Our clients already had a cottage on Torch Lake that they loved to visit. It was a 1960s ranch that worked just fine for their needs. However, the lower level walkout became entirely unusable due to water issues. After purchasing the lot next door, they hired us to design a new cottage. Our first task was to situate the home in the center of the two parcels to maximize the view of the lake while also accommodating a yard area. Our second task was to take particular care to divert any future water issues. We took necessary precautions with design specifications to water proof properly, establish foundation and landscape drain tiles / stones, set the proper elevation of the home per ground water height and direct the water flow around the home from natural grade / drive. Our final task was to make appealing, comfortable, living spaces with future planning at the forefront. An example of this planning is placing a master suite on both the main level and the upper level. The ultimate goal of this home is for it to one day be at least a 3/4 of the year home and designed to be a multi-generational heirloom. - Jacqueline Southby Photography

Custom Built Bars

Daniel J Mailey Carpentry, Inc.

Bar with cherry hardwood
Inspiration for a large traditional u-shaped seated home bar in Philadelphia with dark wood cabinets, glass-front cabinets, granite benchtops, brown splashback, timber splashback and ceramic floors.

Wet Bars

Mission Basement Company

This is an example of a mid-sized country l-shaped seated home bar in Denver with glass-front cabinets and medium wood cabinets.

Carmel / Southwest Knotty Cherry Kitchen

Bontina

Brookhaven Knotty Cherry cabinetry Wine and beverage bar Photo-Mark E Owen
Design ideas for a small single-wall wet bar in Albuquerque with no sink, glass-front cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, mosaic tile splashback and terra-cotta floors.

This is What Kitchen Dreams are Made Of

EdgeWork Design Build

Small traditional single-wall wet bar in Minneapolis with no sink, glass-front cabinets, light wood cabinets, granite benchtops, white splashback, porcelain splashback, light hardwood floors, brown floor and multi-coloured benchtop.

Interiors

McClure Architecture

Photo of a mid-sized traditional l-shaped wet bar in Other with glass-front cabinets, medium wood cabinets, granite benchtops, brown splashback, timber splashback and beige floor.

New Home in Old Mobile

Walcott Adams Verneuille Architects

New Home in Old Mobile
Photo of a wet bar in Miami with an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets, medium wood cabinets and medium hardwood floors.

Western Springs, IL

LDC Homes

Large traditional single-wall seated home bar in Chicago with glass-front cabinets, dark wood cabinets and carpet.

Cozy Home Bar Remodel

User

This cozy basement bar/kitchen was a beautiful addition to the home for entertaining guests.
Photo of a mid-sized traditional single-wall seated home bar in Denver with glass-front cabinets, light wood cabinets, granite benchtops, brown splashback, stone tile splashback and light hardwood floors.

Concord Remodel

Jackbuilt Inc.

Mid-sized traditional galley wet bar in Boston with glass-front cabinets, medium wood cabinets, granite benchtops and dark hardwood floors.

Custom Oak Bar

Vince Mecca's World of Custom Cabinetry

Inspiration for a large traditional single-wall seated home bar in Other with glass-front cabinets, dark wood cabinets, wood benchtops and ceramic floors.

Steeplechase Traditional Bar

Stimmel Consulting Group

This is an example of a large traditional u-shaped seated home bar in Philadelphia with an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets, medium wood cabinets, marble benchtops, black splashback and light hardwood floors.

Rustic Basement Bar

Expressive Interiors by Marietta Calas

Norman Sizemore
Photo of a large country u-shaped seated home bar in Chicago with an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets, medium wood cabinets, granite benchtops, beige splashback, stone tile splashback and travertine floors.

Wine Room

Casa Bella Interiors

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional l-shaped wet bar in Tampa with no sink, glass-front cabinets, dark wood cabinets, beige splashback, mosaic tile splashback and medium hardwood floors.

Knotty Pine

Goebelwood Industries, Inc.

Inspiration for a mid-sized country single-wall wet bar in Philadelphia with an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets, light wood cabinets, granite benchtops, stone slab splashback and light hardwood floors.

Casablanca-Inspired bar

Taylor House Interiors

Casablanca-inspired French country bar with soapstone countertops, wine barrel seating and bamboo ceiling.
This is an example of a small tropical u-shaped seated home bar in Santa Barbara with an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets, medium wood cabinets, soapstone benchtops, black splashback, stone slab splashback and limestone floors.

Old Yankton Rd. Residence

Deffenbaugh Homes

This is an example of a mid-sized arts and crafts u-shaped seated home bar in Other with an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets, medium wood cabinets, granite benchtops, brown splashback, stone tile splashback, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Basement Remodel

Doylestown Builders

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary seated home bar in Philadelphia with a drop-in sink, glass-front cabinets, glass benchtops and light hardwood floors.

Windermere Sports Bar

Doug Hamilton Kitchens, Inc.

Doug Hamilton Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional l-shaped seated home bar in Orlando with glass-front cabinets, medium wood cabinets, granite benchtops and medium hardwood floors.

Our Work

Fred E. Varney Company

Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional single-wall wet bar in Boston with an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets, light wood cabinets, granite benchtops and white splashback.

Home Bar Design Ideas with Glass-front Cabinets

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.