In the Design Studio: Think Outside the Bar

This is a sponsored post by Anna Gibson, owner of AKG Design Studio and an award-winning, certified kitchen and bathroom designer. AKG Design Studio is a boutique design firm specializing in kitchen, bathroom designs and cabinetry sales. Contact her at 571-989-2541 or [email protected], and follow her work on Houzz; Pinterest; Facebook; and Twitter.

As our spaces and technology evolve, so do the spaces in our homes. Many home owners are asking for bar areas in the house. From a relaxing coffee spot to a full-on bar service area, if you are remodeling your home, a bar area is a must. Those spaces can be part of the kitchen or in a different part of the house, based on your space or who you are planning to host. Some bars can be extravagant and space-consuming, but this is not a must. You can create the perfect spot just about anywhere following your own personal style and needs.

Types of bars

Wet bar — In most cases, this will be in the basement with the appliances such as a bar fridge, a wine cooler, a sink and even a dishwasher. Those types of bars definitely need some planning and space.

Coffee bar — Not much into alcohol or looking to create a relaxing spot? Many home owners are adding a coffee station in the master bedroom and in the kitchen. Some will add a cabinet where the coffee machine can hide while not in service, and some will create an creative display.

Built-in bar areas in the kitchen — While renovating, many home owners add a wine cooler and wine storage to the main kitchen, allowing them to entertain while still staying the center area of the house.

Bar sheds — Move over man cave, the bar sheds are taking over! Have an old rusty shed with too much stuff that no one needs? Convert it into a bar! It’s a great spot to entertain outdoors and bring the party outside.

Mobile bar — Don’t have the room for a full-on bar? How about a nice bar cart? This is an easy and inexpensive way to showcase your spirits, and it can be moved around to where the party is.

Here are some bar ideas:

Arlington keg

While renovating this Arlington main floor, the home owner, who is a beer lover, requested a space for a keg. By moving the fridge to the new location, we were able to accommodate a perfect spot between the kitchen and the family room. This created a great spot connecting the rooms, bringing the party into the space between the family room and kitchen.

The classic basement bar

This project is the classic wet bar located in the basement. This bar has a sink and wine cooler. The raised seating area creates a sense of a real bar and has great space to sit or stand conveniently around it. It’s important to create storage space for all your bar needs, and some open space to display your collection of stemware and spirits.

The secret master indulgence

As we mentioned before, many customers are adding a coffee bar to the master bedroom. You can create a built-in space or just use some unique and enclosed space such as this one. Convert an old armoire to a full-service coffee spot without seeing it all the time.

Whichever bar works best for your lifestyle and budget, make sure you have plenty of comfy seating space around it, so your guests can kick back and watch your bar skills in action.

Do you have any plans to create or renovate your home bar? Tell us in the comments below!