How to add stock up space and big pantries to your new home (without adding sq ft)

Customizing stock up space and big pantries starts with analyzing what you want to store – and the places you have to work with – in new custom homes in Chatham County, North Carolina.

Kitchens with big walk in pantries are high in “must haves.” Get clever when you go custom, with just-right spaces for everything you store, like these creative cubbies, shelves and racks in Travars Built Homes.


Custom built-ins

Chatham County Custom Homes | Kitchen Pantry

Every inch here was designed for a specific purpose. From pull out racks to built ins sized for each item to be placed there, this is what “totally custom” can look like, when you expand your kitchen into the walk in pantry.

Custom shelf height

Your NC custom home builder can use the measurements you give him to build custom shelving at the height you need, to accommodate everything from stock up Costco size packaging to cans and spices in your walk in pantry.

Custom shelf width and depth

Chatham County New Homes | Kitchen Pantry

Shelf width is another important consideration to talk through with your NC custom home builder. How many cans do you want to stack in a row? How big are the bags of rice or flour? How long are the cereal boxes?

Pantries with other built in storage nearby

Chatham County NC Custom Homes | Built In Storage

Avoid overstuffing your pantry or closets, by adding additional cubbies and storage spaces nearby. A drop zone only needs 12-18 inches of depth, and can be designed for whatever you want to put there.

Windows and lighting

Consider inset or spot lighting in addition to the usual ceiling fixture, to light up your closet or pantry. Choose between more shelves or a window to add natural light. Talk with your Chatham County new home builder about the impact on your home’s exterior.

Pantry location

Chatham County Custom Homes | Kitchen Pantry

How much pantry space do you need? A design build custom home builder in NC can create space for a bigger pantry (or second pantry) in a kitchen corner, hallway, mud room, breakfast room or under the stairway.

Secret pantries

Want special storage that’s even more tucked away? A custom design builder can add secret pantries and passageways to your floor plan during the early planning stages.

Butler’s pantry

A butlers pantry typically reflects the cabinetry and countertops of the kitchen, with a dedicated space all its own for items you want to easily access from eating and gathering areas, like this custom designed butlers pantry and wine bar.

Chatham County New Homes | Kitchen Wine Bar

Your design build custom home builder can work with you to create storage space for everything you want to have on hand in your new home.

Get started here:

Multi-gen, next gen, mother in law suite, au-pair/nanny quarters or small apartment

Here’s how to get it right, as you work with your NC custom home builder to design build personal space that provides independence for your new multi gen, next gen, mother-in-law suite, au-pair/nanny quarters or small apartment home within a home.

7 multi-gen must-know build factors to discuss with your NC design build custom home builder:

#1 Multi Gen must-know: Local Regulations

As you consider which lot to purchase for your new home, your real estate broker can guide you through local regulations, zoning and community covenants that define build mandates at that location. Talk to your builder about lot requirements for your multi gen new home.

#2 Multi Gen must-know: Access

A home within a home in NC must have a door leading into the primary home. It can also have a private door to the exterior, to add more privacy and independence. In this floor plan, a separate door leads to the exterior (past the kitchen and mudroom):

#3 Multi Gen must-know: Space

How much space do you want to devote to a multi gen suite? Private bedroom and bath? Personal living room? Kitchenette? Second laundry room? Travars Built Homes can add the additional living quarters you would like to nearly any floor plan. Get floor plan ideas here  and let us know what else you would like.

#4 Multi Gen must know: Shared kitchen requirements

While some multi-gen arrangements include a kitchenette in the home within a home, it’s more common to share kitchen space. Huge kitchen islands with room for several people to share work space are especially popular. This kitchen pantry includes a second sink, separate microwave, built in cabinets and storage, all separated by a door:

White and Black Farmhouse Kitchen | Mebane NC New Homes

#5 Multi Gen must-know: Preparedness

Your NC custom home builder can put features in place to prepare for future disabilities. Travars Built Homes has a certified expert in aging-in-place to talk with about design, materials, colors, lighting, accessibility, and anything else that can be built into your home to provide additional comfort.

#6 Multi Gen must know: Flex Space

Make sure to allow enough space in shared gathering areas for everyone to feel comfortable together. Lofts, bonus rooms, sun rooms, keeping rooms and libraries all offer great opportunities to spread out in common areas.

Home Office Built In Bookcases | Mebane NC New Homes

#7 Multi Gen must know: Garage space

Design build capabilities enable NC custom home builders like Travars Built Homes to add another bay to nearly any garage. Talk with your builder about the possibility of a carriage garage, if you prefer separate garage space.

Chapel Hill Modern Farmhouse

Get started here:

9 big kitchen island styles

Large kitchen islands are a great place for gatherings: Food. Hobbies. Homeschool. Projects. Here are 9 photos of popular NC 2021 home design trends to help choose your next kitchen island.



Kitchen Island Design Tip #1: Placement

This Chef’s Kitchen designed by Chatham County new home builder Travars Built Homes is designed to provide as much working space as possible, with a massive kitchen island, cabinetry and countertops.

