This 5,600 sq ft. custom home is a blend of industrial and organic design elements, with a color palette of grey, black, and hints of metallics. It’s a departure from the traditional French country esthetic of the neighborhood. Especially, the custom game room bar. The homeowners wanted a fun ‘industrial’ space that was far different from any other home bar they had seen before. Through several sketches, the bar design was conceptualized by senior designer, Ayca Stiffel and brought to life by two talented artisans: Alberto Bonomi and Jim Farris. It features metalwork on the foot bar, bar front, and frame all clad in Corten Steel and a beautiful walnut counter with a live edge top. The sliding doors are constructed from raw steel with brass wire mesh inserts and glide over open metal shelving for customizable storage space. Matte black finishes and brass mesh accents pair with soapstone countertops, leather barstools, brick, and glass. Porcelain floor tiles are placed in a geometric design to anchor the bar area within the game room space. Every element is unique and tailored to our client’s personal style; creating a space that is both edgy, sophisticated, and welcoming.

Southern Living August 2015 Feature

European Stone Concepts

Photography by Laurey Glenn Limestone butler's pantry
Design ideas for a transitional u-shaped home bar in Other with open cabinets, blue cabinets, black splashback and subway tile splashback.

Rustic Kitchen Remodel

VKB Homes, LLC

Barn doors hide this well stocked bar
Design ideas for a mid-sized country single-wall wet bar in Other with open cabinets, dark wood cabinets, grey splashback, subway tile splashback, light hardwood floors and brown floor.

Charlie Mountain Ranch

Pearson Design Group

Inspiration for a country seated home bar in Other with open cabinets, medium wood cabinets, wood benchtops, subway tile splashback and medium hardwood floors.

Hammons Basement

Karen Spiritoso Designs LLC

Kris Palen
Photo of a mid-sized transitional galley seated home bar in Dallas with an undermount sink, open cabinets, granite benchtops, grey splashback, subway tile splashback, porcelain floors, grey floor and beige benchtop.

Traditional Home Bar

This is an example of a traditional l-shaped wet bar in Chicago with open cabinets, white cabinets, glass benchtops, white splashback and subway tile splashback.

Lake House Pool kitchen

Brock Design Group

Mid-sized transitional galley seated home bar in Portland with grey splashback, solid surface benchtops, subway tile splashback, ceramic floors, open cabinets and medium wood cabinets.

Hugo Residence

Tile X Design

Tile: Regoli by Marca Corona
This is an example of a small contemporary single-wall home bar in Minneapolis with open cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback and beige benchtop.

Watertown Ranch

R|House Design Build

Design ideas for a mid-sized country galley wet bar in Minneapolis with quartzite benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, vinyl floors, brown floor, white benchtop, open cabinets and medium wood cabinets.

House of Lozi - Cass's Home

Lozi

Small scandinavian single-wall home bar in London with wood benchtops, white splashback, no sink, open cabinets and subway tile splashback.

All In the Family - Industrial Recreation Room

jodi foster design + planning

General Contracting by Maximilian Huxley Construction Photography by Tony Colangelo
This is an example of an industrial galley seated home bar in Vancouver with a drop-in sink, open cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, medium hardwood floors and brown benchtop.

Savant Lifestyle

SES Design Group

Lighting Design
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern galley wet bar in Houston with an undermount sink, glass benchtops, beige splashback, subway tile splashback and open cabinets.

The Pearl (NEW)

Tundra Homes

Mid-sized contemporary single-wall wet bar in Other with no sink, open cabinets, white cabinets and subway tile splashback.

Nicklaus II | Traditional | Calgary

Augusta Fine Homes

Earl Raatz
Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional l-shaped seated home bar in Calgary with open cabinets, an undermount sink, grey cabinets, solid surface benchtops, grey splashback, subway tile splashback and vinyl floors.

Stillwater Mountain Modern

Walker Home Design

Modern home bar in Salt Lake City with open cabinets, medium wood cabinets, white splashback, subway tile splashback and white benchtop.

Tullia Plan - Tri-Cities Parade of Homes, Best in Show 2023

Atlas Cabinets & Design

Pantry, butler pantry
This is an example of a large transitional galley home bar in Other with no sink, open cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback and white benchtop.

Willow Creek Contemporary

By Design Interiors, Inc.

Hammons Basement

Karen Spiritoso Designs LLC

Kris Palen
This is an example of a mid-sized transitional galley seated home bar in Dallas with an undermount sink, open cabinets, granite benchtops, grey splashback, subway tile splashback, porcelain floors, grey floor and beige benchtop.

Hammons Basement

Karen Spiritoso Designs LLC

Hammons Basement

Karen Spiritoso Designs LLC

Home Bar Design Ideas with Open Cabinets and Subway Tile Splashback

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.