Small midcentury single-wall home bar in Austin with flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, marble benchtops, brick splashback, light hardwood floors and grey benchtop.

Custom wet bar
Design ideas for a large transitional galley seated home bar in Portland with open cabinets, blue cabinets, granite benchtops, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW For many, extra time at home during COVID left them wanting more from their homes. Whether you realized the shortcomings of your space or simply wanted to combat boredom, a well-designed and functional home was no longer a want, it became a need. Tina found herself wanting more from her Old Irving Park home and reached out to The Kitchen Studio about adding function to her kitchen to make the most of the available real estate. At the end of the day, there is nothing better than returning home to a bright and happy space you love. And this kitchen wasn’t that for Tina. Dark and dated, with a palette from the past and features that didn’t make the most of the available square footage, this remodel required vision and a fresh approach to the space. Lead designer, Stephanie Cole’s main design goal was better flow, while adding greater functionality with organized storage, accessible open shelving, and an overall sense of cohesion with the adjoining family room. The original kitchen featured a large pizza oven, which was rarely used, yet its footprint limited storage space. The nearby pantry had become a catch-all, lacking the organization needed in the home. The initial plan was to keep the pizza oven, but eventually Tina realized she preferred the design possibilities that came from removing this cumbersome feature, with the goal of adding function throughout the upgraded and elevated space. Eliminating the pantry added square footage and length to the kitchen for greater function and more storage. This redesigned space reflects how she lives and uses her home, as well as her love for entertaining. The kitchen features a classic, clean, and timeless palette. White cabinetry, with brass and bronze finishes, contrasts with rich wood flooring, and lets the large, deep blue island in Woodland’s custom color Harbor – a neutral, yet statement color – draw your eye. The kitchen was the main priority. In addition to updating and elevating this space, Tina wanted to maximize what her home had to offer. From moving the location of the patio door and eliminating a window to removing an existing closet in the mudroom and the cluttered pantry, the kitchen footprint grew. Once the floorplan was set, it was time to bring cohesion to her home, creating connection between the kitchen and surrounding spaces. The color palette carries into the mudroom, where we added beautiful new cabinetry, practical bench seating, and accessible hooks, perfect for guests and everyday living. The nearby bar continues the aesthetic, with stunning Carrara marble subway tile, hints of brass and bronze, and a design that further captures the vibe of the kitchen. Every home has its unique design challenges. But with a fresh perspective and a bit of creativity, there is always a way to give the client exactly what they want [and need]. In this particular kitchen, the existing soffits and high slanted ceilings added a layer of complexity to the lighting layout and upper perimeter cabinets. While a space needs to look good, it also needs to function well. This meant making the most of the height of the room and accounting for the varied ceiling features, while also giving Tina everything she wanted and more. Pendants and task lighting paired with an abundance of natural light amplify the bright aesthetic. The cabinetry layout and design compliments the soffits with subtle profile details that bring everything together. The tile selections add visual interest, drawing the eye to the focal area above the range. Glass-doored cabinets further customize the space and give the illusion of even more height within the room. While her family may be grown and out of the house, Tina was focused on adding function without sacrificing a stunning aesthetic and dreamy finishes that make the kitchen the gathering place of any home. It was time to love her kitchen again, and if you’re wondering what she loves most, it’s the niche with glass door cabinetry and open shelving for display paired with the marble mosaic backsplash over the range and complimenting hood. Each of these features is a stunning point of interest within the kitchen – both brag-worthy additions to a perimeter layout that previously felt limited and lacking. Whether your remodel is the result of special needs in your home or simply the excitement of focusing your energy on creating a fun new aesthetic, we are here for it. We love a good challenge because there is always a way to make a space better – adding function and beauty simultaneously.

Photo of a transitional single-wall wet bar in Boston with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, blue cabinets, white splashback, mosaic tile splashback, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and white benchtop.

Photo of a small single-wall wet bar in New York with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, mirror splashback, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and white benchtop.

Small country single-wall home bar in Austin with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, terra-cotta splashback, white benchtop, light hardwood floors and beige floor.

Cynthia Lynn
This is an example of a large transitional single-wall wet bar in Chicago with glass-front cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and white benchtop.

Butler Pantry and Bar Design by Dalton Carpet One Wellborn Cabinets- Cabinet Finish: Maple Bleu; Door Style: Sonoma; Countertops: Cherry Java; Floating Shelves: Deuley Designs; Floor Tile: Aplha Brick, Country Mix; Grout: Mapei Pewter; Backsplash: Metallix Collection Nickels Antique Copper; Grout: Mapei Chocolate; Paint: Benjamin Moore HC-77 Alexandria Beige Photo by: Dennis McDaniel

This is an example of a transitional home bar in Other with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, grey splashback and mirror splashback.

