The perfect kitchen larder is the dream addition to any kitchen design. Despite being an old-fashioned kitchen storage solution, the larder remains popular and is revered by many. Luckily with clever design, the larder can be incorporated into any bespoke kitchen, regardless of the size of the room. Here we consider the top 5 elements you should consider when incorporating a larder into your kitchen plans.
What is a Larder?
The larder was traditionally a cool place to store foods that needed to be kept cold. It was an early form of the modern refrigerator and was used in the eighteenth century to store milk, butter, cooked meats and bread. You may have fond memories of your mother or grandmother visiting the larder before rustling up fresh pastry for quiches or tarts or whipping together a cake from just a few store cupboard ingredients. This is the beauty of the larder; it houses key, staple ingredients that can go a long way in feeding a family simply but wholesomely.
Despite its humble beginnings, the larder is now seen as a kitchen must-have. The envy of friends and family, a larder is something to cherish and adore.
To make sure you’ll love your larder forever, we’ve put together a list of the five most important considerations when designing a larder.
1. Best Larder Location
Although you might assume that a larder should be installed in your kitchen, this is not always the best place for it. A larder needs to be kept away from heat sources such as radiators, ovens or agas, wood burning stoves or open fires. Keeping your essentials cool will help prolong their shelf life. You may find that a cooler location is the utility or dining room. Be sure to only consider locations that are still easy and convenient to access.
If you have a smaller kitchen, you will want to avoid it feeling crowded. Placing a larder in an adjoining room, or passageway may be a better use of space. You could even create a walk- in larder room in an unused alcove. As larders can be freestanding or built in, the sky is the limit when selecting the right location.
2. What Will You Store?
It is important to think about what you will be storing, as this will affect the internal design features of your larder. Commonly, larders are used to store dry foodstuffs including flour, sugar and cereals. Pasta, rice and pulses are often found on larder shelves, too. Having suitably spaced shelving allows for your items to remain visible and easily accessible for everyday use.
If you also wish to store fruits or vegetables, it may be beneficial to incorporate drawers or space for baskets. This not only makes it easier to see what you have, but also allows perishable items to breathe.
A marble slab is a classic feature of a larder. The marble is cool and hygienic, making it the perfect space to store items that like a cooler temperature. Here, you may require space for fresh eggs and your favourite butter dish.
A modern larder can incorporate internal power sockets. These allow small appliances to be housed within it. You can create an entire breakfast cupboard by installing your toaster and coffee maker, and then enjoy closing the door to hide it away again. Moreover, even your larger electricals can be hidden in this manner. Your fridge freezer can be integrated within your larder, hiding this white good behind incredible handcrafted wooden doors.
3. Your Style
Although modern larders serve a great purpose, we understand that the way a larder looks is also very important when designing this iconic item of kitchen furniture. Do you want to add glass panelled doors to highlight your favourite items? Or would you rather stick to wood panelling to hide any clutter that might build up? At Hill Farm Furniture, we adore using the finest solid woods for a timeless, luxury larder.
Larders can be as unique as you are. You may wish to leave the top third of your larder open with shelving to display your favourite glass wear or serving dishes. Don’t forget that the inside of the doors can be utilised, too. Jars of spices, sugar decorations and beautiful packets of loose tea and coffee can be stored within easy reach in handcrafted, slim-line shelves. Drawers at the bottom of the unit could be used to store cutlery, napkins and small kitchen utensils.
When you speak to a kitchen designer at Hill Farm, we take the time to get to know how your family lives, so that we can give tailored suggestions and advice for a bespoke design that will work for you all.
4. Lighting
However hard you try to organise your larder, the last thing you want is to be endlessly searching for a small bottle of vanilla extract or the last of the porcini mushrooms. Adding lighting to your larder can make it easier and quicker to find exactly what you need. Choose a warm, soft light to make your larder shine without any harsh glare.
If you don’t want internal lighting, you could consider directing your kitchen spot lights towards the larder. The larder will remain centre stage when the doors are closed, and your search for ingredients will be easier. At Hill Farm, we can advise on effective lighting solutions.
5. Finishing Touches
We understand that you want your larder to shine and at Hill Farm Furniture we can make your dreams a reality. You can choose the size of your larder, before selecting the all-important finish. Only once every surface has been hand-finished do we add a final lick of paint.
The finish is as essential as the craftsmanship of the wood. That’s why we only use the best paints including Farrow and Ball, Zoffany and Little Greene. With their luxury colour palette, you can choose tones that match your kitchen cabinets, or make a statement. Whether you select Elephant’s Breath or something more exotic, your larder is sure to be a focal point.
If a larder is something you’ve dreamed of for years, Hill Farm could make it your reality. Contact us today, or pop into our showroom just outside Newark, and let our family create a beautiful piece of bespoke kitchen furniture for you and your family.
