Mansion's Butler Pantry

It has been almost 10 years since I had made the bottom cabinets for the butler's pantry (Very First Butler's Pantry Cabinet Post)! My, how time flies! And I had a vision for how the upper cabinets should look, but I had been procrastinating on making them because I couldn't figure out how to get thin glass shelves for the cabinets. I really wanted glass shelves in the cabinets and then my daughter gifted me a bunch of glass microscope slides for my birthday! The slides were 3" wide which was a little longer than I wanted, but close enough that I was hopeful it would work out. Stained the wood pieces and cut my trims...

Propping the first upper cabinet over the previously made bottom cabinets

But I quickly realized that the wider glass shelves were making my upper cabinets wider than the bottom cabinets. And eyeballing the measurements I could tell the 3 cabinets across the long expanse would be all I could fit. There was no space for the corner turn and a fourth cabinet over the short side of the "L" bottom cabinets.

Being wider meant that the upper cabinets would go all the way into the corner

The upper cabinets wouldn't line up with the bottom cabinets since they were about 1/4" wider (which added a 3/4" total to the expanse). And I knew that would bug me. Every time I'd look in the room I would cringe. So, even though I'd started to assemble the 1st cabinet, had cut all the pieces for the remaining upper cabinets, and assembled the cabinet doors, I decided to attempt cutting the glass shelves to be only 2-3/4" wide. Because if I could cut the glass shelves smaller, then the entire cabinet could be narrower and I'd have room for all 4 upper cabinets, lined up over the lower cabinets to form the same "L" shape. Some corners chipped and a few shelves completely broke/shattered.

Chipping was a big issue

Went thru about 30 glass slides, but I eventually got 16 shelves cut to 2-3/4" wide without major chips or cracks. Now came the laborious procedure to rip the assembled cabinet and all the doors apart, cut everything down, and start back at the beginning again.

Breaking the assembled cabinet apart (cabinet doors assembled on the right would have to be broken apart and cut down too)

Now the upper cabinets line up with the bottom cabinets

Didn't have the hinges for the doors so I can't attach them yet. But I think some still need to be cut down more (they overhang the sides too much and will interfere with the hinges). And I think there are 2 doors that I must not have cut down enough because the look wider than their counterparts. But overall, they are looking like how I had envisioned them.

We were hosting a party this weekend so everything had to be packed up. But I will attack this project with a vengeance during March! And maybe I'll get the foyer and the butler's pantry finished before Spring fully hits and the yard and flower boxes need my spare time and attention.

First Impression, Foyer Issues

Tried to tackle the Mansion's Foyer in January 2025. The fact that the first week of February is already over should tell you how this is going...

Manufacturer's pic of room

2015 update: Removed the stairs and wall (arrow points to wall remnant), made archway to music room and removed exterior partial wall on the right to better view front door/room

2018 update: hole cut in floor for basement access, electric installed across floor for front coach lights
2025 update: cut away door to Butler's Pantry on the left

I wanted the room to be elegant and impressive: after all, this is the first impression the resident's guests would have of the house. But there were several issues that needed to be addressed:

1. Entryway to Butler's Pantry

I wanted the room behind the foyer to be a butler's pantry that would also have access to the servants area in the basement. I added a hole under the foyer stairs for the staircase that will go to the basement and I had cut a small doorway allowing access to these stairs. But how would the servants get from the butler's pantry to the rest of the house (to deliver meals to the morning room, dining room, bedrooms, and tea to the conservatory)? I wanted a hidden doorway. A door that would blend in with the wall. So I removed the pre-fab door and created my own swinging door:

Taped a threshold to my door and drilled a hole thru for a pin so it will line up exactly at the bottom

Added a pin to the top corner

Pin in threshold (piece previously taped to door)

Drilled a corresponding hole in the wall edge for top pin to slide into

Glued threshold into place and now have a tight fitting door that will hopefully become a hidden door

Now to hide the door behind the foyer's decor. Easier to do on a wall with lots of shadowboxing, paneling, or trims. But I was saddened to see that my cut wallpaper line is quite obvious...

So I had a stellar idea to cover it with framing and a picture. Picked a postcard with an image I liked (from an art museum), cut framing to allow door to still open, painted framing gold to match chandelier, and loosely held it in place.

Disappointment.  It's too low. I needed to have cut the doorway higher. And I can't do that now. So, I've decided to just leave it alone and wait for a genius idea some day in the future. Maybe I'll remove the wallpapered door and put in a wall niche or bookcase type structure that pivots as a door? Still brainstorming a solution to this issue...

2. Flooring

Originally I wanted white marble that would flow into the music room's green marble. But everything else in the room (archway, wallpaper, furniture) is cream, not white. And, although it looked pretty, it wasn't giving impressive vibes. Then my Etsy guy (Gravik's Etsy Page - Last Project I Used Gravik's Things On) sent a sample tile of some wood flooring he made. And I fell in love.

Figured out how many wood tiles I would need and placed an order immediately. It was nice that this issue resolved itself so easily (compared to the other issues).

3. Staircase

I was not impressed with the stairs that came with the house (see photo above of Manufacturer's pic). It was just steps between two walls; very boxy and boring. I ripped out one wall to open up the room and now needed fancy steps that were steep to fit the small narrow space.

Staining the parts

Found stairs I liked and stained them the same as the exterior base trim which is sort of a mix of the mahogany and new walnut stains: I do one coat in Varathane Red Mahogany stain and the second coat in Behr Bombay Mahogany.

Love the spindles on the stairs

Was planning on doing a stair runner but I don't like how the pattern/colors/something is going with the wallpaper.

Ditched the runner

Liking this better without the fancy runner

4. Moldings (aka Mouldings)

I am not happy with the ceiling medallion I had for the room originally. It was oval and very "leafy". Maybe more appropriate for the conservatory, not the foyer. So I ordered a classic simple elegant ceiling medallion from Sue Cook (Sue Cook's Website) along with some crown molding that matched the medallion. Was so pleased at how quickly my Sue Cook order shipped/arrived! But, I realized the crown was too large and too ornate.

It's crowding the archway and making the room look smaller. So I will save this crown molding for the Master Bedroom or the Family Room and have now ordered some smaller crown moldings from Unique Miniatures (Unique Miniatures Etsy Page) that I will paint gold and install as soon as it arrives!

That's the status of the Mansion at the moment! Thought I'd have a finished room to show you, but these little issues have delayed my deadline drastically....Happy February, all!