One popular feature of custom homes is an eye-catching home bar where the homeowner can host friends and family for a fun and social evening! Home bars not only provide function, but also an opportunity to have fun with design!
When designing a home bar, we must first ensure it fits the home’s style. A bar can communicate many different feelings—a pub vibe, a bit of glam, industrial chic, midcentury modern, etc. The options are endless! The priority when designing a home bar is finding a balance between fun and functionality.
After determining a style, the next step is evaluating the design, layout, and how it fits into the house plans. The countertop is the bar’s centerpiece, and we must consider how we want that piece to look and function. The homeowner will need to decide if they wish the bar to be integrated or freestanding and what kind of cabinetry they need to fulfill their needs. The bar must also fit the home’s floor plan and style and be of appropriate size to fit in the floor plan. Above all, the bar must facilitate comfortable use for the homeowner and guests. How many guests the homeowner will want to be able to host will also need to be considered, as well as the functionality of having enough counter space for mixing drinks and serving these guests.
Storage is the next feature to consider when designing a home bar. Wine racks, cabinets or shelving for bottles and glasses, speed rails or bottle holders for liquors and mixers, and lighting to see the bar’s contents are all essential features to examine. A small refrigerator and an icemaker are also crucial features of a home bar to aid its functionality and need to be considered in terms of space and layout. The homeowner will also need to examine the tools and hardware they need to mix drinks. Will they need to keep blenders, shakers, strainers, or other accessories at the bar? If so, the number of tools will change the layout, the cabinetry needed for the home bar, and the availability of adequate outlets for powering specific tools like their blender.
Plumbing is another essential component that can take up unexpected space and change a bar’s layout. A sink is a crucial element of a home bar for its functionality, and you will need to consider where the plumbing will go when choosing the sink’s location in the bar’s layout. This can change the home bar’s orientation, size, and location and take up space that would otherwise have been used for storage.
Once we have determined the functional side of ensuring that the home bar will achieve the client’s goals, the fun part of designing the bar comes next! The most fun part for us is the aesthetic details. The countertop, whether it is granite, quartz, marble, or some other material, can change the feel and look of a bar. Designing the cabinet and backsplash space can give the bar an exciting character. Other areas where we can have fun with the design and character are choosing the artwork and lighting for the home bar area. When making selections for bar lighting, pick something functional that fits the home’s style, but have fun! Playful lighting gives the bar a relaxing feel and makes it a place where people love to spend time. Many home bars also incorporate entertainment systems. If listening to music or watching a sports game at their home bar is desired, a sound system or TV must be considered in the bar’s layout.
The specific features chosen will reflect the homeowner’s desire for the style and character of the home bar. We enjoy designing home bars because they allow us to have fun creating a functional and luxurious space!
