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Apartment Therapy has highlighted the “bantry,” a walk-in pantry that also serves as a bar and small gathering spot. The design can range from shelves and a cocktail tray to a setup with refrigeration, a sink or dishwasher; its practicality depends on preserving storage and available space.
Apartment Therapy has spotlighted the “bantry,” a walk-in pantry fitted to double as a bar and a small place to gather, bringing food storage and home entertaining into one room. The report by Danielle Blundell, Apartment Therapy’s executive director of home, says the concept appeared in a nook designed for Behr Paint’s 2027 Color of the Year event; it describes an emerging design idea, not a formal product launch or evidence of broad adoption.
A bantry combines a pantry’s storage function with a bar area. Its features can be modest: shelving, bottles and a counter or tray for drinks. More elaborate versions might include a mini or full-size refrigerator, dedicated glassware storage, a sink and even a dishwasher. Blundell says the key is having enough room for at least one or two people to use the space, rather than a prescribed set of appliances.
The example that drew Blundell’s attention was a compact, galley-shaped nook set up with open shelves, bottles and a wet-bar-sized sink. Its cabinetry was painted Grounded, the olive-green shade Behr selected as its 2027 Color of the Year. The article presents that installation as an illustration of the idea; it does not provide measurements, construction costs or evidence that homeowners are widely adopting the layout.
For existing homes, Blundell suggests considering a spare closet near the kitchen or dining and living areas. A conversion could use shelves and a surface for cocktail or mocktail supplies, while dry goods remain part of the storage plan. She also floats repurposing a small dresser or using IKEA SEKTION cabinetry as possible ways to organize the space. These are suggestions in the report, not tested plans or professional installation guidance.
A Bar Without Losing Pantry Space
The appeal is the combination of storage and hosting in one footprint. A separate bar cart or cabinet can hold drinks, but a bantry is meant to retain pantry use as well, potentially putting ingredients and serving supplies together. For households with a suitable nook or closet, that could make entertaining more convenient without dedicating an entire room to a bar.
The idea also reflects a broader practical design consideration raised by Blundell: making limited square footage serve more than one purpose. That does not mean every pantry can become a gathering space. A bar setup needs a usable surface and enough clearance for people to stand, and adding plumbing or appliances can make a project more involved. The report offers no cost comparison or evidence that the hybrid is more efficient than a conventional pantry and separate bar.
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From Pantry Storage to Hosting
Walk-in pantries have been a sought-after kitchen feature for several years, according to Apartment Therapy’s report. The bantry adds an entertaining function to that established storage room rather than replacing the pantry altogether. The name itself combines “bar” and “pantry,” and the proposed formats vary from a simple drinks shelf to a more fitted wet bar.
Blundell says she first encountered the concept at Behr Paint’s 2027 Color of the Year reveal, where the brand’s creative team staged a small nook intended to sit off a kitchen or dining room. The article’s framing is based on that display and the writer’s design observations. It does not identify a designer or homeowner who has built a permanent bantry, nor does it establish when the term first came into use.
““The latest version of this? The bantry, or bar pantry.””
— Danielle Blundell, Apartment Therapy’s executive director of home
under counter beverage refrigerator for home bar
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How Widely the Idea Will Spread
The source describes a design concept and one event display, but provides no adoption data showing how many homeowners are building bantries or whether the term is gaining broad use. It also gives no budget range, dimensions, renovation examples or comparison with the cost of a conventional pantry and bar. Whether a closet conversion can accommodate a sink, refrigerator or dishwasher will depend on the home’s layout and existing services; the article does not assess those requirements.
It is also unclear how a bantry would work in households that need all available pantry capacity for food storage. Blundell recommends keeping dry goods in the space, but does not set out a standard layout or explain how much storage would be lost to bar equipment. The Behr display is a staged example, not proof that the same design will fit every home.
pantry cabinet shelving with countertop
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Planning a Pantry-Bar Conversion
The article does not announce a product release or a scheduled next milestone. For readers considering the idea, the practical next step is to assess whether an existing pantry, nearby closet or renovation plan has room for both storage and a usable serving surface. A modest version can rely on shelves and portable barware; plumbing and built-in appliances would require more planning than the report’s basic examples describe.
Any wider trend will become clearer if designers and homeowners share completed projects, costs and layouts beyond the Behr event display. Until then, the bantry is best understood as a flexible design proposal: a way to combine food storage with a small hosting area, with its usefulness depending on the space available.
cocktail glassware storage cabinet
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Key Questions
What is a bantry?
A bantry is a walk-in pantry that also includes a bar area and room for a small gathering. The term combines “bar” and “pantry.”
Does a bantry need a sink or refrigerator?
No. Apartment Therapy’s report says a simple version could have shelves, bottles and a counter or tray. A refrigerator, sink or dishwasher are possible additions, not requirements.
Can a closet be converted into a bantry?
Blundell suggests a spare closet near the kitchen or dining and living areas as one possible location. Whether it works depends on its size and layout, and the report does not provide construction guidance.
Does a bantry replace a pantry?
The concept is intended to preserve pantry use alongside bar storage. Blundell recommends keeping dry goods there, though the article does not specify how much food storage a particular layout should retain.
Where did the bantry example come from?
Blundell says she saw a compact pantry-bar display at Behr Paint’s 2027 Color of the Year event. The staged nook featured open shelving, bottles and a small sink.
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