You are so funny. I am trying to imagine this in my head, and I really have trouble with such things. But, if there is no door to the pantry, you need to be very neat and tidy to do the open shelving. If no door, then I would go with the cabinets with the sliding doors. Love the counter running around the lower shelves. What countertop material are we talking in there? As I said, I have trouble with the vision since I usually have to stare at my own space for hours to come up with an idea. But depending on your kitchen and your preferences, maybe something like a marble counter, possibly from the remnant section at the fabricator? I'm assuming the counter is narrow, not like the regular counters in the kitchen.

Bmore, it's Friday, it's the afternoon in my timezone, time for a margarita, but I need to know...do you want to get the Margaritaville Frozen Concoction Maker off an open shelf, or would you like to slide a door over and get it?

Well, I'm going to ditto Beekeeperswife on having a bit of trouble trying to "see" what you're talking about. Can you possibly upload those diagrams you're playing with? If not, I think I also agree with BKW - the first plan, with the stainless doors, sounds like it could be the best.

Just so you know - when folk ask me why I haven't done my reveal as yet, a big reason is because I haven't been able to get my pantry completed! Like you, I've pretty much depleted my kitchen reno budget and I need a serious infusion of cash. And, like you, I'm also trying to figure out how I can squeeze a big LG micro in there (which I purchased ages ago, at another point in my remodel plans, and which I'm still trying to use -- even though it really is too big for this darn pantry!) And, guess what? The space I'm trying to work with is even smaller than yours! It's an old closet in the hallway outside the kitchen that is only 32" (w) x 30"(d) x 80" (h). One would think that, with an itty bitty space like that, I'd just run off to Ikea, get some shelving and be done with it, right? No! I'm still deluding myself in TKO-land, drooling over other folk's pretty pantries, big and small, and delaying my own project completion. Sigh. While you're at it, how about passing the Ketel. :-)

I think I'd keep it on the counter. It would help distract from Panasonic. Counter could have a wave start at 14" and kick out to 18"ish. Then I could keep an ice bucket next to the Concoction Maker along with a nice line of ingredients.

Cheers! Love your kitchen.

PS. My desk isn't like this, but everything in my food storage area is lined up in rows by type - even in the temporary food storage area. Misc stuff like unopened anchovy paste and Chef Pauls Red Hot Chili Mix is collected into baskets. My food storage has always been this way.

I must have OCD but only related to pantry items.

Well, it's barely noon here! No margaritas yet.

Since you have pantry OCD I'd go for the symmetrical open shelves with the least Panasonic. Put the $200 savings and another $200 saved on not buying a prettier microwave because the other plan was too Panasonic, and put them into the kitty for the fancy English slatted pantry shelves. You can always put them in in a few years when you're tired of looking at the stock shelves.

BTW, if I am visualizing correctly and there are side walls, you can hang a broom receiver or hooks from the front of the shelves where they'll be concealed a bit by the wall. Or you can even mount a stock tall door on spacer blocks to the bookcase sidewall and have instant broom closet. Maybe not glory gorgeous, but perhaps enough to last you until you're ready to plop more money into your kitchen.

"My desk isn't like this, but everything in my food storage area is lined up in rows by type - even in the temporary food storage area. Misc stuff like unopened anchovy paste and Chef Pauls Red Hot Chili Mix is collected into baskets. My food storage has always been this way. "

Reminds me that I once heard that there was somebody on the Seinfeld set with the job of alphabetizing the cereal boxes in Jerry's apartment... Order is important. And there would be nothing wrong with having the different ingredients in your favorite beverages lined up alphabetically next to the MFCM.

Oh, yikes. Definitely having trouble with the visualization...You should know better than to post all those words with no 'pitchures.' For this 50 yr old woman with perimenopausal brain fog and the migraine/tension headache to go with, all I get is "Blah, blah, blah, BEER...Blah, blah, blah, Panasonic?...Blah, blah, blah...MARGARITA!"

