William Waldron
Inspiration for a midcentury single-wall seated home bar in New York with an undermount sink, open cabinets, solid surface benchtops, light hardwood floors, beige floor and mirror splashback.

Contemporary Warmth: Highland Park Residence

Carolina V. Gentry, RID

This forever home, perfect for entertaining and designed with a place for everything, is a contemporary residence that exudes warmth, functional style, and lifestyle personalization for a family of five. Our busy lawyer couple, with three close-knit children, had recently purchased a home that was modern on the outside, but dated on the inside. They loved the feel, but knew it needed a major overhaul. Being incredibly busy and having never taken on a renovation of this scale, they knew they needed help to make this space their own. Upon a previous client referral, they called on Pulp to make their dreams a reality. Then ensued a down to the studs renovation, moving walls and some stairs, resulting in dramatic results. Beth and Carolina layered in warmth and style throughout, striking a hard-to-achieve balance of livable and contemporary. The result is a well-lived in and stylish home designed for every member of the family, where memories are made daily.

1816 Knights Chance Lane

Laurel Haven Homes

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary single-wall wet bar in Austin with medium wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, porcelain floors and open cabinets.

Back Yard Breathing Space

RootBound

View of Cobble Block Bar with Bluestone Top. Garth Woodruff
Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional seated home bar in DC Metro with open cabinets, solid surface benchtops and brick floors.

ElevenSound Kitchen

Clarice Zusky

This is an example of a mid-sized industrial l-shaped seated home bar in Los Angeles with open cabinets, solid surface benchtops, red splashback, brick splashback, concrete floors and grey floor.

Capital Hill Bar & Family Area

Candace Nordquist Interiors

Mid-sized country home bar in Seattle with an undermount sink, solid surface benchtops, red splashback, brick splashback and open cabinets.

Corian Riverbed Bar

Maxwell Counters Inc.

Corian Riverbed
Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional galley wet bar in Chicago with solid surface benchtops, brown splashback, an undermount sink, open cabinets, grey cabinets, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Wellesley Remodel

Carby's Lumber

This is an example of a large transitional galley seated home bar in Boston with solid surface benchtops, open cabinets, medium wood cabinets, grey splashback and stone tile splashback.

21 East 66th - 2

Milan Custom Build

Holger Obenaus
This is an example of a small contemporary single-wall home bar in New York with no sink, medium wood cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, medium hardwood floors, solid surface benchtops, brown floor and open cabinets.

Pantries & Wine Bars

California Closets, Santa Barbara

Custom Pantry & Wine Storage with Colorful Etched Glass Accents
Small contemporary single-wall wet bar in Santa Barbara with open cabinets, grey cabinets, solid surface benchtops and ceramic floors.

Basement Pool and Changing Room

Nicola Merritt Interior Design

Beautiful bespoke bar within the swimming pool area. Teak slats surround the front and sides to contrast warmly against the neutral limestone and polished plaster walls while still being suitable within wet areas.

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.

Fall 2016: New Tile collection

Olympia Tile

Our Merino series is a combination of the essential appeal of concrete mixed with the delicacy and lightness of fabrics. Complemented by a geometric patterned decor. Perfect for residential walls and floor; commercial walls and generally heavy traffic wear floors.

Tranquility

lavieinteriors

The home bar is modern and neutral.
This is an example of a modern l-shaped home bar in Perth with an undermount sink, open cabinets, solid surface benchtops, ceramic floors, brown cabinets and mirror splashback.

Contemporary Brentwood Estate

Flairwood Inc. Cabinetry

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary u-shaped seated home bar in Los Angeles with open cabinets, dark wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops and light hardwood floors.

Turkey Farm

Akar ARchiTecture

Farshid Assassi
Mid-sized contemporary single-wall home bar in Cedar Rapids with an undermount sink, open cabinets, light wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, mirror splashback, marble floors and black floor.

ElevenSound Kitchen

Clarice Zusky

Inspiration for a mid-sized industrial l-shaped seated home bar in Los Angeles with open cabinets, solid surface benchtops, red splashback, brick splashback, concrete floors and grey floor.

Whole House Renovation

User

This is an example of a mid-sized traditional u-shaped seated home bar in New York with open cabinets, dark wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops and medium hardwood floors.

East Fremantle Renovation - Before & After Photos

Moda Interiors

Kitchen (home bar) - after photo.
Photo of a small modern single-wall home bar in Perth with no sink, open cabinets, grey splashback, grey benchtop, solid surface benchtops and porcelain splashback.

Thornhill / O'Fallon MO

Sea Interior Design

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional galley seated home bar in Orange County with a drop-in sink, open cabinets, medium wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops and grey splashback.

Home Bar Design Ideas with Open Cabinets and Solid Surface Benchtops

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.