Wet Bar
Are you missing the party?
Your wet bar can literally set the stage for your entertainment room; it can be the crown jewel, the tiara, the trophy of all trophies. But, bottom line – it’s a place to serve drinks. And, while some entertainers are brewing their concoctions in the kitchen and missing out on the fun, others choose to bring the party to them. Opting for a wet bar in your entertainment room allows you to relax and enjoy the party.
There are so many choices available in today’s market you shouldn’t have any problem finding a bar that fits your lifestyle, budget, space requirements, and personal taste. You’ll find styles ranging from French Country and elegant to rustic or pueblo; large or small, wet or dry, built-in or free standing. Often equipped with custom cabinets, top-of-the-line fixtures and fittings; today’s wet bars can be quite elaborate.
Homeowners who love to entertain want an inviting zone for their friends and family to gather. They want a centralized place for all the accoutrements a bar demands. They want everything self contained such as icemakers, wine coolers, dishwashers, and bar supplies.
Different strokes for different folks
Depending on your needs the types of bars available include custom built-ins, custom freestanding, manufactured freestanding, pantry bars, and roll-away bars. You can also find antique bars from dismantled saloons.
Custom Built
Whether it’s built-in or freestanding sky’s the limit when it’s custom built.
Measure: You’ll need to measure the space available for your bar and determine if it’s a large enough space to accommodate the amount of people you’d like to seat. Generally you need two feet per bar stool. So, an eight foot bar will seat four. Most bars sit 42 inches high with a 12 inch overhang for stools.
Style: Next, determine the style that best suits your room.
Finishing materials: From there you’ll need to select the finishing materials you’d like to use; oak, maple, cherry, walnut, or mahogany? The base of the seating area, where your feet dangle off the barstool and kick the bar, should be covered with wainscoting or barn siding, a material that will stand up to shoe scuffs. Don’t forget the bar foot rail.
Counter top: What type of counter top would you like, green marble, black leather, granite, wood? Tip: Stone countertops provide a durable, stain-resistant work surface that’s easy to wipe clean.
Cabinets & shelves: How many cabinets will you need? How many drawers? Take an inventory of the items you’d like to stock the bar with and make sure you have enough cabinet space to store that inventory. Open shelves or glass-front cabinets will show off your stemware and serving pieces.
Bar sinks & fixtures
Depending on whether your wet bar is casual, rustic, elegant, or antique will dictate your choices in fixtures. The more casual your wet bar the less expensive the fixtures. What type of faucet; double handle bar or single handle bar? How about the finish; rustic bronze, chrome, brushed nickel, stainless steel? How about your sink?
As you can see, you can really spend some time building your perfect wet bar. There’s a lot of little details however it’s those details that give you full creative reign over your project, and what you ultimately achieve is your own custom, one of a kind, masterpiece wet bar that you can show off to all your friends.
Other Types of Bars
Pantry Bar
Pantry bars resemble oversized furniture pieces and are sometimes called buffets. They are usually built in a space close to the kitchen or dining room. Upper cabinets hold your stemware, while the cabinets below conceal the ice maker and bottle cooling drawers.
Closet Bar
Closets that are close to a waterline can be converted into a wet bar. These bars tend to be more casual and typically have limited work surface, or just enough space for a mini-fridge that will hold a couple wine coolers.
Freestanding
There are many manufacturers who offer stylish freestanding wet bars. The styles range from old world, English, modern, French, rustic, and good old fashioned oak. These bars come loaded with cabinets, drawers, and everything else already built in.
Back Bars
Back bars are another matter of importance when deciding on your wet bar configuration. Available pre-manufactured or custom, backboards hang behind your bar. A mirror is usually set into the back; often times the mirror has artwork etched into the glass. You can add hanging glass racks to show off your favorite stemware or shelves to place your favorite liqueur.
Other Things Worth Considering
Wiring
Electrical capacity is an important part of the process when designing your wet bar. If you plan on using appliances such as a fridge, mixer, microwave or anything else that consumes a lot of energy, an electrician should determine whether your circuit will be overloaded by the extra consumption. You may need to add a new circuit. Make sure to include extra electrical outlets for small appliances such as a blender, and make sure they’re at the right places for anything you intend to have behind the bar.
Tapping into a water source
When installing a wet bar you’ll want to run a waste line into the wall; tying into the one already in the bathroom or laundry room. And, since wet bars involve water and electricity, make sure your electrical circuits have ground faults for protection in the event of a short.
Lighting
Creative lighting really enhances your experience. Low, romantic lighting will create ambience, hanging fixtures will add charm, recessed lighting is functional, indirect light creates mystic, and a good ole neon sign will light up your party mood.
Seating
Barstools – with a back or backless? Fabric, leather, or wood? Swivel or non-swivel? Foot rest or no foot rest? Modern or old fashion?