Your Home Bar–Determining your Design Elements

What Factors Did the Chief Blonde consider

when Designing  her Home Bar?

When my Husband and I were designing our Home Bar we looked at a ton of Home Bars to determine what Design Elements we wanted to incorporate into our own.  Here’s a comprehensive list  of the features we considered when determining the final design so you can use them when you design your home bar:

1.)  Bar Configuration:

• Stand Alone
• Bar and Kitchen
• Hide-a-bar
• Kitchen with a bar cupboard

Decision:  We determined that a Kitchen with a locked bar cupboard would be our best design at the time as we had 4 teenagers at home.

2) Counter Surface:

• Granite
• Polished Wood
• Concrete
• Stainless Steel

Decision: We opted for Granite due to its durability, wipeability, and added value in terms of resale

3.  Size

• Seating for 4–single bar counter
• Seating for 6– U-shaped bar counter
• Seating for 8+–square bar with seating all around

Decision: We opted for a U-shaped bar with Seating for 7

4.  Bar Material and Stain:

• Wood was pretty much our only consideration for bar material, but what kind of wood and what Stain?

Decision: We opted for Oak as we had found some huge paneled oak school doors that we were able to re-purpose for the sides of the bar.  We decided on a rich deep mahogany stain to add that extra clubby feel.

5.  Function:

• Wine Bar
• Buffet Area
• Kitchen Area
• Bar

Decision:  We determined our Home Bar would basically function as a dual Buffet and Kitchen Area, essentially it’s purpose would be a place for gathering and having parties.  In the upstairs of our home, we already had a wine cart, so we didn’t need wine storage.  In the end with four teenagers, we decided that NO alcohol, even in a locked cabinet,would be housed in the lower level where the bar was to be built.

6. Seating

• Metal
• Wood
• Padded Seats
• Stools
• Chairs
• Stationary
• Swivel

Decision: We decided on metal bar chairs with padded seats that swivel.  We carefully choose ones that would not scratch the floor or topple over on small children.

7.  Look

• English Pub
• 50s diner
• Modern
• Traditional

Decision:  We ended up with a modified English Pub design, I like to call the look Early Chicago with woods stained a reddish color, lots of paneling and wonderful trim details!

My Husband built our Home Bar from the ground up!  Didn’t it turn out great?

Blog Note: