A bar is one of the best accessories you can add in your kitchen. It's a nice spot to hang out, chat, or have a brunch during the day, as well as entertain friends during social functions. It can even double as an office when you need some extra space. Properly placed and decorated, a kitchen bar can make a stunning focal point for any home.
Designing your kitchen bar can be enjoyable, but as with any home project, there's still some work involved. In fact, a badly decorated bar can do your kitchen more harm than good. How do you ensure your bar is up to the job? Here are several things to keep in mind.
Bar types
You can purchase ready-made bars at most home supply emporiums, but this will only work if your kitchen is built to standard sizes. If you want full control over your bar design, it's better to have it custom-made. There are four basic designs to select from:
Straight back bars are usually positioned at the far end of the room, stretching most, or all, of the back wall. Beverages, glasses, bottles, and other items are stored in a cabinet built under the counter. There's normally adequate seating for three people in a straight row.
Back bars are comprised of three parts: a straight bar with under-counter storage, an open middle portion, and an over-the-counter shelf which can either be open or closed. Back bars make wonderful display pieces, so they're a good choice if you intend to show off your wine or goblet collection.
L-type bars are placed against a corner, making them an excellent work place and also as a resting area. They work best for little kitchens, which may not have adequate space for an island-type fixture. The shorter side normally holds a sink and spigot.
Corner bars are the smallest and most space-efficient option. Most of them are just built-in cabinets made for storing refreshments. It makes use of the bottom and top compartments, so you can store more with little floor space.
Countertops
The countertop is usually the most attractive feature of your kitchen bar. There are many countertop materials to select from, but the most common are wood, laminate, and granite.
Wood countertops have a warm, rustic look that blends well with most kitchen themes. They hold up well as long as you don't use them for regular kitchen work. Maintenance can be a problem, though, especially for light woods like pine and birch. If you select a wood countertop, expect to clean it every week and wipe the tops after every use.
Granite is the preferred material for most high-end kitchen bars. It is more costly than wood, but it'll last for years--some people say a granite counter will last longer than the house itself. It is available in a wide range of colors, from jet black to pale white to vibrant reds, greens, and blues. There are also other kinds of stone like soapstone, marble, and engineered stone.
If you're on a budget, a laminate countertop may be your best choice. Laminate is created from layers of craft paper pressed together to form a single dense material, and wrapped in a rigid, synthetic sheet. The top layer can be printed in any color and design, so you can easily match your kitchen dcor. Faux wood prints are the most popular.
Bar Furniture
Of course, no kitchen bar is complete without a nice set of bar stools. You can have the stools built with the bar itself to ensure that you get the perfect match. Comfort should be on top of your list when choosing bar stools. Adjustable stands are practically essential, as every person prefers a different sitting position. Spacious seats with a bit of lower backrest are normally the most comfortable.
One more essential question is how many bar stools you need. You don't have to provide seats for everybody; a jam-packed kitchen bar can look unkempt and unattractive. As a general rule, leave at least twelve inches in between stools to give every person sufficient arm and leg movement. Three or four bar stools should be okay for an average-sized kitchen bar.
Designing your kitchen bar can be enjoyable, but as with any home project, there's still some work involved. In fact, a badly decorated bar can do your kitchen more harm than good. How do you ensure your bar is up to the job? Here are several things to keep in mind.
Bar types
You can purchase ready-made bars at most home supply emporiums, but this will only work if your kitchen is built to standard sizes. If you want full control over your bar design, it's better to have it custom-made. There are four basic designs to select from:
Straight back bars are usually positioned at the far end of the room, stretching most, or all, of the back wall. Beverages, glasses, bottles, and other items are stored in a cabinet built under the counter. There's normally adequate seating for three people in a straight row.
Back bars are comprised of three parts: a straight bar with under-counter storage, an open middle portion, and an over-the-counter shelf which can either be open or closed. Back bars make wonderful display pieces, so they're a good choice if you intend to show off your wine or goblet collection.
L-type bars are placed against a corner, making them an excellent work place and also as a resting area. They work best for little kitchens, which may not have adequate space for an island-type fixture. The shorter side normally holds a sink and spigot.
Corner bars are the smallest and most space-efficient option. Most of them are just built-in cabinets made for storing refreshments. It makes use of the bottom and top compartments, so you can store more with little floor space.
Countertops
The countertop is usually the most attractive feature of your kitchen bar. There are many countertop materials to select from, but the most common are wood, laminate, and granite.
Wood countertops have a warm, rustic look that blends well with most kitchen themes. They hold up well as long as you don't use them for regular kitchen work. Maintenance can be a problem, though, especially for light woods like pine and birch. If you select a wood countertop, expect to clean it every week and wipe the tops after every use.
Granite is the preferred material for most high-end kitchen bars. It is more costly than wood, but it'll last for years--some people say a granite counter will last longer than the house itself. It is available in a wide range of colors, from jet black to pale white to vibrant reds, greens, and blues. There are also other kinds of stone like soapstone, marble, and engineered stone.
If you're on a budget, a laminate countertop may be your best choice. Laminate is created from layers of craft paper pressed together to form a single dense material, and wrapped in a rigid, synthetic sheet. The top layer can be printed in any color and design, so you can easily match your kitchen dcor. Faux wood prints are the most popular.
Bar Furniture
Of course, no kitchen bar is complete without a nice set of bar stools. You can have the stools built with the bar itself to ensure that you get the perfect match. Comfort should be on top of your list when choosing bar stools. Adjustable stands are practically essential, as every person prefers a different sitting position. Spacious seats with a bit of lower backrest are normally the most comfortable.
One more essential question is how many bar stools you need. You don't have to provide seats for everybody; a jam-packed kitchen bar can look unkempt and unattractive. As a general rule, leave at least twelve inches in between stools to give every person sufficient arm and leg movement. Three or four bar stools should be okay for an average-sized kitchen bar.