PIPs: could we fit a pantry here? is it worth trying it?

[Susie]

I am forever trying to figure out how to get more storage and counter space in our kitchen.  We have lots of cabinets, but a lot of them are not very useful (because they're stuffed in corners, badly laid out, etc.).

Anyway, I was just flipping through RE listing photos of a house down the street from ours that just went up for sale.  It's the same style as ours.  And I spied what looks like a tiny pantry door!:



That counter top is the same one as to the right of our fridge:



Do you think it would be worth some moderately destructive testing to see if we could do that too?  There isn't really anywhere else to put a pantry, and having one would be wonderful.  I had always assumed that column of dead wall space was duct work, but both their house (per the listing) and ours have natural gas forced air heat, so it stands to reason it's probably laid out in similar fashion. 

I really hope they have an open house so I can go investigate further   (Is that weird?)

[prazenjc]

how good are you at small drywall patch jobs? you will need to explore that space to make sure it isn't full of ductwork, pipes, etc.

otherwise, I would definitely bust it open and make it into even small pantry space. pull out drawers can make a space like that VERY functional and helpful, even if isn't huge.

[sjh722]

I'm not sure how to tell (if you have a basement can you see how the ducts run?), but I hope it's dead wall space. That would be great! I would love a pantry too. Some things just don't fit well in cabinets.

[emjacobs]

I'm sure you are handy enough to handle small patch work, bust a hole in that bad boy and see what is in there.

[bunnies]

I would definitely want to see what's in there! My dad and I busted through a wall in my condo looking for an original door frame - we found it! I knew it should be there because it was on the original floor plan.

[downtoearth]

Even if it is a conduit for HVAC or plumbing, I bet you could add a row of shelves that would fit canned goods and such.

If you're handy, but have some of the matching kitchen paint just in case you need to patch, I'd just give it a try.

[pitterwoo]

Dec 31, 2013 13:34:15 GMT -5 downtoearth said:

Even if it is a conduit for HVAC or plumbing, I bet you could add a row of shelves that would fit canned goods and such.

Yes, this is what I was thinking too. That's a lot of space for some ducting. I bet you have some room to work with.

[Susie]

Sweet. We definitely have some cream paint left, and I feel relatively competent to patch a hole.