Questions To Ask NC Home Builders

Kitchen Island Design Tip #2: Size

Island kitchen floor plans separate countertop space from the rest of the kitchen, to increase its potential to be used for a variety of purposes.

Modern Farmhouse Kitchen | Mebane NC New Homes

Kitchen Island Design Tip #3: Design

This kitchen island was designed to be noticed, with a look all its own as the focal point of the room. The ability to create the look you’d like is a great benefit of working with a creative team in design build custom homes.

Wendell North Carolina New Homes

Kitchen Island Design Tip #4: Style

Your sink choice can make a big difference in the appeal of your kitchen island. Apron sinks (also known as Farmhouse sinks) are especially popular in 2021 new home design trends.

Wendell North Carolina New Homes

Kitchen Island Design Tip #5: Lighting

The pendants you choose for your lighting are especially important over the island. They serve as a punctuation of your architectural style and highlight everything in your design build new home.

2021 home design trends

Kitchen Island Design Tip #6: Seating

Tuck under seating is the choice made most often for big kitchen islands in 2021 home design trends. The ability to place bar stools out of the way when not in use provides a feeling of functionality and great use of space.

2021 home design trends

Kitchen Island Design Tip #7: Purpose

This formal kitchen island exudes elegance in design build custom homes, with a furniture look that draws the living area further into the kitchen – an inviting look of luxury that increases importance.

Chapel Hill Modern Farmhouse | White Kitchen

Kitchen Island Design Tip #8: Color

This kitchen island blends beautifully into extended gathering areas with its muted tones that create a sense of comfortable informality. It’s one of the most requested styles in island kitchen floor plans.

Chatham County New Homes | Kitchen Open to Living Room

Kitchen Island Design Tip #9: Surface

The surface material you choose for your kitchen island can be just about anything in a design build custom home. Granite. Quartz. Marble. Tile. Wood. Recycled glass. Cement. There are a lot of possibilities to explore in 2021 home design trends.

2021 home design trends

Get started here:

White and Black Modern Farmhouse Bath | Mebane NC New Homes

9 Modern Farmhouse Features in 2021 New Homes

Modern Farmhouse architectural styles are a top request for 2021 new homes in NC.

Farmhouse style homes feel familiar and flexible – designed with simple lines, covered porches, gable roofs, dormers, and big kitchens with islands open to living spaces. See some of the most popular modern farmhouse features in the photos, below. Contact Travars Built Homes for farmhouse floor plans and pricing.

Modern farmhouse feature #1: White exteriors (with black window frames)

This countryside modern farmhouse illustrates the simplistic allure of classic black and white – with a pop of color for the front door that adds interest.

NC Custom Home Photo Tours

Modern farmhouse feature #2: Built in bookcases and custom storage spaces

When you create your new home with one of the best custom home builders in Chatham County, you can ask for built-ins like this wherever you want them. Built in bookcases, cubbies and storage spaces are another practical feature in modern farmhouses.

Chapel Hill Modern Farmhouse | Living Room Built Ins

Modern farmhouse feature #3: Board and Batten front exteriors with dormers

Board and batten is the top choice for exteriors on modern farmhouses. The classic lines you see here are framed by roof pitches and a dormer indicative of this popular architectural style.

Modern  farmhouse feature #4: Metal roof accents

Metal accents on modern farmhouse roofs like this add just a touch of texture, in a nod to historical structures. Popular locations for metal accents include the roof over the front porch, bump outs, and the roof over a back porch to give importance to outdoor living.

Chapel Hill Modern Farmhouse

Modern farmhouse feature #5: Porches

Big covered porches and big screen porches are indicative of the emphasis on outdoor living inherent to modern farmhouse lifestyles. Custom builders like Travars Built Homes include extra details that make these spaces even more enjoyable.

Modern farmhouse feature #6: Open kitchen and great room

Wide open spaces reminiscent of prairies and heartlands compel the main areas of modern farmhouses to feel spacious. Beams, lighting, hardwoods and multiple entrances inspire free-flow traffic and conversation.

Chatham County New Homes | Vaulted Living Room

Modern farmhouse feature #7: Big island

Large kitchen islands have become the mainstay of modern farmhouses. Ask your builder how to customize yours to include everything from a sink, tuck under seating, wine cooler, microwave, cabinetry or other special features. Most of all – endless uses for the huge surface from gatherings to cooking, crafts and projects.

Modern farmhouse feature #8: White cabinets

A white exterior is often replicated inside new modern farmhouses, with white cabinets throughout the home – contrasted by pairings with dark gray, espresso, or even blue islands.

Chapel Hill Modern Farmhouse | Hidden Pantry Cabinet

Modern farmhouse feature #9: Apron sink

Ceramic or stainless steel apron front sinks (also called farmhouse sinks) are considered to be a staple in modern farmhouse style homes. They typically are wide and deep, without a barrier in the middle. Like the picture below, they offer a seamless, smooth surface at the front, for easy cleanup.

Find more information about building a new modern farmhouse in North Carolina: