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10 Elements of a Great Home Bar
Turn a wall into a stylish wet bar that makes it easy to entertain in style
If you enjoy entertaining often, you might want to add a wet bar to your home. It should be installed where you'll host most of the time. Sometimes, that's next to the kitchen. Other times, your wet bar is located in a rec room, great room, library, office or even in your outdoor space.
Whichever location works best for you, ensure that you tie it in with the overall style of the space and design it to meet your most frequent entertaining needs. Here are some sensible-style strategies to get your wet bar planning started.
More: 20 Essentials for the Home Bar
Whichever location works best for you, ensure that you tie it in with the overall style of the space and design it to meet your most frequent entertaining needs. Here are some sensible-style strategies to get your wet bar planning started.
More: 20 Essentials for the Home Bar
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A wet bar can fit a contemporary room — as it does here — just as much as a traditional one. The open shelving on the wall works perfectly with the bar's style and provides easy access to the spirits stored within. There's no messing with awkward doors or face frames to find the perfect drink at this bar!
If your wet bar will be located in the kitchen, it should blend well with the kitchen's overall design, as this one does. Symmetry and style are achieved here with quiet elegance, so that the wet bar doesn't scream "man cave."
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If your bar is in or open to your kitchen, I like to use a bar sink that matches the main kitchen sink. This model will pair perfectly with the classic Shaw apron front sink in so many traditional and transitional kitchens.
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As so many kitchens have stainless-steel sinks, you might consider a coordinating stainless sink for your neighboring wet bar. Select an 18 or 16 gauge for their quieter performance, better finish and easier maintenance.
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| Consider glass cabinet fronts for your wet bar to distinguish it from the rest of the workspace. The glass serves as a showcase for handsome glassware or collectibles. |
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Your wet bar will almost certainly house a refrigerator of some kind. It can be a wine captain or a beverage fridge, depending on how you like to entertain. Choose a size that fits your space, and a style — either paneled or stainless — that works with the rest of the room.
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Your wet bar would also benefit from an ice maker, space allowing. That puts a sink with drain, ice, drinks, glasses and accessories in convenient reach of host and guest.
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Wet bars often host a wide array of glasses that need storage space. If there's none left in the upper cabinets, you can take advantage of unused space below them with attractive stemglass holders in a finish that coordinates with the other finishes in the space.
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Choose your bar faucet with the same care you'd give to your main kitchen tap. If it's in or open to the kitchen, I like to pull from the same product line for continuity. Some features to consider include pull-out spray head, integrated filtration (as this faucet offers) and one-handle operation for ease of use.
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A customizable drawer insert lets you store corkscrews, wine charms, bottle stoppers and other wet bar essentials in an easy-to-find system. You don't want to be hunting for your essentials with a house full of thirsty guests!
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If your wine fridge won't hold all of your bottles, shouldn't hold specific ones, or if you don't have a wine fridge, consider where your wet bar will accommodate your wine offerings. Built-in racks or countertop models could be an option, depending upon your bar's space situation.
More:
Master the Wet Bar
Fine Thing: A Wine Fridge Right Where You Need One
Get Your Swizzle On: The Rustic Home Bar
Photos: See more home bar designs
More:
Master the Wet Bar
Fine Thing: A Wine Fridge Right Where You Need One
Get Your Swizzle On: The Rustic Home Bar
Photos: See more home bar designs
Ideabook updated on Dec. 14, 2011.
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