No pantry at all
Food stored in upper cabinets, on the counter and on top of the fridge means the kitchen needs a pantry. A tall pantry cabinet on any free wall is the quickest way to add one.
Serving Glen Ellyn & nearby Wheaton, Lombard
Pantry Design & Installation in Glen Ellyn, IL
We design and build kitchen pantries in Glen Ellyn: tall pantry cabinets, reach-in closet conversions and walk-in pantry shelving.
- Local crews working in Glen Ellyn ZIP 60137
- Design, permits and every trade on one schedule
- A written, itemized estimate before any work
Pantry problems we fix in Glen Ellyn
Wire racks, shelves too deep to see into and no light: those are the usual pantry complaints we hear in Glen Ellyn. We replace them with shelving built into the framing, pull-out drawers at the bottom and lighting you can switch on from the door.
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.
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.
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.
Small appliances crowding the counter
A pantry shelf at counter height with an outlet nearby can hold the mixer, air fryer or toaster oven so they come out only when needed.
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.
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.
Walk-in pantry that wastes space
Walk-ins often have deep shelves on one side and nothing on the other. We rebalance the layout so both walls work.
Everything in a pantry project
- Pantry inventoryWe look at what you store, how much and how often you reach for it.
- 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.
- Framing changes when neededWall changes only when the plan requires them, with a permit where needed.
- Lighting and outletsA light switched at the door and power for an appliance shelf if you want one.
- Shelving and drawersBuilt-in shelves, roll-out drawers and baskets fitted to the walls.
- Pantry cabinetsTall pantry cabinets with roll-outs or adjustable shelves, set level and fastened to the wall.
Finishes and options
Pantry cabinetsTall cabinet pantries that match or complement the kitchen cabinets.
Reach-in pantryA closet with shelves on the back and sides, usable from the doorway.
Pantry doorsSwing, pocket, barn or glass-panel doors, chosen by the space in front of the pantry.
Wood and melamine shelvingSolid shelves that stay flat under cans and don't let small items tip.
Walk-in pantrySpace to step inside, with shelving on two or three walls.
Kitchens like yours in Glen Ellyn: before and after
Before
AfterA Glen Ellyn 1960s ranch: before and after
The site: a 1960s ranch in Glen Ellyn. The main complaint was 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. The job covered layout and shelf depths, framing changes when needed, plus pantry cabinets.
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1990s two-story colonial in Wheaton
The site: a 1990s two-story colonial in Wheaton. The reason for the call: a pantry closet with wire shelves sagging under food. After: 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 choosing the pantry type, layout and shelf depths, plus framing changes when needed.
Pantry Design & Installation in Wheaton →
Before
AfterA Lombard postwar Cape Cod: before and after
The site: a postwar Cape Cod in Lombard. What bothered the owners most: a pantry closet with wire shelves sagging under food. After: 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, layout and shelf depths, plus lighting and outlets.
Pantry Design & Installation in Lombard →
Before
AfterA Glen Ellyn 1960s 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 Glen Ellyn →
Before
AfterKitchen Island & Peninsula Installation in a 1960s ranch, Glen Ellyn
Finished: a new island in navy with a warm walnut butcher block top and seating.
Kitchen Island & Peninsula Installation in Glen Ellyn →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 designA site visit to measure and lay out shelves, drawers, lighting and door.
- Written estimateYou get an itemized estimate covering shelving, cabinets, lighting and any wall work.
- Build and installWe build, install and finish the pantry, then walk you through it.
Pantry Design & Installation questions from Glen Ellyn 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.
Can you add lighting to a pantry?
Yes. A ceiling fixture or LED strips, switched at the door or turned on when the door opens, are both common.
How deep should pantry shelves be?
Most food fits on moderate-depth shelves; we save the deep ones for the bottom where bigger items go.
What should go in a pantry besides food?
Anything you'd like off the counter: appliances, bulk items, wraps and foil, even a charging spot.
How much does it cost to install a pantry?
It depends on the type, size, materials and whether walls or wiring change. You get a written, itemized estimate after the visit.
Do I need a Glen Ellyn-registered contractor for pantry project?
Contractors must register with the Village and meet license and insurance requirements (Village Code 4-1-11); work that does not need a building permit is exempt. We take care of that before work starts.
Do you work in my part of Glen Ellyn?
Yes. Our crews work across Glen Ellyn — ZIP 60137 — and nearby Wheaton, Lombard, Glendale Heights.
Working in Glen Ellyn
- A lot of Glen Ellyn kitchens date from the 1970s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Glen Ellyn homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- Older paint is treated with lead-safe practices: containment, HEPA cleanup and a clean hand-over.
ZIP 60137
Pantry Design & Installation nearby
Other kitchen services in Glen Ellyn
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.