Date:  2026-09-01 08:57:44  |   Story: Tiffany Adams  |   Photography: Rett Peek  |   Styling: Julia Glover  |  

A pantry renovation paired with professional organization leaves no gray area for clutter

When this Bentonville couple built their home in 2021, a roomy pantry with shelving that scaled the walls seemed ideal. “It was spacious, but only had the shelves and a rolling cart we had placed in the center,” the owner says of the area that adjoins their kitchen. Wanting it to reflect the style of the rest of their home and be more organized, they called longtime family friend Lauren Smothers who owns Restore the Home NWA.

As a professional organizer, Lauren had ideas for storage but was also able to see beyond the room’s obvious uses. She thought of ways they could renovate to make it an extension of their kitchen for party prep and beverage service as well as an attractive display space for cherished dinnerware. “I loved that Lauren caught our vision immediately,” the homeowner says. “My favorite conversations are when a client starts to dream about how a space can function best for them,” Lauren adds.

While Lauren drew the cabinetry sketches and worked alongside the contractor to make this particular update happen, her team frequently collaborates with interior designers and builders on new construction homes and renovations, bringing in their perspective to achieve the overall goal. “Often we are brought in at the end of a project or when someone realizes they need to prioritize organization, but it’s great when we can be there early on to support the function of a room, pantry, or closet,” she adds.

Working within the footprint, Lauren traded the wall-mounted shelving for built-in cabinetry and a quartz countertop that provides an area for prep work. A mix of concealed and glass-front doors along with a series of smaller open shelves provide opportunities to store dry goods, kitchenwares, and dishes while also providing a style upgrade. In terms of function, the addition of an icemaker, undercounter refrigerator, and a dedicated coffee bar area now mean the room can serve as a beverage station when the couple hosts friends and family.

Rather than a finishing layering, Lauren considered how the pantry’s contents would be stored from the start, meaning everything had a home when the renovation was complete. “We help clients purge items and then take an inventory of what is left to find a place for it,” she says of the process. “Our layouts are done with each client’s lifestyle in mind.”

“Organization was my weak link. This project helped me not only to get organized but also to stay that way.”
—homeowner

Clean and Clear
Behind cabinetry doors, acrylic canisters, turntables, and bins organize dry goods like crackers, cereal, and jam—giving everything a home that is easy to see and close at hand.

Work Space Found
Previously, a rolling cart was the only surface area in the space. To remedy this, base cabinets topped with Cambria’s “Blackbrook” quartz were added in the renovation, creating room for prepwork and serving.

Coffee Corral
The beverage station’s central drawer holds coffee and tea additives and lids for to-go cups along with serving spoons, all artfully organized in clear containers.

Grab and Go
Knowing the couple would need an accessible area to store snacks for their young grandchildren, Lauren opted for an open-front base cabinet that houses four baskets where chips and quick snacks are within reach for little hands. 

Design Resources
Contractor Derek Dewey, Chord Construction Drafting, design, and organization Lauren Smothers, Restore the Home NWA Accessories Restore the Home NWA Appliances Metro Appliances & More Cabinetry Chord Construction Countertops New Century Countertops