The homeowner built out additional kitchen storage space by constructing a pull-out pantry in an alcove behind the refrigerator. They redesigned the short hallway, lowering the ceiling and adding display shelves and lighting to transform it. The robustly constructed pantry fits fully within the hallway opening and hides behind trim molding when closed.

1. Secret Kitchen
Pantry

2. Objective
Add kitchen storage by building out the refrigerator cove with
surrounding cabinets and creating a pull-out pantry in the space
behind.
Background
When a house has seen 80 years, there are often design
elements that leave one scratching their head. In this case, the
refrigerator was set in an alcove that left its doors flush with the
wall but set well back from the cabinets installed around it. It
always seemed that a sizeable amount of space (at least for a
small house) could be gained behind the refrigerator, by pulling it
forward to be even with the cabinets. But what to do with it? A
slide-out pantry had always been on my mind, especially given
the limited storage in the kitchen.
Design
When we decided to pull the trigger on the pantry project, the
key question was how to incorporate it into the wall of the short
hallway in a way that didn’t look out of place? The hallway itself
was “wasted space” and transforming it to display a collection of
family-made pottery solved the problem and gave the design
added functionality. To help define this space as separate from
the kitchen and foyer on either side, the ceiling was lowered, and
a barrel-vaulted lighted cove was installed in an overhead recess
whose opening matches the display shelf cutouts on either side.
Giving this space an identity of its own, stretches the visual
distance of the hallway, making the house feel larger while also
creating separation and definition to the kitchen boundary.
Construction
The pantry is sizeable, and when its eight shelves are fully
loaded, carries considerable weight, so robust construction and
careful balancing was essential. To better blend into the display
casing, no handle was provided and instead, the edge of the 1 of 6
Secret Kitchen
Pantry
molding serves as a grip. When fully open, it extends exactly
across the opening of the hallway. When closed, the face of the
pantry slides behind the trim molding to hide the seam. The
shelf rods are wrought iron with a wood-grain like texture. Their
surface irregularity softens their appearance and gives a natural,
earthy feel that complements the pottery. For similar reasons,
the alcove lighting, which operates on a timer, was chosen to
provide a warmer, daylight color.
Secret Kitchen
Pantry

3. 2 of 6
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Move refrigerator
forward, in line
with cabinets, to
provide room for
pull-out pantry
behind
Floorplan
Reconstruct hallway walls to include
recessed display shelves. Lower the
hallway ceiling to install lighting alcove.
Ceiling cove
takes shape
Extension
hardware

4. 3 of 6
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4”
Wall should be extended to here
Soffit aligns
with cabinet
face
Minimize this wall thickness
behind the refrigerator
Minimize
refrigerator
projection
consistent
with door
operation
Maximize pantry width
Existing bathroom
wall - no change
Lowered ceiling
with lighting
cove
Wall recess detail
HallwayRefrigerator

5. 4 of 6
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Existingwall
B
B
Section
BB
A
A
Section
AA
Refrigerator
Pulloutpantry
8” 8” 2”2 ½”
31”
4”
4”
Pantry slides behind trim
molding to conceal seam

6. 5 of 6
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Some photos that provided inspiration
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7. 6 of 6
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Before and after
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