Photo Credit: Aimée Mazzenga

2018 CotY Award Winners

NARI of Minnesota

Basement Over $100,000 (John Kraemer and Sons)

Atherton Timeless Estate

Spectrum Interior Design, Inc.

Contemporary/Modern Wine Cellars

Innovative Wine Cellar Designs

Innovative Wine Cellar Designs is the nation’s leading custom wine cellar design, build, installation and refrigeration firm. As a wine cellar design build company, we believe in the fundamental principles of architecture, design, and functionality while also recognizing the value of the visual impact and financial investment of a quality wine cellar. By combining our experience and skill with our attention to detail and complete project management, the end result will be a state of the art, custom masterpiece. Our design consultants and sales staff are well versed in every feature that your custom wine cellar will require.

Edge Hill Project

Natural Selections LLC

Wet bar area with black cabinetry and gold hardware. Hardware and hardwood flooring provided and installed by Natural Selections.

Cannonsburg Contemporary

TruKitchens

Grabill Cabinets Lacunar door style White Oak Rift wet bar in custom black finish, Grothouse Anvil countertop in Palladium with Durata matte finish with undermount sink. Visbeen Architects, Lynn Hollander Design, Ashley Avila Photography.

Butler's Pantry/Bar

Valerie Grant Interiors

Butler's pantry/wet bar area situated between the dining room and the kitchen make this an incredibly useful space. Mirrored walls create a larger area and add a bit of light to this wonderfully dark and inviting space. Photography by Peter Rymwid.

Espresso Wet Bar

User

Basement Bar Remodel, Peoria, Illinois

Scott Lewis Homes

Legacy

A. Perry Homes

Butler Pantry

Stunning Dining Room with Wallpapered Ceiling and Painted Built-In Shelves

Paper Moon Painting

We were delighted to paint the cabinetry in this stunning dining and adjoining bar for designer Cyndi Hopkins. The entire space, from the Phillip Jeffries "Bloom" wallpaper to the Modern Matters hardware, is designed to perfection! This Vignette of the bar is one of our favorite photos! SO gorgeous!

Contemporary Twist on an Eclectic Del Mar Home

Hamilton-Gray Design, Inc.

Contemporary Los Angeles Design Build

Dauer Design

Nestled in the heart of Los Angeles, just south of Beverly Hills, this two story (with basement) contemporary gem boasts large ipe eaves and other wood details, warming the interior and exterior design. The rear indoor-outdoor flow is perfection. An exceptional entertaining oasis in the middle of the city. Photo by Lynn Abesera

Shawnee Woods

Tays & Co Design Studios

Forest Hill - Bar

BedfordBrooks Design Inc.

This bar is complete with ample storage, two bar fridges, a wall-mounted TV and a beautiful long counter-top fabricated in Vicostone’s Nero Marquina stone to create a strong statement against the light, bright white walls of the space. What a great set-up for watching the game and enjoying snacks and beverages with family & friends.

Wildhorse Remodel

Terra Nova Builds

The dark cabinetry of the bar contrasts the light cabinetry of the kitchen. The backsplash is made from the same marble but in a different pattern, unifying the spaces while adding a unique touch.

Easton Tudor

TRG Architecture + Interior Design

Bernard Andre

Classic Contemporary Home Bar

Frances Herrera Interior Design

A classic, elegant master suite for the husband and wife, and a fun, sophisticated entertainment space for their family -- it was a dream project! To turn the master suite into a luxury retreat for two young executives, we mixed rich textures with a playful, yet regal color palette of purples, grays, yellows and ivories. For fun family gatherings, where both children and adults are encouraged to play, I envisioned a handsome billiard room and bar, inspired by the husband’s favorite pub.

Benjamin Rusnak

Black Home Bar Design Ideas with Glass-front Cabinets

A home bar can provide a spot of indulgence for one, or be a central hub you gather round when entertaining. Whether you’re thinking of planning a wine bar, outdoor bar, or just making room for a bar cart, browse these images for inspiration, and ask yourself the following questions.

Where should you position your home bar?

The most popular location for a home bar is in or near the kitchen or dining room. If you prefer entertaining outdoors, however, an outdoor bar can be a dream addition to any Aussie backyard – and imagine the luxury of swimming up to your very own pool bar! If you're building from scratch, a landscape architect can help you work out the ideal design for your space.

What type of home bar is best suited to your needs?

Home bars come in all shapes and sizes, and with an array of practicalities. Utilise an awkward corner with a cabinet bar; maximise floor space with a trunk bar, which unfolds to create a bar counter; or conveniently turn any space in your house into a bar room with a mobile bar such as a fun bar cart. If you prefer a more grandiose option, or all the amenities of a real bar, you can’t go past a built-in home bar.

What home bar functionalities do you want to include?

Decide how you will use the bar and whether you will need sinks, storage and refrigeration. Including a sink in your home bar design is a practical addition if you choose a location far from your kitchen. If you’re a wine connoisseur, you may want to include additional wine storage, whereas a mini bar fridge within the kitchen may need no extra storage at all. Home bars that will be used infrequently – perhaps an outdoor bar in the cooler months – may not need refrigeration and could suffice with large ice buckets.

What bar furniture will you need?

Seating is essential to any home bar and will impact the style of your home bar design. Bar stools, for example, come in an array of materials and styles, from traditional wooden bar stools, to resort- and industrial-style stools. Storage is another important element, so look for a liquor cabinet and wine racks. Next, if you are creating a freestanding station, you will need a bar table, which are taller and shallower than regular dining tables. Check that your stools and table height work together before you finalise any home bar designs.

How can you personalise your bar design?

Bar tools and accessories are an easy and interchangeable way to personalise your bar design. You may want to create a wine bar, tavern-style bar or retro bar, so look for wine glasses and tumblers, for instance, that will help carry this style. Coasters, bar mats or signage will help you to further achieve your desired look.