What Is a Larder?
A Timeless Storage Essential for the Modern Home
A larder cupboard can be either a freestanding cupboard designed to store food items that require a cool temperature or a small room designed explicitly as a walk-in larder. Traditional English and European larder cupboards have stood the test of time, providing a much-needed cool space for refrigeration alongside a designated space for organisation and storage. These days, we’ve adopted some of these historical, tried-and-tested techniques to design larders and pantries that offer both timeless charm and modern-day functionality.
The Origin and Evolution of the Kitchen Larder
In medieval times, and before refrigeration, meat was often covered in a layer of fat or lard to preserve it. Other techniques used to preserve meat were drying, salting, and smoking. To keep the food fresh, the larder needed to be cold and was often underground or in the cellar, sited on a North or west-facing wall with ventilation holes to allow cold air to circulate, and heavy stone shelves to keep meats and dairy items fresh. Having plenty of food and surplus to store away and preserve became a symbol of wealth. Large country houses would often have a wet larder and a dry larder, both close to the kitchen but in a cool area. The dry larder was used for storing grains, flour, and vegetables, while meats, cheese, and dairy items were stored in a wet larder or ‘cold chamber’.
Pantry vs. Larder: What’s the Difference?
The difference between ‘pantry’ and ‘larder’ is referenced in medieval France, where lard or bacon was stored in a larder and pain or bread was stored in a pantry. These days, the words ‘larder’ and ‘pantry’ are often interchangeable, referring to a cupboard designed for the storage of food. A butler’s pantry was a room designed for the storage of silver, glasses, and household items, usually positioned between the kitchen and the dining room. Along with a larder, it is often requested in the design of large houses as well as luxury house renovations. Large open bays allow for the storage of large containers of dry foods, as well as vegetable baskets. We have designed a bespoke vegetable tray which is perfect for storing apples or root vegetables on a timber slatted base, again allowing air to maintain freshness. Painted wall shelves on brackets at eye level ensure storage for jars, packets, and bottles with space for a small ladder incorporated in designs with higher ceilings to make use of available space.
Types of Kitchen Larders in Contemporary Design
In larger, traditionally designed houses, a walk-in larder blends old-world character and charm with modern practicality. When renovating an older property, an existing room may be perfectly positioned to lend itself as a larder. Adding a stone floor and leaving out under-floor heating encourages a cool temperature. Ensuring refrigeration is incorporated in other rooms prevents any additional heating, while adding an air vent ensures the flow of fresh air. Traditional stones such as slate, marble, or soapstone are ideal for larder shelving while serving as a countertop for food storage. With modern refrigeration, a walk-in cool room or larder is an addition we include within our designs. Creating a walk-in room that is refrigerated to keep fresh foods. Custom shelving can be incorporated to create a temperature-controlled storage environment for meats, dairy products, salad items, and fresh produce. While the romantic and traditional theme of a larder is compromised somewhat, this creates an efficient storage facility combined with fridge space.
Functional Benefits of a Well-Designed Larder
The benefits to a home cook include the easy rotation of foods, with more recent additions at the back of the shelves encouraging the items at the front to be used and eaten first. Having everything on display in one space makes it easy to find the items you are looking for. Large storage jars filled with pulses, flour, rice, and dried fruits look wonderful when labeled and positioned in rows, while jars of spices in racks on the inside of the door make good use of available space while making them easy to organize. A hanging rail beneath a high shelf with hooks makes for a perfect place to hang garlic, onions, and drying herbs from the garden. The comfort and reassurance a larder provides make it a popular addition to new-build design projects as well as refurbishments of large town and country houses. Whether as a walk-in space or a large, purpose-designed ‘larder-cupboard’, both offer a timeless storage solution that is easy to organize, access, and personalize, with strong aesthetic appeal. The option to conceal worktop appliances within a larder cupboard is an idea we often embrace. The coffee machine, juicer, and toaster can be incorporated onto a countertop shelf to make a breakfast/larder cupboard.
The Role of the Larder in a Plain English Kitchen
When designing kitchen projects without space for a walk-in larder, our tall, double-door cupboard can make an excellent alternative for storage. Our Dutch and Kew larder cupboards both feature elliptical arches and offer bespoke kitchen storage. The Dutch larder, slightly more complex, was inspired by Dutch architectural details, which can be seen throughout East Anglia, as the Dutch were invited over in the 17th century for their expertise in draining wetlands. The simpler Kew arch was inspired by the shape of the brick charcoal ranges at Kew Palace. The arch is constructed traditionally, using individual pieces of solid wood, rather than modern sheet materials, which would have created a featureless curve.
Design Origins and Bespoke Construction
A simpler version can be designed with our Spitalfields range and a variety of door designs, featuring a square top rather than an arch. The addition of a row of top cupboards accessed by a ladder can make good use of high-ceilinged spaces. With a hand-painted exterior and interior, plus the option to add a skirting and doors to complement the house and room, the larder cupboard offers the feel of freestanding furniture while providing generous and tailored storage space.
Interior Features and Functional Storage
If positioned on a north-facing, external wall with an airbrick in the wall behind, air can be encouraged to flow into the cupboard via ventilation holes. Zinc mesh over the ventilation holes prevents insects from entering, while keeping food cool and fresh. A marble or slate shelf adds a natural stone detail and provides a cool surface for cheese and butter, while ‘U’-shaped shelving above offers easy visibility for jars and tins. Spice and bottle racks can be added to the inside of the doors to make efficient use of space. Baskets below the countertop can sit loose on shelves or be designed as pull-outs within a wooden frame, allowing air to circulate around fresh vegetables. Deep pull-out oak drawers provide generous, accessible storage for packets, boxes, and bottles. The interior is widely adaptable and can be designed to meet your household’s specific storage needs. Get in touch with our design team to discuss how we can incorporate a bespoke kitchen larder in your home.
Where the Larder Fits in Today’s Kitchen Story
A walk-in larder is frequently requested within design briefs, with interior designers and architects appreciating the benefits of a room dedicated to food storage. There is a huge pleasure and reassurance in opening the door or doors to a cupboard well stocked with neat rows of jars, an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables, baskets of fruits, ham, and cheeses. It is a space that particularly comes into its own for feasts such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and large family celebrations. With many interior options available to personalize storage, designing a larder is great fun and will stand the test of time. View our gallery for inspiration or get in touch to schedule a chat with one of our designers.