Seriously...$3K for shelves?!!!!! What is this apparently rare and expensive material they'll be made of? Why is it, though, that I already love them just from your tiny bit of description? No beige options. Disallowed in the home of such a creative friend. ;-)

Crap, y'all. It's Friday, 100 degrees and we're lookin' forward to 103 degrees tomorrow. That's in Fahrenheit, The real temperature®.

It's the same two walls all the time. The beige pantry has the "floorplan".

Rhome, its probably because that's all I've got is BEER, PANASONIC and MARGARITA! Maybe I should get some crackers.

Here is a link that might be useful: Don't view on an empty stomac.

No way to get the look of the English pantry with a lower price tag? Or something that is less authentic/detailed, but still fun and with character? Maybe something a little more utilitarian but in a good color?

The stainless is SUCH a different look...Which do you want to walk into the kitchen and see in the morning, or catch sight of as you work around the room? (I'm ignoring the beige...Doesn't look terrible to me, but if you can describe it that way, you shouldn't have it.) Either will go with the rest of your room? Hard to believe that using something like the Sweeby Test theory that both styles could work...But I trust you to know how to mix, match, and come up with something great.

Hi, Bemore. I haven't been around much and don't remember your style. Since you really don't like the 2 possibilities, though, how about not doing either and ending up living with them for way too long?

I don't know if it'd fit your kitchen, but for a custom inexpensive version I'm imagining doorless boxes on the bottom (whatever wood/color suits) with shelves, covered with curtains on pull rings, changed out with the seasons if you like and replaceable nice doors someday if desired. On the wall, simple custom shelves or open shelf units, pale-to-white finish to help MW blend in, for less than $500, including fine-grained wood and carpentry. Counters could also be wood, as they were often in pantries long ago. I scanned the picture in my head, but it doesn't seem to include brooms. :)

You've lost it. Don't drink on an empty stomach.

DO NOT PUT MARGARITAS IN MICROWAVE!!!!

The stainless is shiny beige. You might as well get beige beige (okay, it's white but boring). Or give up the margaritas and put the tequila money in the English slat shelving kitty.

I'm not surprised I have no clue what you all are talking about since within the past week I've lost all my keys, my ATM card, canceled my ATM card, and found my ATM card.

I discussed with DH last night... I need to take up drinking. I once did 3 shots of Patron and still stood up so maybe there's hope for me.

Good points, Plllog....All of them, but especially referring to the last paragraph.

Other thoughts that are a bit elementary, so may or likely may not be of any help: For me the wonderful thing about a pantry is to be able to see everything at once and have the flexibility to move things around as needed to fit. Doors and otherwise limited cabinetry defeat those purposes. Your pantry is a little wider and a little shallower than mine, but about the same size. I just opened the door and stood and looked...I can't imagine having closed cabinets in there...Would make it seem smaller. And I have to say that 'white beige' shelves keep it light and a bit airy for a closed, windowless room!

"My post", she cries. "My post that took 13 minutes to get exactly right. GE ate my post." Dagnabit.

I'm trying to figure out if there's anything I can do besides white-beige. I can definitely live with the price of white. I'm not happy with cabinet doors and himself said NO to putting a door on the outside. Nothing should come between man and cereal. Actually, he said it would be inefficient.

I am thinking of (hiccup) what rosie said. Coupla cabinets on the bottom, some chintz, (sways a little) and woodworking type shelves above.

Where'd dat pitsher go? (Passes it around) Gosh, I luv u guys.

If you are talking about slatted shelving like is used in an airing cupboard, I don't understand why it would be so expensive.

I'm not able to visualize what you are describing - I think it's all the margaritas you folks are passing around.

Maybe it will make sense to me tomorrow.

While your passing the pitcher again, take a look at this Ikea shelving.

Here is a link that might be useful: Ikea Slat Shelving