Can this Awkward Kitchen Space Become a Pantry?

We have some wasted space in our kitchen. It's a little nook at the back of the room with angled walls and a door that leads nowhere. Inspired by this post on using every inch of a small kitchen, we're thinking of ways it can become a pantry...

Here's a closer look at the space:

The door really is useless (it leads to another nook that leads to a stairwell, which is much more accessible through a different door anyway). And while we haven't investigated all of the rules, regulations, and fire codes, we're pretty sure covering it up with shelving wouldn't be a problem.

The wall is angled, as you can see, so conventional Metro shelving or something similar probably won't fit.

We're thinking of just putting shelves along the right wall and, to add some color and hide potential messiness, covering the front of the area with a curtain.

What do you think? What would you do with this space? Anyone have a similarly awkward kitchen nook that needs to be put to good use?

(Images: Elizabeth Passarella; Steve Gross & Sue Daly/Country Living)

Comments (6)

Why not install a false wall on the other side of the door on the other side of the frame and remove the door itself... You can store various kitchen needs there - spices, oils, random jars and tools. With the door removed, you could use the back wall and the right wall, too, with some ingenuity :) If you think it'd be too messy, you can always cordon off the area with a pretty fabric so that it's still accessible, but has no footprint into your kitchen or new pantry.

Go for it. Instead of removing the door, which seems complicated (and I've heard re-hanging a door can be a PITA), you can also get one of these over-the-door racks to supplement the shelving you'll install on the opposite wall, depending on how deep they are.

I've had to cover doors before, and they're really not that bad. It can be done in an hour with some plywood and putty. You might as well go all the way so you can put up some real shelves and actually make a useful space out of it. Rehanging a door can be a PITA, but if you have no use for the door, that's not likely to be an issue. And you can repurpose the door. It could look really nice if you get some nice big glass jars and baskets for pantry staples, or you could definitely go the curtain route if you're not into pretty (i.e., expensive) storage gizmos.

I like the idea of turning the secondary nook into the pantry. Judging by the hinges in the second picture, if they're like I think, that door should come off no problem and be easy to put back if/when you need to. Or you could just leave the door as a pantry door, leave it open, hang a picture over the top or something.

Wine cave? Baking center? Remove the door, install narrow shelves in the area outside the closet (to hold all your beautifully packaged pantry items), and install a countertop inside the closet area for baking prep or a butler's pantry or wine cave (hard to tell how much space you have inside but if it's a standard width door and the door opens fully you might have enough space). For a wine cave you might be able to install 2 small wine fridges either side by side or top/bottom. For me, it would have to be a pantry or chocolate making cave (I have a ton of both supplies).

I had a similar space once. I put a mix of wire shelving and 1x4's w/angle brackets up. I liked that everything was just 1 item deep. It looks like you could also put in a rolling cart to hold bigger things but be able to move it when necessary.