When you think of storage in a kitchen, your built-in cabinets usually come to mind. But what happens when you run out of space and need extra? Perhaps it's more pantry space or a dedicated place to house your favorite kitchen and dining essentials.
Adding a freestanding pantry cupboard or even open shelving is the conventional way to make room for additional supplies, but designer Shea McGee has shared a much more unexpected addition as her kitchen storage – an antique armoire.
Normally a furniture piece reserved for use in a bedroom as a wardrobe, she's proved that using it in the kitchen is not just functional, but a real style statement too. Here's how she did it and how to recreate the look.
There's nothing we love more than decorating with antiques to create a unique and characterful design – especially in the kitchen. And while we're no strangers to antique and vintage kitchen ideas, an armoire in a cooking space is certainly something we don't see all that often.
But there's no denying that it's the perfect piece in Shea's kitchen. Adding ample shelving space behind closed doors, it ticks all the right boxes. Plus, the traditional, lived-in look adds warmth, character, and a charming talking point to her space.
She's decided to use her kitchen armoire as a cupboard dedicated to large dinnerware, glassware, and table linens – items that can often be tricky to store. The benefit is that they are kept in a safe space when not in use, but still easily accessible when guests are over.
But there are so many other ways to use an armoire in a kitchen. It's essentially a large cupboard, so utilizing it as a pantry for dry goods, or even as a place to keep small appliances out of sight would also work.
In the caption of her Instagram reel, she mentions that she sourced this particular piece from an antiques fair in Round Top, Texas. Opting for an antique or vintage design is a great choice – it offers a more unique design and is a more sustainable choice.
However, shopping antique for a piece like an armoire requires lots of searching, patience, and in some cases, traveling further if you can't find something online. There are some truly beautiful antique designs though, and you can often find some really good prices.
It is, of course, a worthwhile investment that will stand the test of time, but if you are looking for a more instant purchase or you need a very specific size, searching for beautifully made contemporary designs can be just as charming.
Shop armoires for your kitchen
Beautiful vintage, antique, and contemporary armoires can add so much character to your kitchen. It's worth noting that most contemporary armoires come with hanging space, so you'll need to be open to customization to make it functional for use in a kitchen. Here, we've rounded up a few of our favorite old and new examples.
This armoire has been handmade using reclaimed wood, so it has that authentic, vintage feel. Featuring a decorative top panel and three spacious shelves inside, it's the perfect piece to add to your kitchen.
If you're after an original antique, this 18th-century French armoire is a beautiful choice. With three shelves inside and a decorative finish, this burl wood design will slot perfectly into a traditional kitchen.
This design might be contemporary, but it has all the rustic charm of a vintage armoire. Inside you'll find shelving, small drawers, and larger drawers at the base, offering plenty of storage. There is a hanging rail inside, but this your be repurposed as a pot hanger rather than removing it.
If you want an affordable armoire option, the design from Walmart offers plenty of versatile storage space. Featuring seven different compartments of varying sizes, there's the perfect amount of space for kitchenware large and small.
This vintage armoire has a really classic feel to it, with intricate details on the front making it a stand-out feature. There's one large shelf at the center with pre-drilled holes for wires, however, you could easily add more shelves if you needed the extra storage space.
For a dose of farmhouse kitchen style, this armoire might be contemporary, but it looks far from it. There's plenty of storage space here, with adjustable shelves so you can customize it to suit your needs. It's also offered in 3 different finishes, so you can choose the design that best suits your kitchen aesthetic.
If there's anything to take away from Shea's kitchen, it's that you don't have to stick to any rules when it comes to furniture. An armoire, whether antique or contemporary, is designed as a wardrobe, but it turns out it's also the perfect storage solution for kitchens.
