Design ideas for a transitional home bar in Los Angeles.

Open home wet-bar.
Photo of a transitional single-wall wet bar in Austin with an undermount sink, multi-coloured splashback, glass sheet splashback, light hardwood floors, beige floor and black benchtop.

Bar Cabinetry Rustic Wood Warm Brown Mosaic

DEW Design Company

A perfect basement bar nook in a rustic alder with a warm brown tile mosaic and warm gray wall
Photo of a small transitional single-wall home bar in Chicago with shaker cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, brown splashback, mosaic tile splashback and white benchtop.

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Blue Hour

Ann Lowengart Interiors

The "blue hour" is that magical time of day when sunlight scatters and the sky becomes a deep shade of blue. For this Mediterranean-style Sea Cliff home from the 1920s, we took our design inspiration from the twilight period that inspired artists and photographers. The living room features moody blues and neutral shades on the main floor. We selected contemporary furnishings and modern art for this active family of five. Upstairs are the bedrooms and a home office, while downstairs, a media room, and wine cellar provide a place for adults and young children to relax and play.

Modern Tudor Rambler

Swanson Homes

This is an example of a transitional home bar in Minneapolis.

Virginia Highland 1920s Cottage Renovation

Copper Sky Design + Remodel

This renovation project of a 1920s home included a kitchen, bar/mudroom, laundry room, guest bathroom and primary bathroom. This home, located in the Virginia Highland neighborhood of Atlanta, had an unusual layout and a good bit of unused space. The two main goals were to bring the outdated spaces to suit modern living standards, and to better utilize the space.

Scandinavian Luxury Home

Everything Home

With a focus on lived-in comfort and light, airy spaces, this new construction is designed to feel like home before the moving vans arrive. Everything Home consulted on the floor plan and exterior style of this luxury home with the builders at Old Town Design Group. When construction neared completion, Everything Home returned to specify hard finishes and color schemes throughout and stage the decor and accessories. Start to finish, Everything Home designs dream homes. --- Project completed by Wendy Langston's Everything Home interior design firm, which serves Carmel, Zionsville, Fishers, Westfield, Noblesville, and Indianapolis. For more about Everything Home, see here: https://everythinghomedesigns.com/ To learn more about this project, see here: https://everythinghomedesigns.com/portfolio/scandinavian-luxury-home/

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Butler's Pantry Liquor Pullout

Great Rooms Building Group

Design ideas for a mid-sized galley home bar in Chicago with no sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, glass tile splashback, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and white benchtop.

Atomic Ranch MCM Main House

Breathe Design Studio

Our Austin studio decided to go bold with this project by ensuring that each space had a unique identity in the Mid-Century Modern style bathroom, butler's pantry, and mudroom. We covered the bathroom walls and flooring with stylish beige and yellow tile that was cleverly installed to look like two different patterns. The mint cabinet and pink vanity reflect the mid-century color palette. The stylish knobs and fittings add an extra splash of fun to the bathroom. The butler's pantry is located right behind the kitchen and serves multiple functions like storage, a study area, and a bar. We went with a moody blue color for the cabinets and included a raw wood open shelf to give depth and warmth to the space. We went with some gorgeous artistic tiles that create a bold, intriguing look in the space. In the mudroom, we used siding materials to create a shiplap effect to create warmth and texture – a homage to the classic Mid-Century Modern design. We used the same blue from the butler's pantry to create a cohesive effect. The large mint cabinets add a lighter touch to the space. --- Project designed by the Atomic Ranch featured modern designers at Breathe Design Studio. From their Austin design studio, they serve an eclectic and accomplished nationwide clientele including in Palm Springs, LA, and the San Francisco Bay Area. For more about Breathe Design Studio, see here: https://www.breathedesignstudio.com/ To learn more about this project, see here: https://www.breathedesignstudio.com/atomic-ranch

Green Hills 11

Build Nashville

This is an example of a scandinavian home bar in Nashville.

Charred Pine + Brass Bar and Wall Hanging Collector's Shelving Unit

Amuneal Manufacturing Corp.

Amuneal’s kitchens and bars bring unexpected materials and finishes to create truly special installations. This bar uses the old-world technique of hand-burning wood to create a dynamic finish that highlights the organic nature of the raw materials. The charred pine door and drawer faces are juxtaposed with crisp machined hardware and a hand-patinated bronze top to create a look that feels both contemporary and timeless. The 3-Bay Collector’s Shelving unit in gunmetal and bronze is the perfect match to the humble complexity of this unit.

Home Bar Design Ideas

A home bar can provide a spot of indulgence for one, or be a central hub you gather round when entertaining. Whether you’re thinking of planning a wine bar, outdoor bar, or just making room for a bar cart, browse these images for inspiration, and ask yourself the following questions.

Where should you position your home bar?

The most popular location for a home bar is in or near the kitchen or dining room. If you prefer entertaining outdoors, however, an outdoor bar can be a dream addition to any Aussie backyard – and imagine the luxury of swimming up to your very own pool bar! If you're building from scratch, a landscape architect can help you work out the ideal design for your space.

What type of home bar is best suited to your needs?

Home bars come in all shapes and sizes, and with an array of practicalities. Utilise an awkward corner with a cabinet bar; maximise floor space with a trunk bar, which unfolds to create a bar counter; or conveniently turn any space in your house into a bar room with a mobile bar such as a fun bar cart. If you prefer a more grandiose option, or all the amenities of a real bar, you can’t go past a built-in home bar.

What home bar functionalities do you want to include?

Decide how you will use the bar and whether you will need sinks, storage and refrigeration. Including a sink in your home bar design is a practical addition if you choose a location far from your kitchen. If you’re a wine connoisseur, you may want to include additional wine storage, whereas a mini bar fridge within the kitchen may need no extra storage at all. Home bars that will be used infrequently – perhaps an outdoor bar in the cooler months – may not need refrigeration and could suffice with large ice buckets.

What bar furniture will you need?

Seating is essential to any home bar and will impact the style of your home bar design. Bar stools, for example, come in an array of materials and styles, from traditional wooden bar stools, to resort- and industrial-style stools. Storage is another important element, so look for a liquor cabinet and wine racks. Next, if you are creating a freestanding station, you will need a bar table, which are taller and shallower than regular dining tables. Check that your stools and table height work together before you finalise any home bar designs.

How can you personalise your bar design?

Bar tools and accessories are an easy and interchangeable way to personalise your bar design. You may want to create a wine bar, tavern-style bar or retro bar, so look for wine glasses and tumblers, for instance, that will help carry this style. Coasters, bar mats or signage will help you to further achieve your desired look.

Suburban Sababa

Studio Dearborn

A young family moving from NYC tackled a makeover of their young colonial revival home to make it feel more personal. The kitchen area was quite spacious but needed a facelift and a banquette for breakfast. Painted cabinetry matched to Benjamin Moore’s Light Pewter is balanced by Benjamin Moore Ocean Floor on the island. Mixed metals on the lighting by Allied Maker, faucets and hardware and custom tile by Pratt and Larson make the space feel organic and personal. Photos Adam Macchia. For more information, you may visit our website at www.studiodearborn.com or email us at info@studiodearborn.com.

Wet Bar

Beth Howley Creative LLC

Design ideas for a contemporary wet bar in Grand Rapids with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, concrete benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, light hardwood floors and grey benchtop.

Best in American Living Winner: Caruthers

Frankel Design Build

Design ideas for a small transitional single-wall wet bar in Houston with blue cabinets, mirror splashback and white benchtop.