Bar carts are fine for some, but if you’re a true home host, it’s worth considering finding a spot in your space for a proper wet bar. These three—carved out of a corner, tucked into a hallway—provide plenty of inspiration.
Smooth transition
Located in what architect Peter LaBau calls the “knuckle” of a Madison County home, this home bar serves as a segue between the kitchen, laundry room, and homeowner’s study/office.
“It was intended as a kind of multipurpose space,” LaBau says. “It’s where they feed the dog and have cocktail hour.”
Green Mountain Construction handled the build, which included cabinets by Vaneri, a backsplash from Sarisand Tile, and a wine fridge from Kraft Appliance.
Natural selections
When the father of Crescent Simples’ co-founder set out to build a home bar, he found inspiration in an unlikely spot: the copper-lined boxes where he stored his firewood. Once you know that, the decisions he and Alloy Workshop made to help his dream come true make a lot more sense.
The modern space is all about materials: natural stone and copper shelving, reclaimed oak floor boards from Appalachian Woods in Stuarts Draft, soapstone slabs from Alberene Soapstone Quarry.
After that, it was all about proper stocking. The mixology hobbyist is a collector of spirits and a “master in the art of entertaining,” says Alloy’s Kristin Freese.
Better in blue
Given this high-gloss bar’s location at the intersection of the home’s formal living and dining rooms and its kitchen and family space, its complex geometry presented a bit of a challenge when it came to integrating the appliances and cabinetry. But a trip to Italy would hold the solution.
While in Rome, DGP Architects’ Joe Chambers happened upon a small, paneled vestibule with a similar scale and geometry. “The resulting room elegantly resolves the functional requirements of the bar while resonating beautifully with the architectural rhythms of the overall house,” says DGP partner Roger Birle.
Custom cabinetry from Gaston & Wyatt cleverly conceals a subzero wine fridge and ice maker, as well as lockable touch-latch panels with concealed bottle storage.
