Photo of a large arts and crafts single-wall seated home bar in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, distressed cabinets, granite benchtops, white splashback, matchstick tile splashback, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and white benchtop.

Inspiration for a mid-sized eclectic single-wall wet bar in Dallas with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, black cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Karen and Chad of Tower Lakes, IL were tired of their unfinished basement functioning as nothing more than a storage area and depressing gym. They wanted to increase the livable square footage of their home with a cohesive finished basement design, while incorporating space for the kids and adults to hang out. “We wanted to make sure that upon renovating the basement, that we can have a place where we can spend time and watch movies, but also entertain and showcase the wine collection that we have,” Karen said. After a long search comparing many different remodeling companies, Karen and Chad found Advance Design Studio. They were drawn towards the unique “Common Sense Remodeling” process that simplifies the renovation experience into predictable steps focused on customer satisfaction. “There are so many other design/build companies, who may not have transparency, or a focused process in mind and I think that is what separated Advance Design Studio from the rest,” Karen said. Karen loved how designer Claudia Pop was able to take very high-level concepts, “non-negotiable items” and implement them in the initial 3D drawings. Claudia and Project Manager DJ Yurik kept the couple in constant communication through the project. “Claudia was very receptive to the ideas we had, but she was also very good at infusing her own points and thoughts, she was very responsive, and we had an open line of communication,” Karen said. A very important part of the basement renovation for the couple was the home gym and sauna. The “high-end hotel” look and feel of the openly blended work out area is both highly functional and beautiful to look at. The home sauna gives them a place to relax after a long day of work or a tough workout. “The gym was a very important feature for us,” Karen said. “And I think (Advance Design) did a very great job in not only making the gym a functional area, but also an aesthetic point in our basement”. An extremely unique wow-factor in this basement is the walk in glass wine cellar that elegantly displays Karen and Chad’s extensive wine collection. Immediate access to the stunning wet bar accompanies the wine cellar to make this basement a popular spot for friends and family. The custom-built wine bar brings together two natural elements; Calacatta Vicenza Quartz and thick distressed Black Walnut. Sophisticated yet warm Graphite Dura Supreme cabinetry provides contrast to the soft beige walls and the Calacatta Gold backsplash. An undermount sink across from the bar in a matching Calacatta Vicenza Quartz countertop adds functionality and convenience to the bar, while identical distressed walnut floating shelves add an interesting design element and increased storage. Rich true brown Rustic Oak hardwood floors soften and warm the space drawing all the areas together. Across from the bar is a comfortable living area perfect for the family to sit down at a watch a movie. A full bath completes this finished basement with a spacious walk-in shower, Cocoa Brown Dura Supreme vanity with Calacatta Vicenza Quartz countertop, a crisp white sink and a stainless-steel Voss faucet. Advance Design’s Common Sense process gives clients the opportunity to walk through the basement renovation process one step at a time, in a completely predictable and controlled environment. “Everything was designed and built exactly how we envisioned it, and we are really enjoying it to it’s full potential,” Karen said. Constantly striving for customer satisfaction, Advance Design’s success is heavily reliant upon happy clients referring their friends and family. “We definitely will and have recommended Advance Design Studio to friends who are looking to embark on a remodeling project small or large,” Karen exclaimed at the completion of her project.

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional single-wall wet bar in New York with no sink, glass-front cabinets, grey cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback and ceramic splashback.

Jim Bartsch Photography
Mediterranean seated home bar in Santa Barbara with beige splashback, ceramic splashback, terra-cotta floors and open cabinets.

New Orleans style bistro bar perfect for entertaining
Traditional u-shaped seated home bar in Chicago with a drop-in sink, open cabinets, dark wood cabinets, white splashback, ceramic splashback, ceramic floors and multi-coloured floor.

Inspiration for a small transitional single-wall wet bar in New York with grey cabinets, granite benchtops, white splashback, light hardwood floors, no sink, beaded inset cabinets and ceramic splashback.

Home was built by Old Town Design Group. We pre-wired this whole home. After the home was finished, we mounted this TV above the bar area.
Photo of a mid-sized modern l-shaped seated home bar in Indianapolis with a drop-in sink, glass-front cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, ceramic splashback and ceramic floors.

We turned the old butlers pantry into a small bar between the kitchen and formal dining room. Using the same gray cabinets that we used on island tied the rooms together.

This is an example of a mid-sized traditional u-shaped wet bar in New York with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, granite benchtops, beige splashback, ceramic splashback and dark hardwood floors.

Studio 1826
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary single-wall wet bar in Calgary with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, black cabinets, quartzite benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, matchstick tile splashback, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

This is an example of a mid-sized traditional u-shaped wet bar in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, ceramic splashback, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and black benchtop.

Lower level wet bar.
Inspiration for a mid-sized beach style single-wall wet bar in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, light hardwood floors and white benchtop.

This is an example of a small modern single-wall home bar in Austin with blue cabinets, soapstone benchtops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback and grey benchtop.

This is an example of a small transitional single-wall wet bar in Orlando with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, black cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Design ideas for a large transitional l-shaped wet bar in Raleigh with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, wood benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, ceramic splashback, light hardwood floors, beige floor and brown benchtop.

Interior architectural photography of urban, modern residential duplex interior pantry just off of kitchen and living room. Photography by D'Arcy Leck Photography

This is an example of a transitional l-shaped wet bar in Austin with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite benchtops, brown splashback, ceramic splashback, light hardwood floors and brown benchtop.

This French country, new construction home features a circular first-floor layout that connects from great room to kitchen and breakfast room, then on to the dining room via a small area that turned out to be ideal for a fully functional bar. Directly off the kitchen and leading to the dining room, this space is perfectly located for making and serving cocktails whenever the family entertains. In order to make the space feel as open and welcoming as possible while connecting it visually with the kitchen, glass cabinet doors and custom-designed, leaded-glass column cabinetry and millwork archway help the spaces flow together and bring in. The space is small and tight, so it was critical to make it feel larger and more open. Leaded-glass cabinetry throughout provided the airy feel we were looking for, while showing off sparkling glassware and serving pieces. In addition, finding space for a sink and under-counter refrigerator was challenging, but every wished-for element made it into the final plan. Photo by Mike Kaskel