Pocket Door Larders
There are many design elements to include in your handmade kitchen, but how about a larder? The larder has gained popularity in recent years and many homeowners are putting these at the top of their kitchen wish lists. They add extra storage to the kitchen, creating a breakfast or day pantry. Open-plan living and kitchen areas continue to be as popular as ever when it comes to home improvements. The evolution of the pocket door is a brilliant solution for creating a clean, uncluttered kitchen design, because the kitchen's functionality can be hidden behind closed doors when it is not in use. Our service at Handmade Kitchen Company is truly bespoke, from the design through to the manufacturing of the client's kitchen and furniture. Our designs allow you to be as individual as you like, to suit your personality as well as the needs of the home.
Pocket Door Larders at a Glance
A pocket door larder is a tall storage unit whose doors open outwards and then slide back into a concealed cavity beside the shelves, rather than staying proud of the cabinetry. That means the larder can be left open while you use it without the doors blocking access to anything either side, which is exactly why they suit open-plan kitchens and busy family routines. Each door moves independently, the full depth of every shelf stays within reach, and because they are made to order you choose the shelf heights, whether to include drawers, a wine rack, power sockets or a quartz worktop inside. At Handmade Kitchen Company we design and hand-build pocket door larders to fit the space, including awkward corners.
First of all, what is a pocket door?
You might ask what a pocket door actually is. A pocket door opens outwards like a normal door, but then glides backwards to be concealed within a pocket beside the unit. They are excellent space-savers and can be used to conceal all sorts of areas in a kitchen, from workspaces to pantries.
The advantages
There are many advantages to a pocket door larder design.
- Each of the pocket doors swings open individually without colliding, then slides into the concealed cavity within the cabinet housing.
- The pocket door system offers a wide opening, which means you can easily reach the rearmost part of every shelf.
- Either door can be left open, or both, for anything from preparing food and entertaining to breakfast time or all day. It is up to you.
- Because it is truly bespoke, you decide how many shelves you want, whether to include drawers, a wine rack, power outlets and a quartz worktop.
Examples of our pocket door larders
A great example is the larder we created in
. There was wasted space in the corner, so the team designed an easy-access, full-height larder with pocket doors: a neat solution to an awkward situation. This was for a family who love to entertain and have a busy daily schedule, so what they needed was a breakfast and day pantry that every family member could reach instantly at different points in the day, filled with the kitchen essentials and everything needed to start the morning. In this multi-functional space in
, the pocket doors were necessary so that our clients could have a pantry that stayed open for extended periods while they used the kitchen. They do not impede the use of the space, and they bring the added benefit of creating additional worktop within the pantry itself. The microwave, air fryer and coffee machine are kept out of sight yet remain easily accessible, and because the unit is completely bespoke, the shelves are set at different heights so each item fits. Pocket doors are being designed into more homes in recent times thanks to their clean, uncluttered look. Pantries are becoming a common fixture in the open-plan kitchen, and our client in
wanted one too. The pocket door system in this layout allows unimpeded access to the bank of appliances on one side and the cabinet on the other. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVquBTwEJ1k
Pocket Door Larder FAQs
What is a pocket door larder?
It is a tall larder unit whose doors open outwards and then slide back into a concealed cavity beside the shelving, rather than remaining proud of the cabinetry. That lets you leave the larder open while you use it without the doors obstructing anything either side.
How does a pocket door work on a kitchen larder?
The door opens outwards like a conventional door, then glides backwards on runners into a pocket built into the side of the unit. Each door operates independently, so they never collide, and the full width of the opening stays clear.
What is the difference between a pocket door larder and a bi-fold larder?
A bi-fold door folds back on itself and still sits in front of the cabinetry, so it can obstruct adjacent units or worktop when open. A pocket door disappears into the side of the larder entirely, which is why it suits a run where you need access to the cupboards or appliances immediately either side.
Are pocket door larders good for small kitchens?
They work particularly well where space is tight, because the doors never swing into the room or block a neighbouring cupboard. They are also a good way to use an awkward corner, as at our Hadley Wood project where the larder was built into space that would otherwise have been wasted.
What can you put inside a pocket door larder?
Because it is made to order, you choose. Common features include shelves set at different heights for specific items, pull-out drawers, an internal worktop for a coffee machine or air fryer, power sockets, and a wine rack. Keeping small appliances inside is one of the most popular reasons for having one.
Where does Handmade Kitchen Company build pocket door larders?
We design, hand-build and hand-paint bespoke larders and pantries from our workshop in Essex, for clients across Essex, Hertfordshire and North London.
More larder and pantry ideas
- Our bespoke pull-out larder, with five solid drawers that open individually
- The handmade breakfast pantry and the day pantry
- Walk-in pantry ideas from eight bespoke projects
- Walk-in or cupboard? Choosing the pantry format
- A bespoke corner larder with pocket doors
If you have any questions about a pocket door larder and would like to add one to your design, get in touch with us today. We would love to hear from you.
