be stored there, which is a good option if your kitchen is part of your main living area. As a result, a well-designed larder will give you plenty of storage options and a clutter-free environment.
The larder, once a common fixture in every home but now overlooked in favor of extra-large refrigerators and built-in cabinets, is once again a desirable component in a modern kitchen.
Kitchen larders or pantries can now be found in a variety of sizes and styles, ranging from unobtrusive free-standing units to entire walk-in rooms with floor-to-ceiling shelves. Larders can be an immensely practical solution for storing dry goods, veggies, and small gadgets like coffee machines, microwaves, and toasters, depending on the space available to you.
One of the benefits of having a larder is that it allows you to add additional aesthetic accents like art or wall lighting to the rest of your kitchen, making it feel less functional and more homey.
"Larders are a celebration of craftsmanship, design, and details," explains Al Bruce, the founder of Olive & Barr. "Adding a larder to your kitchen, whether it's a farmhouse-style kitchen or an ultra-modern one, is a terrific way to create a more homey ambiance and improve the vibe you already have. You might use them to frame your state-of-the-art wine fridge to bring functionality and modernism together, or you could use them to create an extra storage option that sticks out in the corner of your country home."
Continue reading for six design ideas for making the kitchen pantry work for you. Gone are the days of your grandmother's stone-walled storage facilities; today's larders and pantries are works of art in and of themselves. Bold color schemes and eye-catching fittings, like these exquisite brass handles from our Country Living Whitstable Kitchen at Homebase, will draw attention to your pantry.
"Built-in larders have their own show-stopping character," Al explains. "Simply add an eye-catching splash of color and some noteworthy touches to turn yours into a subtle centerpiece. For example, on the outside, some chrome or brass handles and an accent color on the interior, particularly one that honors the treasured items you've put there."
For avid cooks or those who prefer to keep their kitchen clutter-free, a walk-in pantry is a dream, and a well-executed layout is crucial to make the most of your space. Work surfaces to facilitate basic food or drink preparation elevate your larder beyond mere storage.
"Every kitchen should be designed with personality and utility in mind," Al explains, "and a well-planned larder provides just that." "Your larder can be transformed into a clutter-free area to suit your everyday needs, from creating a dedicated hot drinks station with everything needed to make and serve the perfect brew to extending your kitchen worktops inside so that you have a purpose-built prep station – complete with microwave and coffee-maker."
If you remember old larders, they were frequently gloomy, dreary areas with little regard for style or decor. There's a lot of incentive these days to showcase the nicely organized foods and accessories inside. If your larder is glass-fronted, like this historic Plain English design, use a conventional low-hanging chandelier to illuminate the contents, or consider LED strip lighting snuggled beneath your shelf in more modern interiors.
"Adding some simple strip lights on the inner frames is a terrific way to make your larder more functional and distinctive," Al adds. "Whether you've been dreaming of a kitchen larder to hide your clutter from being on display or you want to create a place to display your favorite pieces."
The best larders are ones with enough depth to accommodate ingenious storage solutions. Roll-out shelving, rows of door-mounted storage racks, and space for wooden apple crates or wicker baskets can all help you organize your pantry " Get creative with your storage options and make the most of every inch of available space to maximize your area's functionality. Bespoke larders allow you to build your space with your kitchen preferences in mind, from varied height shelving options to putting storage baskets on rails, inserting spice racks on the inside of your doors to designating a place to your most-used appliances."
A larder has the advantage of not having to fit into your current kitchen arrangement. Use a clever fitted larder in an otherwise forgotten area, like in our own Country Living Whitstable Kitchen, or modify a disused recess for a bespoke larder, like this gorgeous pink Tom Howley example.
If you have a small kitchen, Al suggests expanding higher. "You can always take use of the benefits of a purpose-built pantry, no matter how small your kitchen is if you think vertically. You can maximize storage capacity by building a compact floor-to-ceiling pantry and then adding amply spaced vertical shelves. Jars, bottles, bread machines, vases, cereal boxes — whatever it is, you'll have plenty of room to experiment with it, and it won't take up too much of your kitchen space."
The only place in your kitchen that should be Marie Kondo-organized is the larder. "The secret to a good pantry is to maximize your storage capacity to generate a luxury feel both when you open the doors and when you're looking for anything," Al adds. "It's all about establishing a visually appealing and easy-to-navigate environment, which is why we always propose open shelving and gentle lighting. After that, finish the design by selecting storage containers and mason jars that complement the rest of your kitchen."