I’ve always dreamed of having a butler’s pantry. Is that strange? Maybe, but the first time I was in a house that had one I kind of fell in love. It’s not like having one kitchen isn’t enough, but I’ve always loved the idea of having a separate space next to the main kitchen to hold silverware or barware or something to that effect.

There’s something very luxe and indulgent about having a butler’s pantry, so I never really thought I would have one. That is, until we moved into our new house. There was an old closet next to the kitchen that was in desperate need of a makeover and my husband said, “why not turn it into a bar?” He’s a carpenter and could do it all himself, so believe me when I say I needed zero convincing.

This is the before. It’s so ugly I’m only showing a small picture.

And this is the after! (Don’t mind the height charts to the left. We’re going to come up with a more attractive solution.)

It’s tinier than the average butler’s pantry, but it goes to show that you don’t need a lot of space to make it functional. There’s plenty of room for glassware, bottles and accessories, with tons of room leftover in the massive drawers. It’s hard to tell from the picture just how big those drawers really are.

We decided to match the kitchen exactly, so we included blue cabinetry, gold hardware, a white quartz counter and a wood backsplash. It’s very specific to our tastes, and we love it.

Some of you might be wondering about the wood backsplash. I get it. It’s a bit unusual. But my husband specializes in reclaimed wood projects, and it was a great way not just to showcase his work, but to save money. The wood is from an antique fence and was totally free. And fear not. It’s been properly treated and is surprisingly easy to clean.

Whether or not it remains a bar for the long-term remains to be seen. We’re building another custom bar in the basement, and really, how many bars does a tiny, single-story home need?

What about you? Would you ever include one of these extra nooks next to your kitchen? Leave me a comment and let me know!