Inspiration for a contemporary home bar in Melbourne.

Transitional home bar in Sacramento.

Modern Bar
This is an example of a country home bar in Austin.

When my client had to move from her company office to work at home, she set up in the dining room. Despite her best efforts, this was not the long-term solution she was looking for. My client realized she needed a dedicated space not on the main floor of the home. On one hand, having your office space right next to the kitchen is handy. On the other hand, it made separating work and home life was not that easy. The house was a ranch. In essence, the basement would run entire length of the home. As we came down the steps, we entered a time capsule. The house was built in the 1950’s. The walls were covered with original knotty pine paneling. There was a wood burning fireplace and considering this was a basement, high ceilings. In addition, there was everything her family could not store at their own homes. As we wound though the space, I though “wow this has potential”, Eventually, after walking through the laundry room we came to a small nicely lit room. This would be the office. My client looked at me and asked what I thought. Undoubtedly, I said, this can be a great workspace, but do you really want to walk through this basement and laundry to get here? Without reservation, my client said where do we start? Once the design was in place, we started the renovation. The knotty pine paneling had to go. Specifically, to add some insulation and control the dampness and humidity. The laundry room wall was relocated to create a hallway to the office. At the far end of the room, we designated a workout zone. Weights, mats, exercise bike and television are at the ready for morning or afternoon workouts. The space can be concealed by a folding screen for party time. Doors to an old closet under the stairs were relocated to the workout area for hidden storage. Now we had nice wall for a beautiful console and mirror for storage and serving during parties. In order to add architectural details, we covered the old ugly support columns with simple recessed millwork panels. This detail created a visual division between the bar area and the seating area in front of the fireplace. The old red brick on the fireplace surround was replaced with stack stone. A mantle was made from reclaimed wood. Additional reclaimed wood floating shelves left and right of the fireplace provides decorative display while maintaining a rustic element balancing the copper end table and leather swivel rocker. We found an amazing rug which tied all of the colors together further defining the gathering space. Russet and burnt orange became the accent color unifying each space. With a bit of whimsy, a rather unusual light fixture which looks like roots from a tree growing through the ceiling is a conversation piece. The office space is quite and removed from the main part of the basement. There is a desk large enough for multiple screens, a small bookcase holding office supplies and a comfortable chair for conference calls. Because working from home requires many online meetings, we added a shiplap wall painted in Hale Navy to contrast with the orange fabric on the chair. We finished the décor with a painting from my client’s father. This is the background online visitors will see. The last and best part of the renovation is the beautiful bar. My client is an avid collector of wine. She already had the EuroCave refrigerator, so I incorporated it into the design. The cabinets are painted Temptation Grey from Benjamin Moore. The counter tops are my favorite hard working quartzite Brown Fantasy. The backsplash is a combination of rustic wood and old tin ceiling like porcelain tiles. Together with the textures of the reclaimed wood and hide poofs balanced against the smooth finish of the cabinets, we created a comfortable luxury for relaxing. There is ample storage for bottles, cans, glasses, and anything else you can think of for a great party. In addition to the wine storage, we incorporated a beverage refrigerator, an ice maker, and a sink. Floating shelves with integrated lighting illuminate the back bar. The raised height of the front bar provides the perfect wine tasting and paring spot. I especially love the pendant lights which look like wine glasses. Finally, I selected carpet for the stairs and office. It is perfect for noise reduction. Meanwhile for the overall flooring, I specifically selected a high-performance vinyl plank floor. We often use this product as it is perfect to install on a concrete floor. It is soft to walk on, easy to clean and does not reduce the overall height of the space.

This is an example of a contemporary home bar in Austin.

A wet bar pretty enough to be on display. Photography by Danny Piassick. House design by Charles Isreal.
Photo of a traditional single-wall wet bar in Dallas with dark hardwood floors, an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, grey splashback, matchstick tile splashback, brown floor and white benchtop.

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional home bar in New York with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, marble splashback, light hardwood floors, beige floor and white benchtop.

Country home bar in Other.

Custom designed basement bar with bespoke counter, shelving and lighting
Inspiration for a contemporary home bar in London.

Custom bar area that opens to outdoor living area, includes natural wood details
Design ideas for a large country seated home bar in Other with an undermount sink, brown floor, glass-front cabinets, brown cabinets, metal splashback, dark hardwood floors and white benchtop.

Contemporary home bar in San Diego.

Middlefork was retained to update and revitalize this North Shore home to a family of six. The primary goal of this project was to update and expand the home's small, eat-in kitchen. The existing space was gutted and a 1,500-square-foot addition was built to house a gourmet kitchen, connected breakfast room, fireside seating, butler's pantry, and a small office. The family desired nice, timeless spaces that were also durable and family-friendly. As such, great consideration was given to the interior finishes. The 10' kitchen island, for instance, is a solid slab of white velvet quartzite, selected for its ability to withstand mustard, ketchup and finger-paint. There are shorter, walnut extensions off either end of the island that support the children's involvement in meal preparation and crafts. Low-maintenance Atlantic Blue Stone was selected for the perimeter counters. The scope of this phase grew to include re-trimming the front façade and entry to emphasize the Georgian detailing of the home. In addition, the balance of the first floor was gutted; existing plumbing and electrical systems were updated; all windows were replaced; two powder rooms were updated; a low-voltage distribution system for HDTV and audio was added; and, the interior of the home was re-trimmed. Two new patios were also added, providing outdoor areas for entertaining, dining and cooking. Tom Harris, Hedrich Blessing

This is an example of an expansive contemporary u-shaped seated home bar in Denver with carpet, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, an undermount sink, beige floor and black benchtop.

Unfinishes lower level gets an amazing face lift to a Prairie style inspired meca Photos by Stuart Lorenz Photograpghy
Photo of a mid-sized arts and crafts u-shaped seated home bar in Minneapolis with ceramic floors, glass-front cabinets, medium wood cabinets, wood benchtops, multi-coloured floor and brown benchtop.

Inspiration for a transitional home bar in Minneapolis.

The once heavy, formal feel gave way to light wood tones and airy design. And that glass cabinet you see? It’s a refinished treasure from the original dining room, now beautifully repurposed in the kitchen.

This is an example of a beach style home bar in San Diego with shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, limestone benchtops, grey splashback, stone tile splashback and grey benchtop.

This is an example of a beach style home bar in Other.

A rustic, timeless mountain home bar lounge with an Austin twist.
Country galley home bar in Denver with recessed-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, wood benchtops, red splashback and brown benchtop.