I always have had a walk in pantry but in this kitchen it just wouldn't fit. We designed a pantry I think similar to the one your kitchen design suggested. There are tall wall cabinets with a skinny drawer sitting on top base pantry cabinets with swing out inner shelves. There is more than enough storage for all my cooking and baking supplies, and its right in the kitchen so I don't have to walk far with full hands. If you cook a lot I would definitely do the 2 wall ovens. I'm finding the pantry set up like this to be much more convenient than the walk-in type.

I would go for the pantry both for convenience of storage, and like you mentioned, to not have the fridge directly next to the doorway. A pantry will give you a nice finished wood face next to the opening, much nicer.

Oh thanks, those are great thoughts...and nice execution with the door matching the cabinets! A regular door is maybe just doable in our space, but probably not ideal as it will make the area behind the door less useful (you'd have to enter and then close the door behind you to access it). I like the door closer hinge idea. I was just googleing automatic closing pocket doors and found some company called Eclisse that makes them. Perhaps that is an option.

Yes! It was always my dream to have one. When we moved into a small rambler 2 years ago, there was a 35 SF laundry off the 88 SF kitchen. We moved the laundry to the attached garage, built some shelves to go under some existing cabinets, and installed a tall Ikea Billy bookcase. There is a shallow closet with shelves inside the space, and we added the Elfa system to the inside of the door of this closet. The entrance to the pantry is a beaded curtain. I like to cook, and my pantry is JAM-PACKED with food, dishes, pots and pans, appliances and cookbooks. There still is room for two of us to be in there, and everything is out of sight from the kitchen. Needless to say, I love it! Before: After: