I really don't like the paneling. Paint it and put up shelves or take it out and put up shelves. Maybe a TV. Where is the kegerater going? lol

Mirror tiles with clear glass floating shelves

Wow maybe I am just in a mood today but I can totally feel the retro 70s of that before photo!! It looks exactly like a basement bar SHOULD look. I have a 70s cabin that needs to be torn down some day. We painted the paneling and I have to confess that I love it so much I think about how much I love it all the time. It is a very country look though and that just seems wrong here.

What is your style? I would just avoid anything that takes itself too seriously. I have never had or wanted a bar in my home. Do people really walk past the kitchen, family room, living room, go downstairs and sit at a bar in the basement? Does the host really stand back there and play bartender?

Mirror tiles are a nice idea, especially if antiqued, but pricey. Tin pressed panels could be another option (less expensive and installation easier). Can probably check out that option at big box stores. They are often used for ceilings.

Thank you for the suggestions, I really like the pressed tin panel suggestions and am also considering the mirrors.

Dragon Fly, we are doing stone around the bar itself, as you can see the metal lathing is ready for its scratch coat. We are also doing the stone around the support beams so I don’t want to over do it with the wall as well. Definitely considered it though.

Green Fish, we will absolutely utilize it. We like to have friends/family over and the bar/basement, especially in the winter, always seems to be where we gather for conversation/entertainment.

I am also considering putting a small tv in the area too (larger tv in the other side of basement). Basement is about 1000 sq/ft.

More suggestions welcome!

Thank you!

Do you have an image of the stone you are using for beams/bar front?

How about reclaimed wood and brick? I am loving this look. Stone seems to be a bit much for the basement. Or painted millwork, still a bit formal but nicely done in this photo

Btw, I did my mudroom floor in thin cut brick from Home Depot: real brick, thin like tile. Looks great, right price.

You could put the tv back there. Are you adding any lights to the ceiling, and is the ceiling now the way you want it?

I thought about the tv but ultimately I want the back bar to have shelves and the tv will be a bit small for that space. The back wall is 4’x8’. The ceiling is how I want it, open, flat black paint. There is the single can light above the bar but will probably add lighting to back bar as well.

I added picture of the stone and another of back bar.

Looks like you could add some pendants easy enough, nice stone, it will look fantastic.

Also wondering what you did with that original artwork behind the bar and to the right? Is it paint? I love it.

Yeah, we could do pendants easy enough with the can right there but that may be down the road. Haha, that’s funny you ask, we still have it! It is actually a bunch of thin pieces of wood wrapped in some kind of cloth material.

I would for sure remove the paneling-above and below the ledge. The images greenfish posted are great--I agree reclaimed wood installed horizontally with rustic wood and iron shelves. And rustic wood counter surface on the ledge-or install same surface as bar.

Millwork would be more formal and spendy....but doesn't seem to match up with the look you are going for.

Alternatively, you could drywall and paint contrast--dark charcoal grey perhaps.

Think about lighting--some puck lights over and under shelves would be nice or industrial barn like sconce over your shelves.. maybe couple pendants over bar?

It is awesome. If you don’t like it you could definitely sell it, mid century stuff is hot and your pieces are rare like I’ve never seen them before. If I were you I would hang that back up somewhere though! Looking forward to your finished project.

If there is a tv in the other side of the basement, you might want to skip adding one by the bar, so when you have a gathering, there is a little separation between the crowd who want to concentrate on the tv and the crowd who want to engage in conversation. It'll keep them from driving one another crazy.

Good point on the second tv, something I will definitely consider. Didn’t think about that.

You could do a combination of tile and shelves for contrast. The old paneling says good by.

A couple mid century inspired pendants, especially if you keep the art. And the stools, gotta keep the stools.

Yes to pendants over the bar. Also yes to the mirror tiles.

It would look so good with tiles like these, with lighting from the top and stocked shelves.

We still have the stools but we’re not planning on using them, one of my biggest pet peeves is a stool without back support! May have something to do with being 6’5” ha

No wonder you raised the ceiling!

I redid the back bar ledge in maple as well so that it will match the bar top. I also added some wood support brackets/corbels.

Still not sure what to do with the back wall though.

It looks great, I’ve always loved maple. Sounds like you are sure you want to remove the paneling, so take that off then you will have to make a decision now won’t ya? Or paint the paneling dark gray and get an antiqued mirror to hang there. The right pendants will be a huge improvement, maybe Santa will bring those.

Why don’t you continue the same wood product up that wall along the back and then float black metal and glass shelves on it. A small TV could fit between the shelves. It would simplify the use of materials.

This shows a simple use of materials. I’d run the same wood floor you have horizontally along that back wall.

Shelves kind of like this...not so complicated but wanted to show something w black metal and glass.

Alright so we made a decision on the material for the back bar, pressed tin panels which I will likely trim out with some maple. I added a pic of the color tin as well. What type of shelving should we use? Thought of floating barnwood shelves, or glass??

I like wood shelves.

That looks nice, I like the piping look.

Hi Brad,

What a fantastic bar area!

Just joining here, but I would like to suggest a canvas wall art piece for behind the bar. I have no idea about your tastes in art, but I would suggest something like this for behind a bar:

or

or

or

or

If any of those catch your interest let me know and I can suggest more possibilities.

Best regards,

DJ from eWallArt

If anyone cares to see a progress picture. Still haven’t done anything with the back bar, but have the panels. Just trying to finish the stone now.

Looking good.

On to the back bar ha

Back bar progress

That looks nice, I like all the textures you’re using.

Progress

Looks nice!