No pantry at all
Kitchens built without a pantry can usually gain one, either as a full-height cabinet or by converting a nearby closet.
Serving Downers Grove & nearby Lisle, Woodridge
Pantry Design & Installation in Downers Grove, IL
We design and build kitchen pantries in Downers Grove: tall pantry cabinets, reach-in closet conversions and walk-in pantry shelving.
- Kitchen remodels across Downers Grove ZIP 60515, 60516
- One project manager from drawings to final walk-through
- Permits and inspections handled for you
Pantry problems we fix in Downers Grove
A good pantry lets you see everything you own at a glance. In Downers Grove we plan pantries around what you buy and how much of it, then build them as tall cabinets, reworked reach-in closets or walk-ins with solid shelves, drawers and a light.
Dark pantry closet
If you can't read labels on the top shelf, the pantry needs lighting. We plan it with the shelving so nothing blocks it.
Bulk buys with nowhere to go
Paper towels and big packs of water need a different shelf spacing than spices. We set the shelving around both.
Pantry cabinet with fixed shelves
A tall pantry cabinet with fixed shelves only works for the front few inches. Roll-out drawers inside it make the whole depth usable.
Closet that could be a pantry
A coat closet or broom closet near the kitchen can often become a reach-in pantry with shelves on three sides and a door rack.
Walk-in pantry that wastes space
A walk-in with one shelf per wall leaves most of the room empty. We add shelving up high, drawers below and a counter surface if the depth allows.
Spices and small items lost on big shelves
Spices and baking supplies get lost on deep shelves. A door rack or tiered shelf keeps them in sight.
Shelves too deep to see into
If you keep buying what you already have because it was hidden at the back, the shelves are the wrong depth.
What's included
- Pantry inventoryA walk through your food, appliances and bulk items to size the pantry.
- Choosing the pantry typeWe decide together between a pantry cabinet, a closet conversion and a walk-in.
- Framing changes when neededIf the pantry needs a new wall or a wider opening, we frame it and handle the permit.
- Lighting and outletsA pantry light and, where useful, an outlet for appliances, wired by a licensed electrician.
- Shelving and drawersSolid shelves on cleats or standards, pull-out drawers and baskets installed.
- Pantry cabinetsTall pantry cabinets with roll-outs or adjustable shelves, set level and fastened to the wall.
- Door racks and finishingRacks on the door, trim work and a walkthrough when it's done.
Finishes and options
Pull-out drawers and basketsRoll-outs for low shelves and baskets for produce and snacks.
Walk-in pantryA small room lined with shelving, sometimes with a counter or appliance zone.
Wood and melamine shelvingSolid shelves that stay flat under cans and don't let small items tip.
Pantry cabinetsFull-height cabinets with roll-outs or doors with racks, fitted to a kitchen wall.
Reach-in pantryA closet with shelves on the back and sides, usable from the doorway.
Kitchens like yours in Downers Grove: before and after
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1950s ranch in Downers Grove
The site: a 1950s ranch in Downers Grove. The main complaint was food buried on shelves too deep to see into. The result: the closet next to the kitchen rebuilt as a pantry with solid wood shelves, pull-out baskets on the bottom and a light. The job covered choosing the pantry type, framing changes when needed, plus shelving and drawers.
Before
AfterLisle kitchen, two-story colonial from the 1990s: pantry design & installation
A two-story colonial from the 1990s near Oakview, a typical kitchen for Lisle. The main complaint was food buried on shelves too deep to see into. The result: the closet next to the kitchen rebuilt as a pantry with solid wood shelves, pull-out baskets on the bottom and a light. Work included pantry inventory, lighting and outlets, plus shelving and drawers.
Pantry Design & Installation in Lisle →
Before
AfterPantry Design & Installation in a 1980s two-story, Woodridge
A 1980s two-story near Seven Bridges, a typical kitchen for Woodridge. What bothered the owners most: a pantry closet with wire shelves sagging under food. Finished kitchen: the closet next to the kitchen rebuilt as a pantry with solid wood shelves, pull-out baskets on the bottom and a light. Work included lighting and outlets, shelving and drawers, plus door racks and finishing.
Pantry Design & Installation in Woodridge →
Before
AfterA Downers Grove 1950s ranch: before and after
A built-in banquette bench with storage drawers and cushions under the window, with a round pedestal table.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Downers Grove →
Before
AfterDowners Grove kitchen, 1960s ranch: kitchen island & peninsula installation
What changed: a new island in dusty blue with a charcoal concrete-look quartz top and seating.
Kitchen Island & Peninsula Installation in Downers Grove →From first visit to final walk-through
- Show us the spaceSend photos of the closet, wall or room you're thinking about, plus what you need to store.
- Measure and designWe measure, check walls and wiring, and draw a shelf layout with depths and heights.
- Written estimateYou get an itemized estimate covering shelving, cabinets, lighting and any wall work.
- Build and installCloset conversions often take a few days; walk-ins with wall changes take longer.
Pantry Design & Installation questions from Downers Grove homeowners
Do I need a permit for a new pantry?
Only if walls or wiring change. A cabinet or closet conversion generally doesn't need one.
How deep should pantry shelves be?
Shallower than most people expect. Cans and boxes are easiest to see on shallow shelves; deeper shelves are better for bulk items and appliances down low.
Can a closet become a pantry?
Often. A coat or linen closet near the kitchen converts well, as long as it's close enough to use daily.
How much does it cost to install a pantry?
Shelving type, drawers, lighting and any framing drive the price. The written estimate shows all of it.
Can you add lighting to a pantry?
Usually. We check where power can come from and choose a fixture that won't be blocked by the shelves.
What is the Downers Grove building department phone number?
Permits go through Community Development Department, Building Division (https://cvportal.downers.us), phone 630-434-5515. When your scope needs one, we prepare the application and schedule the inspections.
Do I need a permit for pantry project in Downers Grove?
It depends on the scope. Downers Grove's rule in short: Village states most projects require a permit and applications are submitted online; First review about 10 business days. We handle the permit when one is needed with Community Development Department, Building Division.
Do you work in my part of Downers Grove?
Yes. Our crews work across Downers Grove, including Denburn Woods, Shady Lane Estates, E.H. Prince Subdivision — ZIP 60515, 60516 — and nearby Lisle, Woodridge, Oak Brook.
Working in Downers Grove
- A lot of Downers Grove kitchens date from the 1970s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Downers Grove homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- Live in a historic district? Interior kitchen work is usually not reviewed. We check before anything touches the exterior.
Denburn WoodsShady Lane EstatesE.H. Prince Subdivision
ZIP 60515ZIP 60516
Pantry Design & Installation nearby
Other kitchen services in Downers Grove
Pull-Out Shelves & Cabinet OrganizersRoll-out shelves and organizers built to fit your existing cabinets.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & BanquetteBuilt-in bench seating with storage for corners, bays and nooks.
Kitchen Island & Peninsula InstallationNew islands and peninsulas with seating and storage.
Kitchen RemodelingFull kitchen remodels, from layout to last cabinet pull.
Kitchen Cabinet PaintingFactory-smooth painted cabinets without replacing them.