Function

• The original function of the butler's pantry was a place for the servants to be out of the way while they performed their duties. These duties would include putting the final touches on a meal, whipping up drinks, counting or cleaning silverware, and keeping all the books that tracked household supplies. The butler's pantry has since emerged as a viable area to casually entertain guests, not unlike sitting at a restaurant's bar before taking a seat in the dining room for the meal.
  
  

Features

• Butler's pantries include all that's needed to put the final touches on the meal and to hook up drinks for the guests. Many contain a wet bar, where different types of liqueurs can be stored. Lots of counter space gives ample room for mixing those drinks and food prep. Rows of cabinets or shelves line the walls above the counters, making storage a breeze. Some pantries may be large enough to house a small table, chairs or bar stools.
  
  

Types

• Rather than being a closed-off, dark area, butler's pantries have emerged into a well-lit and inviting space. Open shelves are popular, giving folks the option of showing off some of their finest dishware and china. Decorative and colored glass are also common, which still allow people to peek in at the decorative plates. The cabinets themselves are often made of wood, lighter grain for an airy feel or darker for a more formal effect. Counter tops can be wood, granite, Formica or other material that usually coincides with the style and color of the cabinets.
  
  

Time Frame

• No large home would be complete without a butler's pantry in the Victorian era, which ran from 1837 to 1901. A must in England, butler's pantries made their way to the United States in larger estates and can still be found in some older homes. They were definitely a feature for the rich and for those who employed kitchen help. While the feature died away as fewer families used servants, newer homes can be renovated to simply fit one in.
  
  

Expert Insight

• Even though butler's pantries are still called such without a butler, the pantry used to be his haven. Not only would the butler and other staff spend a lot of their time working in the pantry, it would serve as their little hangout away from the boss. Butlers also used to actually sleep in the pantry, as they were in charge of safekeeping the fine silverware and other expensive culinary supplies.