Where It's All Stored~The Blessing of a Butlers Pantry

One question that seems to keep repeating itself is, "where do you store all that china?" This makes me grin a bit because I know very well that compared to many, my china collection is small indeed. Not small enough however to not be thankful for my butlers pantry. My butlers pantry is a row of cabinetry that connects my kitchen to my formal dining room. With upper and lower cabinets I am always surprised by how much I can truly fit in there. What is even better is the great amount of extra counter space it has plus an additional sink! When we first looked at this home I remember distinctly blabbing out to our realtor "that sink is a waste it will never be used" haha boy was I wrong. Every party we have ever hosted incorporates that area being used as a bar and yep you guessed it that sink gets plenty of usage at those times. What else do I use this area for? Well it houses some appliances that would otherwise take up ample counter space in my kitchen. My KitchenAid mixer for one. The blender and coffee maker are two more. But before I give you a tour of my Butlers pantry let me show you where I keep my formal goods......they are kept in a buffet/sideboard in my dining room.



All my formal china is kept in there plus a few other things that I don't use every day like gravy boats, cake platters, plates that correspond to certain holidays like thanksgiving for example.

My Thanksgiving turkey transferware plates are stacked with a gravy boat on top, every inch counts!

My grandmothers punch bowl, large crystal bowls and cake platters are also stored in the sideboard.

All my formal silverware. flatware and serving pieces are stores in the drawers of this piece.

Not too neatly I might add!

Here is an overall peek at the butlers pantry. This was taken the day after Christmas so there are still some crystal pieces drying after being washed in that sink I swore I would never use!

The upper cabinets hold my glassware. My formal crystal goblets and wine glasses are placed up high on the top shelves.

With the more casual bar ware down lower and easily accessed. I always keep my every day wine glasses where they can be grabbed at a moments notice!

Here is the view looking towards the dining room. You can catch a glimpse of the infamous sink!

There is a center cabinet with glass front doors. I keep cookbooks, glassware and stone ware pieces that are moved in and out easily as the decor around my home gets moved.

Here is the other side. More formal glasses on the top shelf then margarita and martini glasses are housed here plus some water goblets.

The butlers pantry also has some nice large drawers. In the center one I keep all my candles and votives.

The other drawer is my wine station drawer. All my wine openers, wine stoppers, wine charms and drink napkins are kept in that drawer. I failed to get a picture of it though.

The lower cabinets of the butlers pantry house just about everything! Serving Trays, dinner plates from various sets, salad plates which I love to collect because they are an easy way to get a totally different and new look from your staple dishes.

I stack all my plates by size. You might find four different sets in one stack!

Here are some large pieces that needed a home. My large drink holder, some cake stands, a wine bucket, silver dish and bread basket to name a few.

The cabinet under the sink holds all my vases and hurricanes.

What I don't have room for in my butlers pantry or sideboard I store in my kitchen. I have very tall upper cabinets. Even I can't reach the top shelf and I am 6 feet tall! Here I have some more glassware stored.

Place mats piled with some platters.

All my glassware is stored in this corner cabinet which is very deep because it goes back in a pie shape.

My every day dishes which get used all the time for both special occasions and every day. A salad plate on my plain white french plates can make a whole new look come to life! Bowls and more salad plates are stored here as well.

Aren't you sorry you asked? I have had the plans drawn out for my dream home since I was about 12. I guess the design gene had taken hold even then. In these plans I have the ultimate pantry and china pantry. Some day............
Please join Susan at Between Naps on the Porch by clicking here as she hosts Tablescape Thursday. Although this was not a tablescape today it did show y'all where I keep all that tablescape stuff!