Original pantry or butler's pantry in an older home
Old pantries in Evanston houses can usually be updated with new shelves, drawers and lighting without losing the period details.
Serving Evanston & nearby Skokie, Glenview
Pantry Design & Installation in Evanston, IL
We design and build kitchen pantries in Evanston: tall pantry cabinets, reach-in closet conversions and walk-in pantry shelving.
- Kitchen remodels across Evanston ZIP 60201, 60202, 60208
- One project manager from drawings to final walk-through
- Permits and inspections handled for you
Pantry problems we fix in Evanston
Some kitchens need a pantry cabinet on a free wall; others have a hall closet or an unused nook begging to become one. Our Evanston crew measures the space, sets shelf depths for cans, boxes and bulk items, and installs it so nothing sags or hides at the back.
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.
Wire shelves bending under the weight
Sagging wire racks are the most common pantry complaint we hear. We pull them out and install solid shelving fastened into studs.
Pantry cabinet with fixed shelves
Pantry cabinets get far more useful when the shelves slide out. We retrofit roll-outs or build a new cabinet with them.
Pantry doors that get in the way
A swinging door that blocks the kitchen aisle can be replaced with a pocket door, a barn door or a bifold, depending on the wall.
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.
Wanting a walk-in where there isn't one
When a reach-in won't do, we look at nearby closets or rooms that could be reframed into a walk-in pantry.
Spices and small items lost on big shelves
Small items need small storage. We add door-mounted racks or a section of narrow shelves for spices and packets.
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.
- Layout and shelf depthsA shelf plan with deeper bays low and shallower shelves at eye level.
- Removing old shelvingOld shelving taken out and the closet prepared for the new build.
- 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 cabinetsFull-height pantry units installed and trimmed to the existing cabinets.
Finishes and options
Reach-in pantryA closet with shelves on the back and sides, usable from the doorway.
Pantry cabinetsTall cabinet pantries that match or complement the kitchen cabinets.
Wood and melamine shelvingSolid shelves that stay flat under cans and don't let small items tip.
Pantry doorsSwing, pocket, barn or glass-panel doors, chosen by the space in front of the pantry.
Pull-out drawers and basketsDrawers that bring the back of a deep shelf to the front.
Pantry Design & Installation before and after — Evanston homes
Before
AfterAn Evanston prewar brick bungalow: before and after
This one is a prewar brick bungalow in Evanston. 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, shelving and drawers, plus pantry cabinets.
Before
AfterBefore and after: a postwar Cape Cod in Skokie
A postwar Cape Cod in Skokie, a typical kitchen for Skokie. The reason for the call: groceries that had nowhere to go but the counter. 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 removing old shelving, shelving and drawers, plus pantry cabinets.
Pantry Design & Installation in Skokie →
Before
AfterPantry Design & Installation in a 1950s ranch, Glenview
A 1950s ranch in Glenview, a typical kitchen for Glenview. The reason for the call: 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 pantry inventory, shelving and drawers, plus pantry cabinets.
Pantry Design & Installation in Glenview →
Before
AfterEvanston kitchen, prewar foursquare: built-in breakfast nook & banquette
Finished: a built-in banquette bench with storage drawers and cushions under the window, with a round pedestal table.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Evanston →
Before
AfterAn Evanston brick bungalow from the 1920s: before and after
What changed: a new island in navy with a dark soapstone-look quartz top and seating.
Kitchen Island & Peninsula Installation in Evanston →From first visit to final walk-through
- Show us the spacePhotos and rough dimensions of the space are enough to start the conversation.
- Measure and designWe measure, check walls and wiring, and draw a shelf layout with depths and heights.
- Written estimateA written quote that lists each part of the pantry and what is included.
- Build and installWe build, install and finish the pantry, then walk you through it.
Pantry Design & Installation questions from Evanston homeowners
Can a closet in an older home become a pantry?
Most can. We check the walls and framing first, then build shelving that fits the closet's shape.
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.
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 deep should pantry shelves be?
We mix depths: shallow at eye level for everyday food, deeper below for cases, bins and appliances.
Evanston contractor registration: do kitchen contractors need it?
All contractors working in city limits must register with the City; annual fee General Contractor $150, Trade Contractor $125. We take care of that before work starts.
Can you do pantry project in an Evanston condo?
Associations usually set rules for work hours, elevators, deliveries and insurance, and many require approval for plumbing, electrical or structural changes. We provide the certificate of insurance and follow the building's rules.
Evanston building permit for pantry project: where do I apply?
Permits go through Community Development Department, Building & Development Services (Building & Inspection Services), phone (847) 448-4311. When your scope needs one, we prepare the application and schedule the inspections.
Do I need a permit for pantry project in Evanston?
It depends on the scope. Evanston's rule in short: Residential permit applications go through the Citizen Portal; City worksheets signed by the contractors are required for any electrical, plumbing or HVAC work. We handle the permit when one is needed with Community Development Department, Building & Development Services (Building & Inspection Services).
Do you work in my part of Evanston?
Yes. Our crews work across Evanston — ZIP 60201, 60202, 60208 — and nearby Skokie, Glenview, Park Ridge.
Working in Evanston
- Most Evanston homes are prewar. We work around plaster walls, radiators and out-of-square rooms every week.
- Condo or townhome? We follow association rules on work hours and elevators and bring the insurance certificate your board asks for.
- Live in a historic district? Interior kitchen work is usually not reviewed. We check before anything touches the exterior.
ZIP 60201ZIP 60202ZIP 60208
Pantry Design & Installation nearby
Other kitchen services in Evanston
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.