In North America Home Wet Bars are increasing in popularity with more and more Canadians opting to entertain in the comfort of their homes during those colder months. Having a dedicated space for a bar area in your entertainment room is key to accommodating a good sized (dry or wet) bar whether that be the Living room or the Basement. At Wilde North Interiors we have been building modern bars for the last 7 years with each bar being designed and custom built keeping in mind our client's personality and vision.
(ALL IMAGES BELOW ARE PROPERTY OF WILDE NORTH INTERIORS)
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| Brannigan Gate Bar in basement Wilde North Bars - Design & Build |
What kind of bar are you considering?
Depending on the space availability you can either opt for a walk up bar, a U or L shape bar or an island style bar. Some of the best bars are roomy but intimate, lively but able to facilitate peaceful contemplation, and well-spaced but with easy access to the bartender / drinks.
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| Scenic Lane Walk Up Bar |
What is the best location for a wet bar in your basement?
The optimum location is closest to the drain stack to minimize costs on the plumbing side. However if cost is not an issue and the placement is critical to the design, a drain can be added wherever needed.
Another consideration is placing the bar in a dedicated zone where foot traffic does not impede line of sight to the TV. The bar could either be in a corner of the basement or somewhere more central. We recommend building the bar in proportion to the overall size of the space i.e. if you have a large basement then consider the bar taking up 20% of the entertainment space for it to have presence.
At the Montgomery Bar in basement the logical location for the bar was next to the walk in wine cellar. This L-shaped bar was built with custom cabinetry, floating box shelves, LED lightings, and the cellar was remodeled to match the finishes of this contemporary bar.
Another consideration is placing the bar in a dedicated zone where foot traffic does not impede line of sight to the TV. The bar could either be in a corner of the basement or somewhere more central. We recommend building the bar in proportion to the overall size of the space i.e. if you have a large basement then consider the bar taking up 20% of the entertainment space for it to have presence.
At the Montgomery Bar in basement the logical location for the bar was next to the walk in wine cellar. This L-shaped bar was built with custom cabinetry, floating box shelves, LED lightings, and the cellar was remodeled to match the finishes of this contemporary bar.
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| Montgomery Modern bar and walk in wine cellar |
Wet bars are equipped with a sink and hot/cold water for ease of washing up after a party, having drinking water available, etc. If you have a kitchen near by then maybe a wet bar is not so much of a necessity. But if you do consider a wet bar then install a high tap which allows you to fill a large water pitcher or rinse a tall wine glass.
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| Rosehurst Bar |
Bar furniture would include bar stools that match or compliment the design of the bar, several for your guests and one compact one for behind the bar if needed. Consider whether you want the bar stool to be in a wood, metal or lucite finish, whether upholstered or not, with or without a backrest, etc. If you have a detailed finish on the front of the bar then consider a simple bar stool without a backrest so the eye can see right past the bar stool. If the front of the bar is simple then consider a bar stool in a contrasting color/finish so it stands out and creates impact, for example a saddle leather bar stool against a grey concrete bar would make an ideal combination.
Recommended bar stools heights are:
Recommended bar stools heights are:
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| Via |
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| Via |
Since a bar is an already busy landscape with displayed bottles, glasses, etc we recommend that you keep the decor simple. Maybe consider artwork with a subtle nod to the design or pub concept, or something that matches the overall design of the basement. What works is displaying items in multiples as repetition/collections always looks impressive or using trays to group things together. Check out this blog post where we have shared tips on How to style your Home Bar.
What features can I have in the wet home bar?
The list of options is entirely up to your requirements, but here are some of the features that we've added to some home bars
- Kegerator (Beer on tap, could there be a better invention!)
- Dishwasher
- Microwave
- Sunken ice bucket
- Beverage Cooler
- Wine Cooler
- Ice Maker
Aside from the cabinets that form the structure and provide you storage for your glassware and bar implements, we have also built secret or hidden storage options for our clients where ever space is available. At the Fenwick Bar we installed wheels on the lower cabinet which can be pulled out to reveal storage under the stairs.
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| Fenwick Bar |
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| Fenwick Bar |
At the Jeffcoat Bar we designed and built a door that displays glasses that can also be swung open to reveal storage behind.
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| Jeffcoat Bar |
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| Jeffcoat Bar |
Wine bottles are best stored in the dark and on their side. At the Rosehurst Bar we clad the walls in palette wood and mounted the wine bottles horizontally on pegs.
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| Rosehurst Bar |
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| Montgomery Bar |
What Lighting options can be considered?
Aside from the pot lights, pendants and sconces we have added to a basement space, we have also used LED strip lights to light up counter top ledges, along the front panel, backlit display cabinets and even back-lit sunken ice buckets. Lighting can be controlled via a touchscreen panel or by a wireless remote.
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| Montgomery Bar |
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| Brannigan Gate Bar |
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| Summer Park Bar |
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| Brannigan Gate Bar |
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| Scenic Lane Bar |
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| Brannigan Gate Bar |
We have even used LEDs to light up display cabinets like our clients collection of 300+ miniatures here:
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| Brannigan Gate Bar |
And lastly the ceiling, not forgetting that unnoticed but critical element. You can make your bar stand out even more by treating the ceiling with a unique finish. At the Rosehurst bar we created a bulk head that mimicked the profile of the bar giving the bar a cozy feeling and the bulk head hid an ugly pipe.
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| Rosehurst Bar |
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| Rainpark Bar in basement |
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Hugs
Dhiraj & Lynda
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