Happy Day, Friends! Our Butler’s Pantry is finally underway! After speaking with several contractors regarding the remodeling project in our pantry, we finally found someone highly skilled and could make our ideas become reality!
So, here is where we started a few days ago. See how the lovely cabinets sit on top of the granite? This allowed for little to no counter space, which we desperately need in this room. Our thought was to have someone raise the cabinets all the way to the ceiling and install a bottom to the cabinets. This would yield tons of counter space and utilize the wasted space above the cabinets. And the granite goes all the way to the back of the wall so it makes sense!
Thanks to our dear friend, Lynn, we found the perfect person for the job! Her talented brother, Jay. After a days work, the cabinets are raised! Look how much counter space we now have! The down side to this is now the cabinets are very high. I am fairly tall myself and I can only reach the bottom two shelves all the way across. So, in order to reach the upper cabinets, it will require a ladder. And I’m fine with that. We knew this from the beginning. Holy Cow! Look at the new counter space! Totally in love.
Then, I had an epiphany. Around 3:00 am last night. See this tall bank of cabinets? I assume this is meant to be a broom closet but who wants to waste prime real estate with brooms and mops? (and who enjoys using them?) My thought is to install pull out shelves in the entire bottom half of the cabinets. This way I can have all of my canned goods and food in one space instead of lining the bottoms of each of the other cabinets.
Personally, I think it’s brilliant. However, someone else thinks differently. Could it be Loafi? That pesky creature that lives with us now who is determined to ruin my cool ideas and fun? (In case you missed it, Loafi is an acronym for “living on a fixed income”.) This is Loafi. Devilish little guy.
So, unsure how much extra these pull out dream drawers would cost, we presently put the cans in neat rows, non-alphabetically, stretched across 5 cabinets. Who knows how I’ll find the olives or pasta when needed? It could take days. In my Butler’s Pantry dream, I envision all of the food items in one cabinet, preferably within arms reach without the assistance of a ladder. Then the other cabinets would house all of my entertaining accoutrements such as chafing dishes, charger plates, platters, etc. Then, the center cabinet which protrudes slightly more than the others would eventually house some of our china and silver with glass front doors and a lighted interior?
And of course lighting the way is two dramatic crystal chandeliers. Is it just me, or does this sound like a well thought out dream/Butler’s Pantry? Below the current before and after…
Jay also cut down the “box” which housed the washer and dryer and moved them back about 8 inches giving us some needed space. An added bonus, we can now reach the cabinets above better. We decided not to move the cabinets up to the ceiling at his suggestion. This area looks neater and is definitely more functional. I’m working on getting Lacey’s dog food into more attractive containers…
Well, that’s it for now. Jay is making a few custom cabinets for us to go on top of two other cabinets for even more storage. Our kind electrician, Robert is coming shortly to install a few electrical outlets and some under the counter lighting. Then, we just need a painter, which will probably be our butlers, Brad and Dell. 🙂
Step by step we are making this already charming house into our own. We still have a long way to go but are enjoying our retirement and living back in the South near family and friends. Thanks for stopping by today and always. I appreciate your support! I’ll keep you posted on the next phase of our remodel. Happy Hill is next! xo Dell
