The Jensen Family Pantry: A Beautiful and Functional Design

Designing an organized pantry for the Jensen family was an incredible experience. Nestled in the remote mountains of Colorado, their home is a beautiful blend of rustic and modern elements, and we wanted to create a pantry that complemented that aesthetic while also serving their unique needs. With a 30-minute drive on a dirt road to the nearest grocery store, their pantry had to provide ample storage for backstock while remaining easily accessible for daily use.

Beautiful & Functional Pantry Design

Creating a Plan

One of the most exciting aspects of this project was working with such a large space. Unlike most pantries, where efficiency is key due to limited room, here we had the opportunity to design a system that not only looked stunning but also made bulk and long-term food storage seamless. We considered how often the family would be making grocery runs and structured the pantry to hold larger quantities of essential items, ensuring they always had what they needed on hand.

Beauty Meets Function

To align with the home's rustic-modern vibe, we carefully selected materials and storage solutions that felt elevated yet comfortable. We incorporated dark hardware to match the home's design and introduced a mix of textures to keep the space visually engaging. Since it was such a large pantry, we opted for a wider variety of organizational products than usual to avoid a repetitive look.

Intentional Product Selection

The Jensen family are very health conscious and really wanted to stay away from any plastic touching their food. So we found materials and sourced products that didn't have any plastic but could still be easily handled by kids and parents.

Although we don’t usually do this, we used three different types of glass canisters in this pantry: round with acacia wood lids, round with black metal lids, and tall 80oz squared. The client's preference for glass food storage meant we had to be intentional about selecting containers that were both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Using three types of glass canisters for grouping together different types of foods added variety to the design and will help the Jensens to maintain the zones we created.

For open storage, we integrated Maddox wire bins, which we love for their structured, clean look. These bins work best when storing consistent items like potatoes, onions, or multiple of the same boxed goods rather than miscellaneous items that could appear cluttered.

To create a cohesive design, we used label bin clips from Neat Method because they can be used on both metal bins and woven bins, which added a polished touch while also making it easy to identify contents.

The open-front acacia wood crates were another great addition. These are perfect for snacks, apples, oranges, and bananas. While they are stackable, we preferred using them unstacked to maintain easy accessibility. I should note that a few arrived not just damaged but in pieces, which was disappointing. However, the ones that arrived intact were beautiful and great for designating spaces for various snacks.

Efficient Pantry Zones

One of our top priorities was creating distinct zones to streamline the family's daily routine. We grouped similar items together for intuitive access:

• Baking essentials in matching acacia-lidded canisters

• Grains like rice and quinoa in matching black metal lid canisters

• Snacks grouped together in various acacia wood crates

• Drinks powders grouped together in matching glass containers

• Cereal in matching, easy-to-grip glass canisters

By carefully planning these zones, we ensured that cooking and meal prep would be as effortless as possible.

Vertical Space

With high ceilings, we had to be strategic about how we used the upper shelves. While there was plenty of space for storage, we recognized that frequently accessed items shouldn't be placed out of reach. Instead, we used water hyacinth bins along the top shelves to anchor the design and store seasonal or rarely used items, like cookie cutters.

Kid-Friendly Organization

Understanding how the family functions in their kitchen was crucial. We created a lower-level kid zone with easily accessible snacks like granola bars. The adults also had their own dedicated drawer for supplements. In the cabinets, we incorporated stackable 16" acrylic bins from The Container Store to store bulk paper goods and canned goods. Since the family buys in bulk, we designated entire bins for staples like tomatoes and beans. We also created a backstock drink station, conveniently positioned near the kids’ drinks fridge for easy restocking.

Final Touches and Details

Before the family moved in, we took extra care to stock the pantry with their favorite foods and ensure every system aligned with their lifestyle. By asking detailed questions about their cooking habits and how their kids interacted with food storage, we tailored every element of the pantry to their needs.

The Jensen family’s pantry is not just a beautifully organized space—it’s a functionally designed system that will support their lifestyle for years to come. We are honored to have played a role in making their pantry beautiful and functional.

Jen is the founder of Reset Your Nest, a Professional Home Organizing Business in Utah (servicing Salt Lake City, Park City, Ogden, Alpine, Highland, Mapleton, and St. George). She loves creating order and systems out of chaos and is known for bringing a beautiful aesthetic as well as easy to maintain function to any space. She shares her tips and tricks on Instagram @reset_your_nest.