How would you expand this area to include a pantry?

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

Please excuse the mess, the house has a serious lack of storage and I want to fix it. Behind the wall to the right is just empty space. I would like to expand the opening and make this into a pantry.

I’m worried about it looking weird, should I expand it and then put the same frame around it on the right even though I’d like to expand it all the way to the next wall? Or should I knock out the wall there but leave the molding around the laundry and kind of make the pantry like a closet? The wall there isn’t that big, it’s 33 inches from the wall on the right to the washer.

heres what it looks like behind that wall. I’m not really worried about the dryer vent, we could move it.

**update: I plan to move out of this house in a couple years and rent it out. I love my washer and dryer so I’m not going to get rid of them for a stackable. I just want there to be a pantry for future residents and for me now of course! This is in my kitchen.

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Comments (7)

Inactive User
Original Author
5 years ago

This is in my kitchen. I plan to rent out this house in a couple of years so I don’t want to buy a stackable washer/dryer because I want to keep these for my next home. The kitchen has an awful layout so the fridge has to stay here. I just need a pantry and want future residents to have a pantry instead of this wasted space. The back door is to the right also.
Sammie J
5 years ago
is it possible to take a picture of the entire wall? We need to see what is on the right, and how much space you could possibly gain.
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bpath
5 years ago
Can you vent the dryer straight out behind it? You need to change that vent fast! That’s a fire waiting to happen.
Inactive User
Original Author
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
The vent goes outside which is to the right. Behind this wall is my bathroom!
Sammie J
5 years ago
I'd move the dryer closest to the door (and fix the venting issue!), and then put the pantry nearer to the refrigerator. You can buy stock cabinets (or Ikea). It will be a reach-in pantry, not a walk-in. If you are expanding the opening, take the whole wall out - up to the ceiling. That way, you might have room for some cabinets above the washer/dryer.
Inactive User
Original Author
5 years ago
I love the idea of moving the dryer over there! I will do that for sure. And taking the wall all the way out up to the ceiling will help make it not look awkward as well. I’d love to have more cabinets. thanks so much!
ci_lantro
5 years ago
If the wall with the opening isn't a supporting wall, then remove the entire wall & open it up. If it is a supporting wall, then you will need a beam, header to transfer the load.

Move the dryer all the way to the left, reversing the washer/ dryer positions. Pantry cabinet in the now opened up space and cabinetry above the washer & dryer.

The current dryer vent situation is a disaster in the making. That needs to be attended to now. Flex vent needs to be kept to a bare minimum and used only where absolutely necessary to transition to rigid metal venting. It should also be semi-rigid aluminum flex, not aluminum foil or vinyl flex.

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