This basement kitchen is given new life as a modern bar with quartz countertop, navy blue cabinet doors, satin brass edge pulls, a beverage fridge, pull out faucet with matte black finish. The backsplash is patterned 8x8 tiles with a walnut wood shelf. The space was painted matte white, the ceiling popcorn was scraped off, painted and installed with recessed lighting. A mirror backsplash was installed on the left side of the bar

2018 CotY Award Winners

NARI of Minnesota

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

Pantries & Wine Bars

California Closets

Perfect Wine Bar with Refrigerator and Bottle Storage

Rylestone - Narrow Lakefront Cottage

Visbeen Architects

An enchanting mix of materials highlights this 2,500-square-foot design. A light-filled center entrance connects the main living areas on the roomy first floor with an attached two-car garage in this inviting, four bedroom, five-and-a-half bath abode. A large fireplace warms the hearth room, which is open to the dining and sitting areas. Nearby are a screened-in porch and a family-friendly kitchen. Upstairs are two bedrooms, a great room and bunk room; downstairs you’ll find a traditional gathering room, exercise area and guest bedroom.

Expansive Two-Story Custom Home

BUILD

A custom-made expansive two-story home providing views of the spacious kitchen, breakfast nook, dining, great room and outdoor amenities upon entry. Featuring 11,000 square feet of open area lavish living this residence does not disappoint with the attention to detail throughout. Elegant features embellish this home with the intricate woodworking and exposed wood beams, ceiling details, gorgeous stonework, European Oak flooring throughout, and unique lighting. This residence offers seven bedrooms including a mother-in-law suite, nine bathrooms, a bonus room, his and her offices, wet bar adjacent to dining area, wine room, laundry room featuring a dog wash area and a game room located above one of the two garages. The open-air kitchen is the perfect space for entertaining family and friends with the two islands, custom panel Sub-Zero appliances and easy access to the dining areas. Outdoor amenities include a pool with sun shelf and spa, fire bowls spilling water into the pool, firepit, large covered lanai with summer kitchen and fireplace surrounded by roll down screens to protect guests from inclement weather, and two additional covered lanais. This is luxury at its finest!

Devon Butler Pantry New Construction

Cullen Construction Inc.

Gold Coast Residence

Eva Quateman Interiors

Tony Soluri Photography

Charlevoix Fish Art Cottage

Birchwood Construction Company

Birchwood Construction had the pleasure of working with Jonathan Lee Architects to revitalize this beautiful waterfront cottage. Located in the historic Belvedere Club community, the home's exterior design pays homage to its original 1800s grand Southern style. To honor the iconic look of this era, Birchwood craftsmen cut and shaped custom rafter tails and an elegant, custom-made, screen door. The home is framed by a wraparound front porch providing incomparable Lake Charlevoix views. The interior is embellished with unique flat matte-finished countertops in the kitchen. The raw look complements and contrasts with the high gloss grey tile backsplash. Custom wood paneling captures the cottage feel throughout the rest of the home. McCaffery Painting and Decorating provided the finishing touches by giving the remodeled rooms a fresh coat of paint. Photo credit: Phoenix Photographic

Skye Palm Springs

Grace Home Furnishings

Woodland Medina Two-Story

Ryan Street Architects

Pantries & Wine Bars

California Closets

Perfect Wine Bar with Refrigerator and Bottle Storage

Lake Ave

Kaegebein Fine Homebuilding LLC

8962 Hollybrook

Mark Smith Fine Homes

Commodore Drive Custom Home

Alair Homes Savannah - The Strong Group

This custom home utilized an artist's eye, as one of the owners is a painter. The details in this home were inspired! From the fireplace and mirror design in the living room, to the boar's head installed over vintage mirrors in the bar, there are many unique touches that further customize this home. With open living spaces and a master bedroom tucked in on the first floor, this is a forever home for our clients. The use of color and wallpaper really help make this home special. With lots of outdoor living space including a large back porch with marsh views and a dock, this is coastal living at its best.

Modern Style Cabinets

Dedham Cabinet Shop

Basement Bar

Angie Schwab Interiors LLC

Lighting on the floating shelves is the perfect accent to the materials for liquor bottle display.

Raleigh Hills Kitchen Family Room

Christi Towne Designs

Abbie Parr

Green Home Bar Design Ideas

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.