A guide to Larders, Pantries and Walk-in Storage

When it comes to kitchens, effective storage is right up there at the top of most people’s wish lists.
Knowing what options are available and how they could be used in your kitchen design is one of the key steps to a successful project.

Here we have broken down the key things to know to help you get the most from your new kitchen.

Drawers

Not all kitchens have space for a big larder cupboard. If this is the case then one of the best options is pull-out drawers. The reason drawers are so good is they give you easy access to everything inside them. There’s no danger of things being berried at the back as everything is easy to see. The other great thing about drawers is they allow for the worksurface to run on top. You get great storage below the worktop plus lots of usable space above the drawers for prepping food.

Corners

More often than not there will be at least one corner to factor into you kitchen design. Knowing how to use this space can be tricky. Corner cupboards are an option but they are very hard to access and the stuff at the back usually ends up being forgotten about.
A great option is a corner le-Mans with pull-out pivoting shelves. These give you full, unimpeded access to everything in the cupboard whilst still making full use of the space in the corner. We like these best because the mechanism is simple, strong and reliable. They are especially good for storing saucepans and big serving dishes.

In Addition to corner Le Mans units, adding a roller shutter unit can further enhance the usability of those tricky corner spaces. 

Larder Cupboard with shelves

If you do have space for a tall cupboard then a simple cupboard with shelves is the simplest and most affordable option. Cupboards are great for hiding and storing all manor of things but the big drawback is stuff getting berried at the back. Whilst the front of the shelves is super useful and easy to see, anything at the back tends to be forgotten.

Larder Cupboard with drawers

If you have the space and can afford the extra cost, then a larder with 5 internal drawers is an absolute game changer when it comes to storage in your kitchen. Aside from the brilliant use of space internal drawers also benefit from being super strong, ours can each hold 40kg. They are also all self-contained, meaning if something does spill or leak, it’s contained within that one drawer.

Larder Cupboard with integrated door rack

These types of larder give you the best of both worlds. Not only do you get the useable part of the shelf, 32cm to be precise, but you also get an extremely strong and versatile door rack. The door rack is mounted in such a way that all the weight is carried by the cabinet so no matter how much stuff you put in it, it never effects the alignment of the door.

Larder with door rack and moving shelves

These types of larder have the same door rack as we described above but instead of standard fixed shelves, they have shelves that actually come forward as the door is opened. They are the absolute best in terms of maximizing accessibility but not quite as good as pull-out drawers when it comes to maximizing the storage volume.

Narrow pull-out larders

These types of larder tend to be either 30cm or 40cm wide and are a very useful way of maximizing storage in narrower spaces. They also work well when they are positioned next to a wall, as they allow for easy access from the side.

Double width Pantries and Breakfast Cupboards

These have risen in popularity in recent years and are now right up there with the most requested elements in our clients new kitchens. In effect they give you a large 90cm – 120cm space at the top which can be fitted our and accessorized in a number of ways to suit your needs.

Keep it cooking related and maybe have a mixer and baking station or add a coffee machine and it becomes a hidden breakfast station. With plenty of shelving and almost no limit to how the internal space can be arranged it’s easy to see why they have become so popular.

Pocket doors

Pocket doors can be added to double width pantries or breakfast stations. These are doors that when opened are then able to slide back into a hidden compartment at the side of the unit, meaning the door doesn’t get in the way when it is open. The downside to these types of doors are firstly the cost, they are expensive! And second, the mechanism’s can be a little bit sensitive if people don’t open them perfectly to 90 degrees before trying to slide them away. Not always great if you have children using the kitchen!

Walk-in larders and pantries

Topping the list of must-have’s for 2024 is the ultimate solution for storage and practicality, the walk-in larder. The obvious prerequisite for a walk-in larder is having the space but if you do, nothing increase the functionality of your kitchen and simultaneously adds a touch of glamour quite like a walk-in larder.