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Building a Home

Anyone use upper cabinets for their bar base?

14 years ago

I'm not certain if this is the correct forum for my question- but nobody hangs out in "basements." My builder told me that he has used upper cabinets for the base of a downstairs bar. (I'm talking about the actual bar, not the wall side of the bar area.) He said they just built up the bottom a little bit. This makes sense to me. They are only 12" deep, which would great for keeping the depth of the bar a bit narrower. I'm planning on a larger size fridge against the wall, so I don't need a full depth bar. I could probably keep the counter at 24" deep. What does everyone think? Has anyone done this? Pics appreciated!

Featured Answer

jodierd

14 years ago

We'll be doing the same thing in our bar, which will be between the family room and dining room.
I think it was the Omega catalog in which I saw a base for just this purpose. I'm looking at using over the fridge cabinets for a banquette in the kitchen, which will entail the same need for a base.
It's no big deal though to build such a thing. Your builder has it covered.

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Comments (11)

mwsigler
14 years ago
We did this in our bulters pantry. it has been 10 years and it has worked out fine.

I don't have any pictures right now, but I will see if I can take some later.

Melissa
carolyn53562
14 years ago
The big difference between upper and base cabinets is that base cabinets have the recessed toe kick area so there is room for your feet when you stand next to the cabinet. I know people who did what you are doing but didn't put in the toe kick area and didn't like it. It sounds like your building is going to take care of that problem.
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hendricus
14 years ago
We actually used upper cabinets to build a peninsula in the kitchen, make a base to match the other base cabinets and place them back to back. No kneeling on the floor to try to see what's in the back.
sweeby
14 years ago
It's not unusual to do. To make up for the toe kick cutout, just mount your cabinet on a base made from 2 x 4s and cover it with toe kick trim.
rniehoff60_yahoo_com
14 years ago
We used the lowers and painted them, built up and made a oversized platform, used the platform as a footrest.
[IMG]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg188/rniehoff/RoofPictures017.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg188/rniehoff/avs003.jpg[/IMG]
brutuses
14 years ago
We used them for the bottom of our built-ins in the office and my husband put in the toe kick just as sweeby describes. Looks fine.
nycefarm_gw
14 years ago
KD added bun feet to make up for no toe kick. Works great, I keep table linens and extra glassware.

Go for it~
feedingfrenzy
14 years ago
It's easy to find base cabinets that are 12" deep. Why not use them?
nycefarm_gw
14 years ago
BTW, they are attached to a small knee wall, so that also keeps them off the floor. And no hardware, so really they appear as panels, not cabs.
msu_girl
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks for all the replies- and I loved seeing the pics! I'm building a bar and not a kitchen island, but this visual made it easy to see how this would work really well for my application also. Thanks everyone!

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