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Apartment Therapy reports that a design concept called a “bantry,” or bar pantry, is gaining attention: it combines pantry storage with a place to prepare and serve drinks. The setup can range from a few shelves and a counter to a more equipped wet bar, but its size, cost and practicality will depend on the home.
Apartment Therapy has highlighted the “bantry,” a pantry-bar hybrid that combines food storage with a place to prepare and serve drinks. The design gives homeowners an option for making a pantry more useful for entertaining, though the report describes a design idea rather than a measured shift in kitchen renovations.
A bantry is a walk-in pantry with a bar component, according to Apartment Therapy Executive Home Director Danielle Blundell. That component can be simple: a counter or shelf for bottles, glassware and cocktail supplies. More elaborate versions could include a mini or full-size refrigerator, sink or dishwasher, the report says. A small area where one or two people can gather is part of the concept.
Blundell says she encountered the setup at a Behr Paint Color of the Year event for 2027. Behr’s creative team had arranged a small nook or pantry as a galley-style bar, with open shelving, bottles and a wet-bar-sized sink. The cabinetry was painted in Grounded, which the report identifies as Behr’s 2027 Color of the Year selection. The display was an example of the idea, not evidence that the design is being widely adopted.
For homeowners who do not have space for a dedicated room, Blundell suggests considering a spare closet near the kitchen or dining area. Shelves and a surface may be enough for drinks and hosting supplies. She also says the area should retain some pantry function, with dry goods and food storage worked into the layout, rather than becoming only a bar.
A Pantry With Room to Host
The bantry is an example of one room serving two purposes: storing food while also providing a place to assemble drinks and host guests. In a home where space is limited, using an existing pantry or closet for more than one task may be more feasible than adding a separate bar area. The report presents that flexibility as the concept’s main appeal.
It also offers a way to keep entertaining supplies together and potentially move drink preparation away from the main kitchen work area. That could be useful when guests are present, although the report does not provide evidence about how the arrangement affects traffic, storage capacity or kitchen workflow. Those outcomes will depend on the space and how it is used.
The idea does not require a full renovation or specialized appliances. A basic version can use existing shelving and a counter, while a more involved project could add plumbing, refrigeration and additional cabinetry. The design choices affect both cost and complexity, so the term does not describe one standard package or price point.
freestanding pantry cabinet with countertop
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From Pantry Storage to Bar
The article places the bantry alongside the popularity of walk-in pantries, which it describes as a sought-after kitchen feature in recent years. The new label combines that storage space with a bar setup, making the room more oriented toward serving drinks and gathering. Apartment Therapy does not cite survey data, sales figures or renovation statistics to show how common the combination has become.
Blundell’s account of the Behr event is the report’s specific example. The display used a compact, closet-like footprint rather than a large separate room. The article also proposes adapting a nearby closet or using a small dresser or cabinetry to keep supplies organized. These are suggestions for possible layouts, not claims that every closet can be converted without construction or other constraints.
The source’s broader design point is that multipurpose spaces can make use of available square footage. It frames the bantry as a way to retain food storage while adding an entertaining function, rather than replacing the pantry entirely. The concept can accommodate cocktails or nonalcoholic drinks; the report’s examples focus on hosting equipment and storage, not on a particular type of beverage.
“The latest version of this? The bantry, or bar pantry.”
— Danielle Blundell, Apartment Therapy’s executive home director
How Common Is the Bantry?
The report does not establish whether bantries are becoming widespread, how many homeowners are adding them, or whether the term is in common use among designers. It provides one event display and practical suggestions, but no industry data, renovation survey or independent assessment of demand.
It also does not give typical installation costs, required room dimensions or a standard layout. A closet conversion may be simple if it uses freestanding furniture and existing shelves, but adding a sink or dishwasher involves plumbing and could require more extensive work. The article does not discuss permits, building requirements or the suitability of any specific home for those additions.
Whether the arrangement preserves enough room for food storage is another open question. Blundell recommends maintaining pantry functionality, but the amount of storage available will vary with the closet or room, household needs and equipment chosen.
From Display to Home Projects
Apartment Therapy’s report does not announce a rollout, product launch or scheduled industry milestone. The next step for homeowners interested in the concept would be to assess whether a pantry, nook or nearby closet can hold both food storage and drink-preparation supplies without impeding daily kitchen use.
A low-commitment version could begin with shelves, a counter and a tray for glasses and mixers. Anyone considering plumbing, a dishwasher or built-in refrigeration would need to evaluate the space and project requirements before making changes. Whether the bantry becomes a broader renovation trend remains to be seen; the source offers a design example, not adoption data.
Key Questions
What is a bantry?
A bantry is a walk-in pantry that also includes a bar area for preparing or serving drinks. Apartment Therapy says it can be as simple as shelving and a counter or include equipment such as a refrigerator or sink.
Does a bantry need a sink or refrigerator?
No. The report says the bar can be basic, with bottles and a countertop ice maker, or more equipped with refrigeration and a sink. Those additions are options, not requirements in the article’s definition.
Can a closet be turned into a bantry?
Apartment Therapy suggests a spare closet near a kitchen or dining area as one possible location. The article does not assess individual homes, so available space, existing services and the intended storage needs will determine what is practical.
Does a bantry replace pantry storage?
The concept is meant to combine functions, not necessarily remove food storage. Blundell recommends keeping dry goods and food items in the space, with storage arranged around the bar supplies.
Is the bantry a widespread kitchen trend?
The source highlights the idea and describes a Behr event display, but provides no adoption figures or industry research. How common bantries are in homes remains unclear.
Source: rss
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