My current house is the first house I’ve owned that actually has a space for a bar area! So as soon as we moved in, I started thinking of how to turn the outdated nook (it has smoked glass-enough said) into a fabulous bar area that the whole family could use. We aren’t big drinkers, but I love my merlot, and my hubby creates a new “house” drink for us every summer! (Last summer was “The Buck”, as an ode to all of the deer prancing through our backyard). Plus we have three kiddos, so I’m thinking it also needs to work with juice boxes and supplies for kiddie cocktails.
And you can stay totally G Rated and turn it into a coffee bar area. Or, I had a client once who turned the whole area into a “Kid’s Only” space- she filled it up with her kiddo’s snacks and drink boxes to keep the after school snacking out of her main kitchen while she was cooking. BRILLIANT.
So while our house has a pre-formed spot for our bar, I have had many clients desire to create one in their house. So here is my round-up of 8 beautiful bars, and they all fit into one of these categories:
Small Space where no plumbing or electrical is available
A nook for a small bar with fixtures
A mobile bar
A full fledged bar area-think a man cave or basement
But before we get to these drink worthy gems, here is a BYOB “Build Your Own Bar” that I created back for St. Patrick’s Day this year. It is a super simple DIY project, that is totally mobile, and starts at just $1 ! For all of the sources and the full article check it out HERE!
ONE. Here is an amazing bar that can fit in a small space, where you don’t have any electrical or plumbing. This is a great option because no remodeling is needed, and in this case they didn’t even use cabinetry. They took a modern console and open shelves to create this modern looking beauty. I love those industrial stools they paired up with it. It looks like they placed it right by the door to the patio-a great tip if you entertain outdoors!
TWO: I love this eye-catcher because he placed the bar in a totally unexpected spot-who would have thought to put a bar right in front of a pair of windows? But this ultra rustic-ultra simple bar does the trick. Again-no fancy cabinetry needed. This is in a cabin home, so I love the casualness of it-just placing bottles on the floor, why not?!
THREE: And if you are REALLY tight on space, try a bar cart! This one is doubling up as a side table as well, with the bar on the lower shelf. This would work beautifully for a party-just roll it around to all of your guests! Or place it strategically to create a better flow. Pretty and practical.
FOUR: So if you are lucky enough to have a nook in your house or in your kitchen, here is a simple bar idea. All you need is an outlet for the beverage fridge, and one simple cabinet: and she created a gorgeous, functional bar! I love the triple galvanized tray that she used for mugs for her coffee bar. And how charming is that sign?
FIVE: But maybe you are one of the REALLY lucky ones that has a whole room (or level!) to add in a bar. Now you can go wild! Think a mini kitchen now people, one where your house is THE house to be. I think any of these would do the trick. This basement bar makes good use of the rustic features of distressed wood and brick to give an industrial vibe to it. I love those simple vertical shelves in the back-if you are DIY handy, that would save a bundle over custom cabinetry.
SIX: I’m seeing a theme here with these open shelves! They are super trendy right now, and if you are even the tiniest bit handy, installing a couple of these beauties gets you ready to go! I’m loving the pop of red in those cage pendants. A stainless steel top is an ideal solution for a bar area…
SEVEN: And I have to not let my design envy take over here: just take a look at this gorgeous space! I don’t think I would ever leave if this was my bar area (your guests may not either!). That wine barrel sink is a focal point that no one will ever forget. While this may or may not be in your budget, you can take the elements from it: a unique sink, stone backsplash, and wood-and-metal trim, to update your bar area.
EIGHT: As a mom of three, this might be my favorite one though! As I mentioned earlier, any kid would love their own super special area just for their snacks and treats. How fun would this be for movie night? You could keep healthy snacks and drinks in this area for them to help themselves, without the constant “There is nothing to eat in this house!” ringing in your ears…
There you go, whether you have 36″ or an entire room, you can add a bar area into your home! If you need more help to create your dream bar (or any room in your home!), send me an email at kristin@postboxdesigns.com and we can chat! Right now for the month of May, I have a super secret special that I’m running JUST for my subscribers…if you are thinking of ordering a Postbox, NOW would be the time to sign up for my emails HERE and get the best deal I’ve ever offered!!
Leave a Reply