Remember your mother’s pantry? It was tucked in a corner, beside the refrigerator or in a cramped closet space. The family’s dry goods were crammed together on deep shelves in no apparent order. If Mom wanted a can of chicken noodle soup, she’d have to search among the vegetables, beans and boxes of Hamburger Helper.

Today’s pantries are coming out of the closet. As homeowners design their dream kitchens, they want pantries with ample storage space and easy access to those soup cans. Pantries have become multitasking rooms, complete with countertops and sinks for preparing meals or dinner party appetizers. Extra appliances, like a spare microwave or dishwasher, might also find a home in the pantry.