A larder is the one piece of a kitchen that consistently earns its space. Open the doors and everything is visible at once, at eye level, instead of buried at the back of a base unit. It is also the easiest way to reduce the number of wall units, which is what makes a kitchen feel lighter.
Larder cupboard or walk in pantry?
A larder is a tall cupboard within the kitchen run. A pantry is a small room you step into. Most Irish houses have room for the first, not the second.
A full height larder, roughly the width of two base units, holds a genuinely surprising amount and takes no more floor than the cabinetry it replaces.
A walk in pantry needs a room or a substantial recess, and it is worth it mainly where there is an awkward space already, off a utility or under a return, that is not doing anything else.
What goes inside a larder that makes it work?
Shallow shelves on the doors, deeper shelves in the body, and at least one pull out at low level.
Door shelves are the trick. Shallow racks on the inside faces of the doors hold jars, spices and tins one deep, so nothing is hidden behind anything. That is what stops a larder becoming a place things disappear into.
In the body, keep the upper shelves shallower and the lower ones deeper, with a pull out at the bottom for heavy or bulky items. Nothing should require moving something else to reach it.
Can a larder hold appliances?
Yes, and a breakfast larder with the kettle and toaster inside is one of the most popular things we are asked for.
A worktop inside the larder at counter height, with sockets behind it, means the kettle, toaster and coffee machine live in the cupboard and the main worktop stays clear. Close the doors and the clutter is gone.
Sockets inside a cupboard need planning at design stage and the shelf above needs clearance for steam. Both are straightforward when designed in and awkward when retrofitted.
Does a larder let you drop the wall units?
Often yes, and that is usually the point.
A kitchen with fewer wall units feels considerably bigger and lets more light travel across the room. A larder absorbs what those units held, which is what makes removing them possible rather than just aspirational.
It works particularly well in a small kitchen, where wall units on both sides make a galley feel like a corridor. Our <a href="/blog/small-kitchen-ideas/">small kitchen ideas</a> guide covers the wider point.
Everything we make in wood carries a two year warranty against defects.
How it works
We call out, measure the space and talk through what you want. Our designers draw it in 3D so you see the finished piece in your own room, and you get one complete itemised quote within two working days. Nothing is ordered and nothing is charged until you say yes.
One team for this and the rest of the job
The same team that makes this fits it, and we also do kitchens, fitted wardrobes, internal doors and windows. If more than one thing needs doing, it is one contractor, one schedule and one point of contact rather than four. See the rest of our work.
Frequently asked questions
How wide does a larder need to be?
Roughly the width of two base units is the usual, though narrower versions work. It is sized to your kitchen at the design visit.
Can the doors be the same as the rest of the kitchen?
Yes, and usually they are, so the larder reads as part of the run rather than as furniture.
Is a larder better than a bank of wall units?
For most people yes, because everything is visible at once. It is also what lets you reduce the wall units.
What areas do you cover?
Dublin, Meath, Kildare and Wicklow. The design visit is free and there is no obligation.