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.
Serving Park Ridge & nearby Des Plaines, Glenview
Pantry Design & Installation in Park Ridge, IL
We design and build kitchen pantries in Park Ridge: tall pantry cabinets, reach-in closet conversions and walk-in pantry shelving.
- Local crews working in Park Ridge ZIP 60068
- Design, permits and every trade on one schedule
- A written, itemized estimate before any work
Pantry problems we fix in Park Ridge
A good pantry lets you see everything you own at a glance. In Park Ridge 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
A closet pantry without light is hard to use, especially at the back corners. Adding a light is often part of the job.
Pantry cabinet with fixed shelves
If you reach blindly into your pantry cabinet, sliding shelves are the fix.
Wire shelves bending under the weight
Builder wire shelving bows under canned goods and lets small items tip through. Solid shelves on cleats or standards stay flat.
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.
Bulk buys with nowhere to go
Warehouse-size packs need taller openings and floor space. We plan a section of the pantry for them so they don't end up in the garage.
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.
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.
What's included
- Pantry inventoryA walk through your food, appliances and bulk items to size the pantry.
- Choosing the pantry typeCabinet, reach-in closet or walk-in, based on the space you have.
- Layout and shelf depthsShelf depths and heights set for cans, boxes, bulk packs and appliances.
- Removing old shelvingOld shelving taken out and the closet prepared for the new build.
- 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.
- Door racks and finishingDoor-mounted racks, trim, paint and a final adjustment of every drawer.
Choices you'll make
Wood and melamine shelvingPainted wood or wipeable melamine shelving, built to the walls.
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.
Walk-in pantryA small room lined with shelving, sometimes with a counter or appliance zone.
Pull-out drawers and basketsDrawers that bring the back of a deep shelf to the front.
Before and after: kitchens near Park Ridge
Before
AfterA Park Ridge postwar bi-level: before and after
This one is a postwar bi-level in Park Ridge. What bothered the owners most: groceries that had nowhere to go but the counter. 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 choosing the pantry type, layout and shelf depths, plus pantry cabinets.
Before
AfterDes Plaines kitchen, postwar bi-level: pantry design & installation
This one is a postwar bi-level in Des Plaines. 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. On site this meant choosing the pantry type, layout and shelf depths, plus shelving and drawers.
Pantry Design & Installation in Des Plaines →
Before
AfterPantry Design & Installation in a 1960s ranch, Skokie
A 1960s ranch in Skokie, a typical kitchen for Skokie. 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 shelving and drawers, pantry cabinets, plus door racks and finishing.
Pantry Design & Installation in Skokie →
Before
AfterBuilt-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in a 1950s ranch, Park Ridge
A built-in banquette bench with storage drawers and cushions under the window, with a round pedestal table.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Park Ridge →
Before
AfterKitchen Island & Peninsula Installation in a postwar Cape Cod, Park Ridge
What changed: a new island in dusty blue with a charcoal concrete-look quartz top and seating.
Kitchen Island & Peninsula Installation in Park Ridge →The project, step by step
- 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 estimateA written quote that lists each part of the pantry and what is included.
- Build and installCloset conversions often take a few days; walk-ins with wall changes take longer.
Pantry Design & Installation questions from Park Ridge homeowners
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.
How can I add a pantry to my existing kitchen?
Find the space first: a blank wall, an old desk area, a broom closet. Then we build the pantry into it.
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?
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.
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.
Park Ridge contractor registration: do kitchen contractors need it?
Building contractors must register with the City each calendar year ($50 per firm). We take care of that before work starts.
Do I need a permit for pantry project in Park Ridge?
It depends on the scope. Park Ridge's rule in short: Park Ridge publishes permit guidelines by project type; contact the Permit Technicians to confirm whether a kitchen project needs a permit. We handle the permit when one is needed.
Do you work in my part of Park Ridge?
Yes. Our crews work across Park Ridge — ZIP 60068 — and nearby Des Plaines, Glenview, Skokie.
Working in Park Ridge
- A lot of Park Ridge kitchens date from the 1950s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Park Ridge homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- We know how Park Ridge building department handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60068
Pantry Design & Installation nearby
Other kitchen services in Park Ridge
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.