This home bar has glass shelving and a mirrored backsplash. The blue cabinetry adds a pop of color to the area and blends with the blue painted refrigerator.

The newly created dry bar sits in the previous kitchen space, which connects the original formal dining room with the addition that is home to the new kitchen. A great spot for entertaining.

This wet bar features Polo Blue cabinets and floating shelf from Grabill Cabinets. They are set off by a crisp, white countertop, metallic subway tile and antique gold bar pulls.

©Jeff Herr Photography, Inc.
Inspiration for a transitional single-wall home bar in Atlanta with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, wood benchtops, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and brown benchtop.

Basement Wet Bar Drafted and Designed by Fluidesign Studio
Photo of a mid-sized traditional galley seated home bar in Minneapolis with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, white splashback, subway tile splashback, an undermount sink, brown floor and white benchtop.

Inspiration for a transitional single-wall wet bar in New York with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, grey splashback, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and white benchtop.

This is an example of a transitional single-wall wet bar in Houston with light hardwood floors, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, mirror splashback and black benchtop.

Photo of a small traditional single-wall home bar in Charlotte with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, blue splashback, subway tile splashback, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and white benchtop.

Michael Alan Kaskel
Design ideas for a contemporary single-wall home bar in Chicago with no sink, flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, wood benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, dark hardwood floors and brown benchtop.

This house was built in 1994 and our clients have been there since day one. They wanted a complete refresh in their kitchen and living areas and a few other changes here and there; now that the kids were all off to college! They wanted to replace some things, redesign some things and just repaint others. They didn’t like the heavy textured walls, so those were sanded down, re-textured and painted throughout all of the remodeled areas. The kitchen change was the most dramatic by painting the original cabinets a beautiful bluish-gray color; which is Benjamin Moore Gentleman’s Gray. The ends and cook side of the island are painted SW Reflection but on the front is a gorgeous Merola “Arte’ white accent tile. Two Island Pendant Lights ‘Aideen 8-light Geometric Pendant’ in a bronze gold finish hung above the island. White Carrara Quartz countertops were installed below the Viviano Marmo Dolomite Arabesque Honed Marble Mosaic tile backsplash. Our clients wanted to be able to watch TV from the kitchen as well as from the family room but since the door to the powder bath was on the wall of breakfast area (no to mention opening up into the room), it took up good wall space. Our designers rearranged the powder bath, moving the door into the laundry room and closing off the laundry room with a pocket door, so they can now hang their TV/artwork on the wall facing the kitchen, as well as another one in the family room! We squared off the arch in the doorway between the kitchen and bar/pantry area, giving them a more updated look. The bar was also painted the same blue as the kitchen but a cool Moondrop Water Jet Cut Glass Mosaic tile was installed on the backsplash, which added a beautiful accent! All kitchen cabinet hardware is ‘Amerock’ in a champagne finish. In the family room, we redesigned the cabinets to the right of the fireplace to match the other side. The homeowners had invested in two new TV’s that would hang on the wall and display artwork when not in use, so the TV cabinet wasn’t needed. The cabinets were painted a crisp white which made all of their decor really stand out. The fireplace in the family room was originally red brick with a hearth for seating. The brick was removed and the hearth was lowered to the floor and replaced with E-Stone White 12x24” tile and the fireplace surround is tiled with Heirloom Pewter 6x6” tile. The formal living room used to be closed off on one side of the fireplace, which was a desk area in the kitchen. The homeowners felt that it was an eye sore and it was unnecessary, so we removed that wall, opening up both sides of the fireplace into the formal living room. Pietra Tiles Aria Crystals Beach Sand tiles were installed on the kitchen side of the fireplace and the hearth was leveled with the floor and tiled with E-Stone White 12x24” tile. The laundry room was redesigned, adding the powder bath door but also creating more storage space. Waypoint flat front maple cabinets in painted linen were installed above the appliances, with Top Knobs “Hopewell” polished chrome pulls. Elements Carrara Quartz countertops were installed above the appliances, creating that added space. 3x6” white ceramic subway tile was used as the backsplash, creating a clean and crisp laundry room! The same tile on the hearths of both fireplaces (E-Stone White 12x24”) was installed on the floor. The powder bath was painted and 12x36” Ash Fiber Ceramic tile was installed vertically on the wall behind the sink. All hardware was updated with the Signature Hardware “Ultra”Collection and Shades of Light “Sleekly Modern” new vanity lights were installed. All new wood flooring was installed throughout all of the remodeled rooms making all of the rooms seamlessly flow into each other. The homeowners love their updated home! Design/Remodel by Hatfield Builders & Remodelers | Photography by Versatile Imaging