Design|Build

Home Bars to Enhance Your Lifestyle

Wine room by Elizabeth Scruggs and Lenneke Driskill of Superior Construction and Design (Photo courtesy Emily Green, Abode Photo Co)
Wine room by Elizabeth Scruggs and Lenneke Driskill of Superior Construction and Design
(Photo courtesy Emily Green, Abode Photo Co)

From the 1950s through the 1980s, it was common to have a home bar, previously referred to as a wet bar. It was both a status symbol and a sign of the times spurred by popular movies like “Goldfinger” with Sean Connery and “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” with Audrey Hepburn. Home bars are making a comeback due to a variety of factors, including cocooning after Sept. 11 and the coronavirus, driving laws, a marked increase in home entertaining and a newfound interest in mixology — in part, from the rise of professional bartenders to star status, perfecting the art of curated cocktails.

In the early stages of planning a home bar, there are many questions to ask yourself, such as: Why create a home bar? Where will it be built? What amenities are essential, and which are merely “nice to have?” What style or “look” is right for the project? Guidelines for answering these questions are provided below.

The ‘Why’

What is motivating homeowners to include home bars in their abodes? The reasons are many, but at the top of the list are their style of entertaining, frequency of entertaining, the cost of going out to bars and restaurants, the desire to stay home when imbibing and entertaining (and nothing says “I love or appreciate you” quite like a home-prepared meal and drinks). More recently, it facilitates a creative outlet for honing mixology skills.

Many amenities were included in this efficient, tucked-away bar by Natalia Pierce, CMKBD, of Detail By Design
Many amenities were included in this efficient, tucked-away bar by Natalia Pierce, CMKBD, of Detail By Design

The ‘Where’

From a tray or bar cart of your favorite spirts to the re-creation of the “Cheers” show bar, it’s important to start a home bar project by identifying where it makes the most sense to locate it. Common locations include a basement recreation room, dining room, living room, between the dining room and living room and as part of an outdoor entertaining area.

The choice of location should be based on how you entertain and your lifestyle. Infrequent imbibers with limited space would do well with a simple tray of spirits on an existing dining room credenza or with a furnituresque, armoire-style bar. Dedicated mixologists with ample space would likely prefer a build-out of either a single wall or wall with bar (island) seating to accommodate a fully stocked bar that suits their needs and lifestyle.

There are many options in between a liquor cart and a full bar. As with any project, the parameters will be guided by specific needs, desires and budget. Once the bar project budget and location are identified and the available space is measured, it’s time to take inventory of your needs and wants for the bar, along with the style.

Fully stocked “glam” bar with back wall and bartop island (wine cellar behind the bar back wall) by Ashleigh Schroeder of NEST Kitchen, Bath & Home Design LLC (Photo courtesy Suzy Gorman)
Fully stocked “glam” bar with back wall and bartop island (wine cellar behind the bar back wall) by Ashleigh Schroeder of NEST Kitchen, Bath & Home Design LLC (Photo courtesy Suzy Gorman)

The Style

Defining the style may be the hardest task to tackle with a bar project. Theme designs such as a speakeasy, sports bar, glam or others will dictate many of the amenities and finishes you choose. Similar to powder rooms, the bar’s style can generally go one of two ways: cohesive with the rest of the home or as a standalone statement piece.

The Amenities

For bars that are not comprised of a tray, cart or armoire, concealed storage, display “storage,” fixtures and finishes round out the design theme and functionality of the bar.

A one-wall bar with ice, refrigeration, sink and storage — Designer Sunita Ritesh with Mechkithh Designs (Photo courtesy Dallas Real Estate Photography)
A one-wall bar with ice, refrigeration, sink and storage — Designer Sunita Ritesh with Mechkithh Designs (Photo courtesy Dallas Real Estate Photography)

Concealed storage:

