unwanted pantry
Our small house has an understair pantry opening into the kitchen. It functions as a storage space but actually if we blocked it off we could make much better use of our kitchen space with units all the way upto the wall where the pantry opens. Anyone else done this? Could we change access to the understair space from the outside wall or any ideas of an alternative way to access the space .Would it be weird to just have a blocked off understair with no access?
Comments (19)
- 29 days ago
No it's not weird at all but most people are trying to access as much storage as possible in a house. I'm not sure what you mean about blocking it off helping the kitchen layout. Could you please post a pic or two or a floorplan so we can see to what you are referring?
A E
Original Author29 days agoWhen I say blocking it off I mean plasterboarding/ bricking up the pantry entrance .This would allow kitchen units to extend all the way to the end of the room.Yes I will loose the pantry but I will gain more usable space in the kitchen and it will ' look ' more pleasing.The pantry opening isn't the size of a full door and had some plastic concertina 'door' covering it when we moved in.
0- 29 days ago
It appears to have a window? I totally agree that bocking it off would give you more kitchen storage space. Think about issues like damp if you block it off. I am assuming that the window does not open? That radiator along the left is a space hog too. If that was vertical you would gain storage space. If the "hated" pantry had better shelving and you could store a lot more in there would you still hate it? Does it have any meters or anything else requiring access in there?
A E thanked Isla Cherry - 29 days ago
I agree that for all the understairs space this cupboard gives you you lose space in the kitchen to access that pantry. Most likely you can create a new side access to the under stairs space, presumably that would be in the hallways and so would be useful for the vacuum and coats.
Your next step is to work out if the hall side of the stairs is a job for a builder or joiner.
A E thanked Jonathan - 29 days ago
We blocked up our original pantry space and opened it up into the hallway instead and turned the old pantry into a new WC under the stairs. The side of the stairs was panelled so we managed to turn it into an almost-secret door into the WC.
A E thanked CWD - 29 days ago
Totally agree you should close and, as others have said, open to the hallway for storage. Depending on the age of your house, that little nook/window may have been for a little cupboard for cold storage.
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Original Author29 days agoThanks all. Unfortunately the wall on the opposite side to the window doesn't open ont a hallway but onto our living room!It is a very small house and the front door to the house opens straight into the stairs with a side door into the living room. Im wondering if the pantry was originally a coal hole? I thought maybe put in a small door from the outside where the window is and we could use it for garden store but im dubious about knocking out brick from a suppoting wall !!!!I'd rather another solution but I can't think of one!
- 29 days agolast modified: 29 days ago
Cupboard with access from living room? Or perhaps that just causes the same issue as in the kitchen. What about reconfiguring the stairs so that each step is a concealed drawer that goes back into the storage space?? Could be easier making a door to the garden though!
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/property/5033686-has-anyone-created-lift-up-stair-storage-like-thisA E thanked CWD - 29 days ago
If you can do without any storage in the pantry then by all means block it up. Maybe consider something to close it off other than a door or bricks though so that you can access easier later if you change your mind.
- 29 days ago
I have a very similar pantry which I would love to close up as the access into it takes up so much room, meaning it takes up the room of at least 4 cupboards or more. Mine also has a very low under stairs sloping ceiling which is so annoying. So instead of a U shaped kitchen with tons of worktop, I’m stuck with galley style with very little worktop. Unfortunately it also houses the electricity smart meter and the fuse box - nothing’s ever straightforward! If you don’t need the storage or another door accessing the pantry I think I would plasterboard it up.
A E thanked Sonia - 28 days ago
I definitely would not open to the outside as this will bring in drafts and unwanted visitors - especially if you are plasterboarding. I doubt the recess is a window but rather a cold storage press of old.
A E thanked siobhanmcgee90 - 28 days ago
A E, I would definitely plasterboard over and forget about it. As you have said yourself you would ‘gain more in terms of cupboard and worktop space and your kitchen would look more pleasing.’ And it’s such a small space it’s really not worth the hassle of trying to open it up on another side.
A E thanked Betty Boo - 22 days ago
Any chance your sofa is on the living room side of the pantry wall? A low access door/hatch would be hidden by it and then you could store stuff you rarely use - spare paint or Christmas stuff maybe. I share Sarah's reservations about blocking it completely.
A E thanked Anna G - 18 days ago
We use the space under the stairs for the washer drier just need electrical, water hose and waste extention and use the space above as build in storage. The rest of the wall that you have we use it as storage/pantry
0A E thanked Devyra Atelier
Betty Boo