“We have a large extended family, and everyone loves to be a part of the action,” says TOH Idea House designer and homeowner Sandy Effren. “So we set out to build in ample spaces for guests to gather, and to prepare and enjoy meals together.”
The showcase kitchen you see is just the beginning; out of sight from the dining and living areas are a hardworking butler’s pantry with its own sink, dishwasher, and full-size refrigerator, along with a handy beverage bar for quick refreshments. The cabinets are rough-sawn European oak stained dark on the island and lighter on the perimeter; the quartz countertops and backsplash mimic concrete. The custom hood is finished to coordinate with the dark stain of the island.
Learn more about (and peek inside) these fine custom cabinets, here.
Cabinetry: Wood-Mode; Pulls, undercabinet lighting, toekick lighting: Häfele; Sinks, faucets: Kohler; Range hood: Betlan Corporation; Garbage disposal: InSinkErator; Appliances: Sub-Zero/Wolf/Cove, from Aitoro Appliance; Countertops, backsplash: Caesarstone; Island pendants: Kuzco, from Chloe Winston Lighting Design; Windows, patio door: Marvin*
*These products procured via Ring’s End
Thoughtful layout
The sink and cooktop are placed across the aisle from each other for easy movement between the two.
Cabinetry: Wood-Mode; Pulls, undercabinet lighting, toekick lighting: Häfele; Sinks, faucets: Kohler; Range hood: Betlan Corporation; Appliances: Sub-Zero/Wolf/Cove, from Aitoro Appliance; Countertops, backsplash: Caesarstone; Island pendants: Kuzco, from Chloe Winston Lighting Design; Windows: Marvin*; Flooring: Baird Brothers Fine Hardwoods
*These products procured via Ring’s End
Generous island
Measuring five-feet-by-eleven-feet, the island, with its wide sink, dishwasher, and microwave drawer, is a great spot to prepare meals without missing out on the action in the living area. A custom-fit cutting board allows you to work directly over the basin for easy cleanup; an eco-friendly garbage disposal features an automatic injection of microorganisms that helps break down food waste.
The island’s design follows a key principle from the 2020 Farmhouse project: keeping the cook connected to family life. As described in This Old House Magazine, the 45-inch-long stainless-steel sink is paired with a pot-washer-style faucet “positioned to allow the cook on duty to be part of the action.” A hardworking butler’s pantry with its own sink, dishwasher, and full-size refrigerator backs up the showcase kitchen, and a clever pass-through allows dirty dishes to slip out of sight for cleanup.
Cabinetry: Wood-Mode; Pulls, undercabinet lighting, toekick lighting: Häfele; Sink, faucet, cutting board: Kohler; Appliances: Sub-Zero/Wolf/Cove, from Aitoro Appliance; Countertop: Caesarstone; Island pendants: Kuzco, from Chloe Winston Lighting Design
Pantry with a pass-through
In the butler’s pantry, a pass-through to the kitchen allows dirty dishes to slip out of sight for cleanup in the pantry sink or dishwasher.
The butler’s pantry has deep roots in American domestic life. As architect Sandra Fairbank, who designed a butler’s pantry for a This Old House project in Watertown, Massachusetts, explains: “Life is so fast and people work so hard, they want to create a fantasy world inside.” Today’s versions skip the servants but keep the function — a dedicated zone between kitchen and dining room where prep work and dishwashing happen behind closed doors.
Cabinetry: Wood-Mode; Pulls, undercabinet lighting, toekick lighting: Häfele; Sinks, faucets: Kohler; Appliances: Sub-Zero/Wolf/Cove, from Aitoro Appliance; Countertops: Caesarstone
Additional workspace
A workspace on the pantry side of the pass-through includes a refrigerator, sink, and dishwasher. For a convenient cup of tea at any time, a specialized faucet dispenses instant hot water.
This layout mirrors a design strategy seen in the 2020 This Old House Idea House, where the butler’s pantry featured a pass-through to the kitchen, allowing dirty dishes to slip out of sight for cleanup in the pantry sink or dishwasher — keeping the main kitchen and island clean and clutter-free.
Hot water dispenser: InSinkErator; Pulls, undercabinet lighting: Häfele; Sink, faucet: Kohler; Countertop: Caesarstone
Wall of cabinetry
Closed cabinets in the butler’s pantry provide plenty of out-of-sight storage for canned goods and small appliances, while open shelving keeps serveware within sight and easy reach. Sun tunnel skylights flood the interior space with natural daylight.
Cabinetry: Wood-Mode, Sun Tunnel Skylights: VELUX*; Lighting: Chloe Winston Lighting Design; Pulls, undercabinet lighting: Häfele
*These products procured via Ring’s End
Pull-out pantry
The pass-through from the kitchen to the butler’s pantry is flanked by a refrigerator on one side and a pantry cabinet on the other. LED lighting strips ensure a clear view of every inch of the deep cabinet interior.
Cabinetry: Wood-Mode; Pulls, undercabinet lighting, toekick lighting: Häfele; Appliances: Sub-Zero/Wolf/Cove, from Aitoro Appliance
Beverage bar
Steps from the kitchen, master suite, and outdoor entertaining spaces, the beverage bar is well situated for grabbing a morning coffee or refreshing a drink. Two refrigerated drawers below the wine cooler provide additional chilled storage. And extra-wide pullouts accommodate snack platters for entertaining.
Pro Tip: Jay Haverson, a Greenwich, Connecticut, architect who has designed multiple built-in bars, notes that for many homeowners a beverage bar is an answer to the old problem: “Every time I have a party, everyone ends up in the kitchen.” Positioning a bar in a high-visibility area off the kitchen or great room draws guests away from the cook while keeping drinks and snacks within easy reach.
Cabinetry: Wood-Mode; Pulls, undercabinet lighting, toekick lighting: Häfele; Appliances: Sub-Zero/Wolf/Cove, from Aitoro Appliance
A smarter dispenser
A built-in water dispenser on the opposite wall serves up chilled and filtered water—and cuts down on plastic-bottle use.
Water filter: Elkay
Alfresco dining
The outdoor kitchen is fully-appointed for alfresco meals, with built-in, weatherproof cabinetry. A skylight with room-darkening blinds can block the sun on brighter days. And thanks to mechanized retractable screens, the space becomes a screened-in porch for bug-free dining at just the touch of a button.
Outdoor cabinets: NatureKast; Appliances: Sub-Zero/Wolf/Cove, from Aitoro Appliance; Skylight: VELUX*; Retractable screens: Phantom Screens; Cabinet hardware: Emtek; Room styling: Leia T. Ward, LTW Design
*These products procured via Ring’s End
Chef-worthy outdoor grill
The 36-inch stainless-steel gas grill features two types of heat—direct, and radiant from burners and ceramic briquettes—for nuanced control for everything from seared steaks to grilled fruit. A two-position rotisserie rack handles dishes large and small, and a powerful 25,000 Btu infrared sear zone is perfect for searing in delicious flavors.
Outdoor cabinets: NatureKast; Appliances: Sub-Zero/Wolf/Cove, from Aitoro Appliance; Cabinet hardware: Emtek