  • Wine and beverage refrigerators — recognize that beer and soft drinks are stored at a lower temperature than white wines and a significantly lower temperature than red wines. Be cognizant of the door swing on any refrigeration unit.
  • Undercounter refrigeration — these are a must for mixologists, providing refrigerated space for mixers, juices, garnishes and condiments as well as bottled and can beverages.
  • Kegerator — if you love beer, a kegerator is a wonderful addition to a home bar; just confirm in advance of purchase that consumption habits justify the space allocated to the kegerator.
  • Ice maker — this is a must-have in warm and particularly humid locales. However, the more important decision is whether it produces clear ice, which is best for spirits like whisky, bourbon and fine tequilas; or cubelet or pebble ice, which is good for blended drinks like margaritas and soft drinks.
  • An amenity-stocked, U-shaped bar with microwave, sink, storage, refrigeration, live-edge bartop and television by Janel Swanson of Wildwood Kitchens & Baths
    An amenity-stocked, U-shaped bar with microwave, sink, storage, refrigeration, live-edge bartop and television by Janel Swanson of Wildwood Kitchens & Baths

    Cabinetry drawers — you need these for storing bar tools such as jiggers, stainers, muddlers, juicers, zesters, liquor bottles, etc. Consider whether your cabinetry should have built-in magnetic or keyed locks.

  • Waste bin — don’t forget to allocate space for a trash receptacle.

Display storage:

  • Open shelves for liquor bottles and barware
  • Racks for wine
  • Décor items

Fixtures and accessories:

  • Sink and faucet — with or without an integrated drain board
  • Dishwasher — space-allowing, consider a “slim” model that has specific cycles for barware and wine glasses
  • Ice container or bucket
  • Condiment containers
  • Electrical outlets — for refrigerators, ice makers, blenders and other small appliances
  • Lighting — dimmable lighting and backlighting of the bar back wall or bartop and island helps set the mood
  • Cutting boards
Wine room by Elizabeth Scruggs and Lenneke Driskill of Superior Construction and Design (Photo courtesy Emily Green, Abode Photo Co)
Wine room by Elizabeth Scruggs and Lenneke Driskill of Superior Construction and Design (Photo courtesy Emily Green, Abode Photo Co)

Finishes and furnishings:

  • Cabinetry
  • Wall finishes — paint, paneling, wallpaper or backlit stone
  • Bartops and counters — live-edge wood, stainless steel, unique quarried stone, easy-maintenance quartz
  • Barstools — comfort is king, so stools with backs are best. Confirm the height of the bar countertop before purchasing stools; 24-inch stools are best for 36-inch-high countertops and 30-inch stools are best for 42-inch-high countertops.

Glassware:

Tasting and showcasing a cocktail or wine in the proper glass can render a more satisfying experience. Consider drink preferences before purchasing. A standard inventory of barware includes:

  • An all-purpose wine glass that does justice to both reds and whites — stemmed or stemless (if you have white carpeting, go for the stemless).
  • With a long and narrow bowl and a stem that is shorter than a typical wine glass, flutes are perfect for sparkling wines, sparking wines and spritzers.
  • Tall and narrow, highball glasses are well suited to gin and tonics, bloody Marys and screwdrivers (they also double as parfait glasses).
  • Taller with more volume than a highball, Collins glasses are best paired with beverages that have added carbonation, such as soft drinks and a Tom Collins.
  • Lowballs are perfect for whiskey, bourbon and scotch served neat or on the rocks.
  • Thermador T24UW925RS — dual temperature zone wine refrigerator
    Thermador T24UW925RS — dual temperature zone wine refrigerator

    Margarita glasses are typically broad rimmed with a stem to showcase the content of the glass.

  • Similar to margarita glasses, martini glasses are also broad rimmed — to provide the imbiber with the full aroma of the gin used in the martini drink — and short stemmed.
  • Beer schooners are a bowl-shaped glass typically used in Europe while ale glasses commonly used to serve beer in the United States are tall cylinder glasses, slightly flared at the top.

Spirits, Wine and Beer

What constitutes a well-stocked bar is purely a matter of preference and is heavily influenced by geography, ethnicity, age and more. For example, bourbon is a popular whisky in the southern region of the United States while tequila is generally more popular on the West Coast. Ultimately the stock of spirits, wine and beer will be based on space and preferences. Don’t forget the mixers and bitters.

Designing and building a home bar is not dissimilar to a kitchen or bathroom; there are just different needs and amenities to consider. A lot of details go into designing and building a home bar, therefore collaborating with experienced design and construction professionals can help streamline the process and ensure an optimum project outcome. Now raise your glass for a toast!