Hub and Heart

Ann Stockard & Kara Mann

O’Brien Harris, Chicago, IL

A young family of five was making the transition from Chicago city living to a larger suburban home, and Ann Stockard and Kara Mann of O’Brien Harris were tasked with creating the perfect butler’s pantry off of the main kitchen. The butler’s pantry, or scullery, was envisioned as a space that would serve both functionally and aesthetically as an extension of the kitchen, which was the hub of family activity.

Abundant storage was one of the main focuses of the design and needed to account for the needs of both the parents and the children. The design team created stainless steel lined open vegetable bins, enabling the kids to fetch snacks for themselves while encouraging healthy eating habits. Also incorporated were pull-outs for dry goods and panels for hiding small appliances. Because the scullery would be an important space for meal prep as well, pull-out countertops were cleverly hidden beneath the steam oven and microwave.

The pantry also managed to harmonize the parents’ different aesthetic preferences – he liked a modern look, while she had softer tastes.  Buster + Punch hardware, a black-framed cabinetry with Bendheim glass focal point and light-hued London Oak cabinetry create a quiet sense of hard-working luxury, according to the design firm.