Just when we thought we'd hit our limit, a fabulous yet functional kitchen trend has popped up on our radar. Meet the bantry: the bar-pantry hybrid. Part storage solution, part entertaining zone, the bantry takes everything you were already trying to cram into your kitchen (coffee paraphernalia, cocktail supplies, small appliances and so on), and gives it a dedicated home.
'A bantry is a multifunctional extension of the kitchen,' says interior designer Amy Lee McArdle. 'Part pantry, part bar, part utility hub, it reflects how we’re actually living today.'
Think cabinets that hide the chaos, shelves that show off the good stuff, and enough personality to make the whole thing feel intentional rather than improvised. What makes it work is how unfussy it is. You don’t need a full renovation or even a walk-in pantry, just a bit of space and a plan.
Here’s what to know about setting up your own bantry at home.
What is a bantry?
'The bantry is really the evolution of the traditional pantry,' says interior designer Dvira Ovadia. 'What was once a purely utilitarian storage space has become a highly curated, multipurpose space that supports everything from food prep to entertaining.'
A bantry could be a whole walk-in room that facilitates all sorts of behind-the-scenes kitchen activities, or it could be little more than a nook or even a cupboard.
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'A bantry might include a designated beverage fridge, wine storage, liquor display and a coffee station,' adds Micaela Quinton of Copper Sky Design + Remodel, noting that whatever their size, bantries are typically more polished than traditional pantries because they are often seen and used by guests.
The features every bantry should have
The features in your bantry should be highly personal and designed around your household habits. As Jen Dean of Jede Interiors puts it, it all comes down to how you actually live, how you host, what you reach for and what you’d rather hide.
For some, that might mean creating a snack zone that little ones can access without tearing apart the rest of the kitchen. For others, it’s a fully integrated coffee station with everything from milk frothers to mugs within reach. Countertop bantries might combine closed cabinetry to hide the less attractive essentials, with open shelving to give you a place to be a little more curated.
For the full-fat bantry walk ins, a secondary sink can keep prep and cleanup out of sight, while beverage zones (such as coffee stations, wine fridges, or both) create dedicated areas for bulky appliances. Add in a fridge freezer and real countertops, and the whole thing starts to function less like a pantry and more like a behind-the-scenes kitchen.
Elise Dodds (@makemyhomepretty) made her viral bantry space by carving out a corner of her colourful kitchen, adding a cantilevered window that recalls the quaint service hatches in old-fashioned bars.
How designers are making them work
A bantry is not all about function – it also permits you to loosen up a bit, design-wise.
Open shelving might display glassware or collected pieces that would otherwise stay hidden, while offbeat materials, colours or patterns add personality. The fabulous example above from Pringle & Pringle is faced in a brilliant blue, with creamy panelled interiors and a proper stone worktop.
As Amy puts it, the goal is to create something of a 'unicorn' space, one that works hard behind the scenes, but still feels a little special.
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