In the spring time, you’ll find lily of the valley blooming in Dan Pelosi’s Hudson Valley backyard. But all year round—even when the snow is falling—his Upstate retreat is full of flowers. That’s because the cookbook author’s pantry is swathed in a Josef Frank-designed wallpaper from Svenskt Tenn that makes you feel like you’ve stepped right into the garden.
On top of the whimsical pattern, the cabinets are dipped in an apple red hue by Farrow & Ball, the shelves are coated in the brand’s Cook’s Blue, and the countertops are clad in Fireclay tile. While all the rooms in Pelosi’s New York home are a reflection of his love for the rainbow, this space might take the cake.
Our February cover star convinced us: all pantries deserve to have this much fun. After all, we spend enough time digging around in there for extra olive oil and decanting oats, don’t we? We went on the hunt for more personality-filled pantries, and we weren’t disappointed by what we found.
Drench It in High Gloss
This Washington, D.C. home previously lacked any personality, color, or reflection of the new homeowners, according to designer Zoe Feldman. So, she decided to pile it on in the galley-style pantry—ceiling and all—with C2’s Mediterranean blue in a lacquer finish.
Shroud the Storage with a Skirt
Both British housewares designer Matilda Goad and Leanne Kilroy of Good Bones London opted for the same storage solution in their pantries: a fabric skirt. Not only does it introduce some pattern, but it can be a lot cheaper than building a cabinet depending on the fabric you pick. Goad opted for a curtain maid from Jean Monro’s Hollyhock Handblock, while Kilroy decided to hide her breakfast appliances behind a gingham textile she found in the U.S. that her mother-in-law sewed together.
Paint a Reach-in Cabinet
Designer Rita Konig drenched the inside of her Plain English-designed larder, which has just enough room for a toaster and cutting boards, in a happy shade of sky blue. You can get a similar look with Little Greene’s Brighton or Clare’s Summer Friday.
Add Textured Paneling
Heidi Caillier pulled out all the stops in this East Hampton pantry with a floral sink skirt, terracotta walls, and a tambour-like paneling. Lesson learned? Choose your stars wisely. Sticking with a simple countertop, be it a dark soapstone or a warm butcher block, will keep the space feeling calm and collected.
Pick a Hue That Reminds You to Snack
Benjamin Moores’ Herb Green is one of designer Noz Nozawa’s go-to hues in general, but especially for a kitchen or pantry. For her, the vibrant hue screams comfort. “Almost anyone from any part of the U.S. could see this green and recognize in it one of the trees or shrubs that grows in their neighborhood—or better yet, one of the herbs or vegetable plants that grows in their backyard garden,” she says. She opted for a high-gloss finish using the brand’s Advance paint product, ensuring the coating lasted for her lacquer-loving client.
Stash Your Pots on a Pegboard
Hands down, this room in Maggie Clancy’s Santa Ynez home is her favorite place to be. “I could live in the pantry,” she jokes. She gravitated toward Sunflower by Sherwin-Williams for the trim, cabinets, shelves, and pegboard. The functional storage solution allows her kids to grab what they need when they’re helping her in the kitchen and doubles as a gallery wall of sorts for cookware.
Swath It in Stripes
The first detail Koi Colour and Design Studio landed on for this apartment’s walk-in pantry was Ottoline’s Sporty Stripes wallpaper, a pattern that makes you want to jet out for a quick game of tennis after breakfast. The palette was built around that, encompassing bright orange shelving that stars handy produce baskets.
