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frank_muccio

Basement bar cabinets

3 years ago

Hello, we are finishing our basement and need to decide on bar cabinets. I want to get the same color and style as my kitchen to look consistent. My kitchen cabinets are painted espresso. I really like them but it looks like the espresso is out-dated now. Most of the cabinet stores don't have many options in espresso. My wife wants to go with black cabinets with white countertop. Does anyone have black cabinets in the basement bar / kitchenette and feel too dark or unconventional? TIA

Comments (10)

  • 3 years ago

    Can you show us a picture of the space or information on what other finishes will be going in down there?

  • 3 years ago

    This is just a remindering. It's open frame rt now so unfortunately I can't show real picture. But we are thinking to have dark cabinets with white clean contertop. White/ beige backsplash between two cabinet space on the back wall with some floating shelves. Floor will be vinyl saddle, similar color to this model pic.

  • 3 years ago

    How high are your ceilings? Is there much natural light? I think in a basement (at least the kind I'm familiar with) it's best to go light and bright. Especially as your design has cabinets running right up to the ceiling, I'd personally stick with white or another light colour. What else will be down here and what's the overall purpose of the space and feeling you're going for?

  • 3 years ago

    If you already have furniture you will be using in that room, make sure whatever you choose will work with it. While I agree with @denkyem about keeping basements light and bright (that's the strategy I used in mine because although it's walk-out, the windows face north), sometimes people double down on the lack of light and go for a moody look. You have to decide what will suit you. Here are some examples of what other people did with black/dark colored bars (just know that gray LVP is out):


    Charlotte A Sport 2022 (Prior Lake MN) · More Info



    Transitional basement · More Info


    Howell, MI. New construction · More Info


    WAY Artic White Soft Melamine & Fossil Oak Matrix Kitchen in Arlington · More Info


  • PRO
    3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    I feel like it's a bar - it's supposed to be a bit mood or edgy and certainly should be different than the kitchen. Black cabinets would be great but so would just a dark stain and then get some really cool tiles and great lighting.






    Good luck!

  • 3 years ago

    The ceiling height is 9 feet. It's quite open floor plan. Although we don't have natural light down there, we will a plenty of Can lights and accent lights. And yes, since this is a bar we want a bit moody look. We are just concerned if black cabinets are non conventional and look off esthetically. Anyone has black cabinets and happy with the choice?

  • 3 years ago

    we have black counters in a lower level wet bar in a finished area. I dont like the black at all. I'm not changing it tho because its a secondary zone and there is nothing wrong with it. keep that in mind......you wont want to redo the space very often because its "bonus". get something lighter and more upbeat. It need not be expensive..... stay clear of black if you ask me.

  • 3 years ago

    We have dark brown and it looks great. The cabinets run across the width of the back of the room. We also have a dark gray floor, and I put a tan jute runner down across the floor in front of the cabinets. The countertop is a faux granite laminate that actually looks really good. We did all the work ourselves, and I just didn’t want to mess with granite at the time.

  • 3 years ago

    If you're going for moody then the dark cabinets make way more sense. But you should try pulling together a mood board of all your finishes (you can just do this on pinterest or houzz) showing paint colour, flooring, cabinets, ideas for furniture and floor coverings etc to see how it all feels together.

  • 3 years ago

    Pic is small so hard to tell how big that sink is, but i wojld opt for a bit smaller sink and add an 18” dishwasher


    black with light top sounds good