Home Remodeling Design Ideas for Custom Bars

A home bar is a great place to entertain family and friends from the comfort and safety of your own home. Customized bars continue to be a welcome gathering place in luxury homes throughout Washington, DC, but now with so many options you can truly make it your own. A home remodeling expert can help you to transform an ordinary space into an inviting entertaining area that complements your home, taste and lifestyle.

Where Everyone Knows Your Name

A classic pub-style bar is a common design direction that is not going anywhere any time soon. Envision a “Cheers” style bar, or a traditional Irish or British pub. A cozy wrap-around bar with pull-up seating, hand-crafted wood detailing, warm lighting and an inviting ambiance are common hallmarks of these bars. Hardware and fixtures with an oil-rubbed bronze finish, and stone elements such as an accent wall or backsplash, help to complete the look.

Contemporary Elegance

Another popular style for at-home bars is modern simplicity. Common elements are flat-slab contemporary-style cabinets, sleek granite countertops, and chrome or stainless steel fixtures and hardware. Modern bar stools feature lots of curvature and simplistic detailing, and both vertical and horizontal accent lighting work well with this style. For example, horizontal lighting underneath glass shelves is a great way to highlight an eclectic liquor collection or show off fancy barware.

A “Home” Run

There are many ways to create an authentic sports bar feel to your remodeled space. For starters, adding a large¬-screen TV is a great idea if you’re a sports fan, and one that will surely be a hit with your friends and relatives on game day. Also add a pool table, dart boards, arcade games and your other attractions for an entertaining environment the whole family can enjoy. And, for the cigar aficionados don’t forget to include a climate-controlled humidor to house your collection.

For the Wine Connoisseur

If you’re a wine enthusiast consider adding a wine cellar and tasting room to your home. Instead of having a traditional bar, wine-loving homeowners are opting to include an area specifically designed to explore their favorite varietals with their family and friends. If you have an extensive or particularly valuable wine collection, a properly designed wine cellar or wine room will allow you to protect it with a secure, climate-controlled environment. In addition, you might want to incorporate a mini-fridge and some storage for cheeses, fruit, crackers and palate cleansers to serve to your guests.

Ultimate Home Entertainment

Today, many bars are popping up in the back of state-of-the-art home theaters. Homeowners have discovered this is a great way to do double-duty with an otherwise single-purpose room. By adding a full-service bar with bar stools behind the last row of theater seating you can maximize space for additional viewers and create a fun, social atmosphere.

Make it Convenient

Who wants to leave in the middle of a party to run to the kitchen? More and more home bars are becoming mini-kitchens of sorts, with everything you need right at your fingertips. The convenience of having an all-inclusive bar with its own sink, microwave, mini-fridge, wine cooler, dishwasher, ice maker and other kitchen accessories, can make prep work, entertaining and clean-up a breeze for any party.

Custom Touches

There are countless ways you can personalize your bar, while complementing your own unique style. Adding your favorite sports team or beverage-of-choice logo to a mirror, hardwood floor, or painting is an easy way to customize the space and create a theme for your home bar. A frosted glass window or mural incorporating your name, i.e. “Johnson’s Bar,” or images of family and friends can also add a distinctive and highly personal touch. Another great option for customizing the space is adding built-in display cases to highlight your favorite collection, treasures collected from far reaches of the world or cherished photos of your family and friends. Whether you’re looking to create a space to complement your existing décor or a unique, themed escape, a skilled residential design team can help you to achieve just that. During a home renovation, including a custom bar that suits your interests and lifestyle will result in a space to relax, unwind and entertain, that’s all about you and your family.