Photo of a mid-sized country u-shaped seated home bar in Sacramento with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, medium wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, grey splashback, stone slab splashback, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Mayacamas Residence, Windsor, CA

Petersen Design Associates, LLC

This is an example of a large country single-wall wet bar in San Francisco with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, brown splashback, brick splashback and medium hardwood floors.

Kitchen, Interior Renovation and Custom Fireplace Design

Built Tough Construction of North Georgia

Architectural Design Services Provided - Existing interior wall between kitchen and dining room was removed to create an open plan concept. Custom cabinetry layout was designed to meet Client's specific cooking and entertaining needs. New, larger open plan space will accommodate guest while entertaining. New custom fireplace surround was designed which includes intricate beaded mouldings to compliment the home's original Colonial Style. Second floor bathroom was renovated and includes modern fixtures, finishes and colors that are pleasing to the eye.

San Ysidro Beverly Hills

Creative Builders

Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional galley seated home bar in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, black cabinets, solid surface benchtops, ceramic floors and beige floor.

Completed Projects

Jones Cabinet Shop

This is an example of a small mediterranean single-wall wet bar in Other with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, white splashback and medium hardwood floors.

Chevron Backsplash Tiled Wet Bar

Schanstra Design Group

Photo of a small contemporary single-wall wet bar in Chicago with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface benchtops, blue splashback and ceramic splashback.

Artisan Home 2016

Swanson Homes

Landmark Photography
Inspiration for a large transitional l-shaped seated home bar in Minneapolis with solid surface benchtops, grey splashback, slate floors and grey benchtop.

Barto home makeover

Bella Casa Kitchen and Bath

Small transitional single-wall wet bar in Philadelphia with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, solid surface benchtops, grey splashback, mosaic tile splashback, dark hardwood floors and brown cabinets.

Berkeley Modernism

User

ASID Design Excellence First Place Residential – Kitchen: Originally commissioned in 1977 by our clients, this residence was designed by renowned architect Donald Olsen whose life's work is thoroughly documented in the book Donald Olsen: Architect of Habitable Abstractions. Michael Merrill Design Studio was approached three years ago to do a comprehensive rethinking of the structure, spaces and the exterior envelope. We hope you will enjoy this preview of the greatly enlarged and updated kitchen and home office.

Point Loma Casita

Ike Kligerman Barkley

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.

Speakeasy Basement Bar Remodel

SKP Design

Inspiration for a mid-sized eclectic u-shaped seated home bar in Other with an undermount sink, solid surface benchtops, vinyl floors, beige floor and white benchtop.

Horsforth Home Bar & Entertainment room

Beckett & Beckett Interiors

Luxury entertainment room with home bar. We designed and manufactured a bespoke bar with added shelving and doors in the recess of the fire place. Wallpaper by Arte is available from our showroom.

Spring Meadow Residence

Cornerstone Design

Kevin Schultz
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped seated home bar in Boise with flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, solid surface benchtops, beige splashback, porcelain floors and grey floor.

Contemporary Home Bar

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary galley seated home bar in Detroit with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, mirror splashback and ceramic floors.

Sleek and Sophisticated

Amrami Design + Build

Photo Credit: Aimée Mazzenga
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary single-wall wet bar in Chicago with a drop-in sink, beaded inset cabinets, dark wood cabinets, tile benchtops, mirror splashback, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and white benchtop.

Leawood Midwestern Rustic

Cathy Dykman Acinger Design

Photo of a mid-sized country u-shaped seated home bar in Kansas City with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, tile benchtops, grey splashback, timber splashback, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

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.

Cliffside

Inside Stories

A contemporary home bar with lounge area, Photography by Susie Brenner
Design ideas for a mid-sized scandinavian single-wall home bar in Denver with no sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface benchtops, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, light hardwood floors, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Sauve Court Residence

Synthesis Design Inc.

Photo of a small modern single-wall wet bar in Vancouver with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, beige splashback, glass tile splashback, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and white benchtop.

Cannonsburg Contemporary

TruKitchens

Grabill Cabinets Lacunar door style White Oak Rift wet bar in custom black finish, Grothouse Anvil countertop in Palladium with Durata matte finish with undermount sink. Visbeen Architects, Lynn Hollander Design, Ashley Avila Photography.

Home Bar Design Ideas with Tile Benchtops 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.