Closet that could be a pantry
Many homes have a closet a few steps from the kitchen that's barely used. Converting it is usually simpler than building a new pantry.
Serving Wood Dale & nearby Itasca, Elk Grove Village
Pantry Design & Installation in Wood Dale, IL
We design and build kitchen pantries in Wood Dale: tall pantry cabinets, reach-in closet conversions and walk-in pantry shelving.
- Kitchen remodels across Wood Dale ZIP 60191
- One project manager from drawings to final walk-through
- Permits and inspections handled for you
Pantry problems we fix in Wood Dale
Some kitchens need a pantry cabinet on a free wall; others have a hall closet or an unused nook begging to become one. Our Wood Dale crew measures the space, sets shelf depths for cans, boxes and bulk items, and installs it so nothing sags or hides at the back.
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.
No pantry at all
If groceries are scattered across every cabinet, a dedicated pantry pulls them into one place. We find the wall, closet or corner that can hold 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.
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.
Pantry doors that get in the way
Pantry doors that hit the fridge or the dishwasher can be rehung or swapped for a sliding door.
Dark pantry closet
Hunting for a can with a phone flashlight means the pantry needs a light. We add a fixture or LED strip, switched at the door or by a door sensor.
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 the project covers
- Choosing the pantry typeCabinet, reach-in closet or walk-in, based on the space you have.
- 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.
- Framing changes when neededWall changes only when the plan requires them, with a permit where needed.
- 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.
- Door racks and finishingDoor-mounted racks, trim, paint and a final adjustment of every drawer.
Materials and options
Wood and melamine shelvingSolid shelves that stay flat under cans and don't let small items tip.
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.
Walk-in pantryA small room lined with shelving, sometimes with a counter or appliance zone.
Pantry doorsThe door type depends on clearance: swing, sliding, pocket or bifold.
Pantry Design & Installation before and after — Wood Dale homes
Before
AfterA Wood Dale postwar bi-level: before and after
This one is a postwar bi-level in Wood Dale. The main complaint was a pantry closet with wire shelves sagging under food. 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 lighting and outlets.
Before
AfterBefore and after: a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Itasca
The site: a two-story colonial from the 1990s near Walnut Street downtown. The main complaint was food buried on shelves too deep to see into. 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 layout and shelf depths, framing changes when needed, plus shelving and drawers.
Pantry Design & Installation in Itasca →
Before
AfterAn Elk Grove Village 1950s ranch: before and after
A 1950s ranch in Elk Grove Village, a typical kitchen for Elk Grove Village. What bothered the owners most: a pantry closet with wire shelves sagging under food. 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 choosing the pantry type, removing old shelving, plus framing changes when needed.
Pantry Design & Installation in Elk Grove Village →
Before
AfterBuilt-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in a 1960s ranch, Wood Dale
What changed: a built-in banquette bench with storage drawers and cushions under the window, with a round pedestal table.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Wood Dale →
Before
AfterWood Dale kitchen, 1950s ranch: kitchen island & peninsula installation
Finished: a new island in dusty blue with a creamy quartzite-look quartz top and seating.
Kitchen Island & Peninsula Installation in Wood Dale →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 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 Wood Dale 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.
Should I choose a walk-in or a reach-in pantry?
Walk-ins hold more but need floor space. Reach-ins are shallower and often more efficient in smaller homes.
How long does a pantry project take?
From measuring to finished, small projects take a week or two; larger builds depend on permits and materials.
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 can I add a pantry to my existing kitchen?
Usually with a full-height pantry cabinet, a reworked closet or a section of the kitchen turned into floor-to-ceiling storage.
Does pantry project need a Wood Dale building permit, and who files it?
Permits go through Community Development Department (https://my.wooddale.com), phone 630-766-5133. When your scope needs one, we prepare the application and schedule the inspections.
Do I need a Wood Dale-registered contractor for pantry project?
All contractors (general, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, roofing, etc.) must register with the City before a permit is issued. Requires Certificate of Insurance ($2,000,000 public liability) naming the City, state license/IDPH registration if applicable. We take care of that before work starts.
Do I need a permit for pantry project in Wood Dale?
It depends on the scope. Wood Dale's rule in short: A permit is required for any alteration or repair of a building. We handle the permit when one is needed with Community Development Department.
Do you work in my part of Wood Dale?
Yes. Our crews work across Wood Dale — ZIP 60191 — and nearby Itasca, Elk Grove Village, Addison.
Working in Wood Dale
- A lot of Wood Dale kitchens date from the 1960s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Wood Dale homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- We know how Community Development Department handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60191
Pantry Design & Installation nearby
Other kitchen services in Wood Dale
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.