Are you bar people and would you use a bar for entertaining?

I've never wanted or needed a bar in any home we have lived in, so I would be closing it off from the living area and use it as a walk-in pantry or storage closet.

If you don' t want a bar, convert the upper part to shelves as well and storage behind. I kinda like the scallops. They add character in a vintage way.

I would brighten it up like the opposite side.

It's always nice to have another spot for serving/entertaining... a little refrigerator, etc.

I'd cover up the entire thing and use the interior space as storage. Or, as dead space if you don't need the storage. You already have enough visual interest on that wall with the fireplace.

If you have kids, I'd keep it open and let them play corner news stand / candy shop! Your house will be wildly popular.

Is this space where you will have a TV/ I think thta bar area is a total rip out it is not even a balanced look with the other side in fact in a perfect world I would rip it out and do another matching window and low bench thing to match that right side . What is your style ? The inspo picture is nothing like what you have with all that curved stuff everywhere . All of that needs to go before painting IMO So bit more info please .

Storage was my thought as well. Once the room is painted it’ll look a lot better! I think the fireplace could be improved. Either add more white or sand some off. Right now it kind of looks like primer.

@dough71 What a great result with the huge amount of work you’ve already put in to redoing this space. I think the FP looks great & your inspo pic with white painted paneling makes me sure your result will be very good. That dry bar is interesting. What I don’t read any info about is how you’re planning to use this room. The ideas presented of using the space for closed storage are good & I suppose you have enough paneling inside the bar to make a ’new’ matching wall to fill the hole. A pantry sounds like a great idea but is the kitchen anywhere near the door into this bar space? I need more info to figure out what to do with the space. What does your family need? Or, is your family going to be living in the house when you’re done?

Thank you to everyone for your thoughts. Bars are very popular in homes in this area, so we'd like to keep it as a bar/wine cellar. Removing the bookshelf underneath is an option; however, we'd need to finish the floor in that section, and we'd prefer not to do that given that we have already refinished the wood floor. Any ideas for brightening the space? I originally had this idea: https://www.houzz.com/photos/transitional-wine-cellar-transitional-wine-cellar-san-francisco-phvw-vp%7E155714021?epik=dj0yJnU9RVVPSWw2NjA0U0dmazFVOHhPanEzNjhmdEtLYk5qMFYmcD0wJm49Qk9reXJaSnFRVXFETFhVQXlHQV9EQSZ0PUFBQUFBR2Y4RkNR.

The image you see would be the view from the hallway. In other words, when you open the door to the bar from the hall, this would be your view. Obviously, there would not be any wine on the upper right-hand side because that is the side that is open to the family room.

Wow! That bar would be simply stellar! About that bookshelf - can you just remove the shelves & outer side & bottom scallop trim & leave the base? I’m thinking the bar above looks deep enough to have a couple stools there that could slide under the bar. Maybe you could cover the wood base with tile & put a bar pole to rest feet on where you see them in commercial bars. You know, a set up so guests can either ’belly up to the bar’ or sit on a stool & chat with the bar back. 🍷

Bars are very popular in homes in this area

Do you drink a lot? It doesn't matter what is popular. What matters is what you want. I suspect you are not a big wine drinker. The picture you posted is a wine cellar. Yes, there are lights on but the room remains dark most of the time and temperature controlled. Your bar is not either so I don't really see it being used for wine storage.

If you want to keep it as a bar with glasses, booze, and just a bit of wine, I'd get rid of the bookshelf in the front and close off the door. Then it is a bar area that you access by standing in front of it rather than walking around to the door to get into it. It doesn't seem like it would be too hard to match and add more flooring there. If it is and the flooring doesn't match then be intentional and add a bit of tile.

I'd keep it, add a curtain, and host puppet shows.