New Season Photography
Seated home bar - large contemporary single-wall seated home bar idea in Dallas with an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets, beige cabinets, onyx countertops and white countertops

Woodharbor Custom Cabinetry
Mid-sized transitional single-wall porcelain tile and beige floor wet bar photo in Miami with gray cabinets, gray backsplash, mirror backsplash, granite countertops, raised-panel cabinets and no sink

Example of a mid-sized country single-wall dark wood floor and brown floor seated home bar design in Grand Rapids with an undermount sink, dark wood cabinets and granite countertops

Seated home bar - large contemporary l-shaped gray floor seated home bar idea in San Francisco with mirror backsplash, an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets and gray cabinets

William Hefner Architecture, Erika Bierman Photography
Inspiration for a transitional dark wood floor and brown floor seated home bar remodel in Los Angeles with white backsplash, stone slab backsplash and gray countertops

Lower level bar perfect for entertaining. The calming gray cabinetry pairs perfectly with the countertops and pendants. Meechan Architectural Photography

Large trendy backyard stone patio photo in San Diego with a fire pit and a pergola

Landmark Photography
Inspiration for a timeless seated home bar remodel in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, open cabinets and dark wood cabinets

Scott Amundson Photography
Large elegant carpeted and beige floor basement photo in Minneapolis with beige walls

When my client had to move from her company office to work at home, she set up in the dining room. Despite her best efforts, this was not the long-term solution she was looking for. My client realized she needed a dedicated space not on the main floor of the home. On one hand, having your office space right next to the kitchen is handy. On the other hand, it made separating work and home life was not that easy. The house was a ranch. In essence, the basement would run entire length of the home. As we came down the steps, we entered a time capsule. The house was built in the 1950’s. The walls were covered with original knotty pine paneling. There was a wood burning fireplace and considering this was a basement, high ceilings. In addition, there was everything her family could not store at their own homes. As we wound though the space, I though “wow this has potential”, Eventually, after walking through the laundry room we came to a small nicely lit room. This would be the office. My client looked at me and asked what I thought. Undoubtedly, I said, this can be a great workspace, but do you really want to walk through this basement and laundry to get here? Without reservation, my client said where do we start? Once the design was in place, we started the renovation. The knotty pine paneling had to go. Specifically, to add some insulation and control the dampness and humidity. The laundry room wall was relocated to create a hallway to the office. At the far end of the room, we designated a workout zone. Weights, mats, exercise bike and television are at the ready for morning or afternoon workouts. The space can be concealed by a folding screen for party time. Doors to an old closet under the stairs were relocated to the workout area for hidden storage. Now we had nice wall for a beautiful console and mirror for storage and serving during parties. In order to add architectural details, we covered the old ugly support columns with simple recessed millwork panels. This detail created a visual division between the bar area and the seating area in front of the fireplace. The old red brick on the fireplace surround was replaced with stack stone. A mantle was made from reclaimed wood. Additional reclaimed wood floating shelves left and right of the fireplace provides decorative display while maintaining a rustic element balancing the copper end table and leather swivel rocker. We found an amazing rug which tied all of the colors together further defining the gathering space. Russet and burnt orange became the accent color unifying each space. With a bit of whimsy, a rather unusual light fixture which looks like roots from a tree growing through the ceiling is a conversation piece. The office space is quite and removed from the main part of the basement. There is a desk large enough for multiple screens, a small bookcase holding office supplies and a comfortable chair for conference calls. Because working from home requires many online meetings, we added a shiplap wall painted in Hale Navy to contrast with the orange fabric on the chair. We finished the décor with a painting from my client’s father. This is the background online visitors will see. The last and best part of the renovation is the beautiful bar. My client is an avid collector of wine. She already had the EuroCave refrigerator, so I incorporated it into the design. The cabinets are painted Temptation Grey from Benjamin Moore. The counter tops are my favorite hard working quartzite Brown Fantasy. The backsplash is a combination of rustic wood and old tin ceiling like porcelain tiles. Together with the textures of the reclaimed wood and hide poofs balanced against the smooth finish of the cabinets, we created a comfortable luxury for relaxing. There is ample storage for bottles, cans, glasses, and anything else you can think of for a great party. In addition to the wine storage, we incorporated a beverage refrigerator, an ice maker, and a sink. Floating shelves with integrated lighting illuminate the back bar. The raised height of the front bar provides the perfect wine tasting and paring spot. I especially love the pendant lights which look like wine glasses. Finally, I selected carpet for the stairs and office. It is perfect for noise reduction. Meanwhile for the overall flooring, I specifically selected a high-performance vinyl plank floor. We often use this product as it is perfect to install on a concrete floor. It is soft to walk on, easy to clean and does not reduce the overall height of the space.

This sophisticated double-height bar area features a custom dark wood peninsula with a marble countertop and elegant upholstered stools. The bar includes a recessed, lighted back bar against a stone backdrop, while French doors with a transom window lead to the outdoor living space. The room is finished with custom classic wall paneling and neutral large-format tile flooring for a refined, modern Georgian look.

Seated home bar - transitional galley ceramic tile and gray floor seated home bar idea in Detroit with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, onyx countertops and mirror backsplash

French Blue Photography www.frenchbluephotography.com
Example of a large classic l-shaped dark wood floor eat-in kitchen design in Houston with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite countertops, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and subway tile backsplash

The existing quirky floor plan of this 17 year old kitchen created 4 work areas and left no room for a proper laundry and utility room. We actually made this kitchen smaller to make it function better. We took the cramped u-shaped area that housed the stove and refrigerator and walled it off to create a new more generous laundry room with room for ironing & sewing. The now rectangular shaped kitchen was reoriented by installing new windows with higher sills we were able to line the exterior wall with cabinets and counter, giving the sink a nice view to the side yard. To create the Victorian look the owners desired in their 1920’s home, we used wall cabinets with inset doors and beaded panels, for economy the base cabinets are full overlay doors & drawers all in the same finish, Nordic White. The owner selected a gorgeous serene white river granite for the counters and we selected a taupe glass subway tile to pull the palette together. Another special feature of this kitchen is the custom pocket dog door. The owner’s had a salvaged door that we incorporated in a pocket in the peninsula to corale the dogs when the owner aren’t home. Tina Colebrook

Example of a trendy l-shaped seated home bar design in Los Angeles with open cabinets, black cabinets and wood backsplash

Seated home bar - mid-sized rustic u-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor seated home bar idea in Salt Lake City with dark wood cabinets, stone tile backsplash, brown countertops, recessed-panel cabinets and wood countertops

Example of a mid-sized transitional backyard stone patio kitchen design in Austin with a roof extension

This contemporary take on the traditonal man-cave includes crocodile walls, leather seating by oly, flannel drapery by ralph lauren, custom built in cabinetry and a brass tap for a kegerator.

A dropped walnut ceiling matched with walnut cabinetry add definition the kitchen area in the otherwise open and wide living area fit for entertaining. Photo Credit: Garrett Rowland