Fratantoni Design / Residential Architects

Check out the herringbone floor pattern in this custom home bar! We love the wine fridge, wood flooring, French doors and the wall sconces.
Inspiration for an expansive traditional single-wall seated home bar in Phoenix with a drop-in sink, glass-front cabinets, brown cabinets, zinc benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, mirror splashback, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and multi-coloured benchtop.

Custom Bar with Zinc Counter & Custom Cherry Cabinetry

The Kitchen Place, Inc.

Pat Lang
Small traditional l-shaped seated home bar in Wichita with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, zinc benchtops, white splashback and marble splashback.

Home Bar

Fratantoni Luxury Estates Design/Build/Remodeling

We love this home bar and living rooms custom built-ins, exposed beams, wood floors, and arched entryways.
Inspiration for an expansive traditional l-shaped seated home bar in Phoenix with a drop-in sink, open cabinets, black cabinets, zinc benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, mirror splashback, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Washington Square Residence

Phillip Johnson Construction

A totally custom wine room and wet bar, built inside one of the building's old vaults. This condo was built within the walls of an historic building in Philadelphia's Washington Square neighborhood. The building was originally home to J.B. Lippincott & Co., who by the end of the 19th century, would become one of the largest and best-known publishers in the world.

Cranbrook Road

Lerman Construction Management Services

Custom made Walnut bar with stone and Pewter custom top, hand made tile
Large traditional l-shaped wet bar in Detroit with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, zinc benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, mosaic tile splashback and travertine floors.

Park Avenue Apartment

Elskop Scholz

This is an example of a small traditional single-wall wet bar in New York with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, zinc benchtops, grey splashback, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Traditional Home Bar Design Ideas with Zinc Benchtops

A traditional 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 traditional 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 traditional 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 traditional 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.