People are getting away from alcohol-based wet bars and turning it almost into a second kitchen.”— Julie White, interior designer, Est Est, Inc.

Despite its cheeky reputation, there’s still room for the wet bar in modern-day homes, thanks to a few design tweaks.

A few decades ago, Valley homebuilders used wet bars as a secret weapon in their home-selling arsenals, a subtle selling point that fed the emotional attachment prospective buyers develop on the road to closing the deal.
“People thought, ‘I’m going to buy this home, use the wet bar, and have a great time here.’ It was good for sales in the 1970s and ’80s,” says Arthur Gambino, design consultant with Republic West, a Scottsdale home-improvement company.

Today, while an interior bar might not be a deal maker (or a top feature you consider when buying a home), there are attractive ways to incorporate a bar into both your home and lifestyle. So belly up and discover how an interior bar might work for you.

Less Is More?
It used to be that people wanted bars they could walk behind so they could mix some drinks and slide them down the counter to their friends. But when it comes to today’s bars, Gambino says, less is more. “Most people don’t want to play bartender anymore,” Gambino says.

For starters, some clients are “taking the wet out of the wet bar.” In luxurious, high-end homes where the game room or family room may be a thousand-foot walk from the kitchen, wet bars are highly functional. However, in an average 2,500- to 3,000-square-foot home, some homeowners find they just don’t need a sink and icemaker when they can walk around the corner to the kitchen.

Others consider it a convenience they could never do without. “I’ve seen clients put wet bars in less than 20 feet from the kitchen,” says Julie White, ASID, interior designer with Est Est, Inc. in Scottsdale. That’s partly because the function has changed with our convenience-driven tastes, she says.

Walk-behind bars facilitate socializing.

“The bar is turning into more of a refreshment center,” White says. “People are getting away from an alcohol-based wet bar and turning it almost into a second kitchen.”
Some common components include:
• Sink
• Wine refrigerator
• Dishwasher
• Icemaker
• Espresso machine/coffee bar
• Snacks
• An under-the-counter mini-refrigerator stocked with beverages

Another functional aspect of today’s interior bars is the space-saving design trend that is driving their appeal. As Gambino alluded, big granddaddy bars with eight to 10 barstools aren’t as functional, at least not in average sized homes. “Very commonly today, bars are up against a wall area. It’s not a pull-a-chair-up-to-the-bar type system, but it sends the message that this is an entertainment area, and it saves space,” he says.

Going Big
While wall bars are in, there is a place for big, walk-behind bars. In fact, Kathryn Davis, interior designer with Wiseman and Gale Interiors, prefers walk-behind bars and believes clients shouldn’t count them out.

“When a bar is flush to the wall, people feel like they’re walking by and grabbing a drink,” she says, adding that walk-behind bars send a message to stop, gather and enjoy the social atmosphere. “It also creates a little bit of status when you have a back bar area where your guests can sit on the other side. It’s an easy place for you or your caterer to walk behind and serve from.”

Before selecting one type of bar over another, some questions to consider are:
• How do you socialize? How will your bar complement that?
• How often will you use your bar?
• How much space is available?
• Can you make your bar serve multiple purposes?

To the latter point, Davis has a client who asked her to install a compact office space behind his bar. “We essentially designed the bar with a desk in it,” Davis says, adding that the workstation is collapsible when the bar is in use.

Rustic wet bar design

Design Trends
Maybe you’ve decided what type of bar you want but could use some help on design. For starters, you’ll want to forget any tired notions of a mirrored backsplash with glass shelves to display your glassware and liquor.

The dust that accumulates on all those pretty glasses and bottles is enough to make you want to launch a different sort of cocktail – of the molotov variety – into the dust bowl and be done with it. Today’s trend is more toward beautiful cabinetry that stylishly conceals your bottles and glassware. Experts agree: Invest in cabinets that create an aesthetically pleasing look while protecting your pretties from dust.

And finally, there are design considerations for sinks, too. “There are no more self-rimming sinks. They are long gone,” Gambino says, explaining that older bars usually had formica or laminate countertops with a hole cut in them to drop the sink in. “The new bar areas have a granite surface and the sink mounts from underneath so you don’t have a rim that shows.”

The Final Details
Walk-behind bars create fun design opportunities that can add personality to your home’s overall theme, and a stainless steel bar face is very hot right now.

“It’s considered a very high-tech look,” Gambino says. If your home is more rustic, you might want multiple materials, including wood in the bar area and stone or tile on the backsplash.

Davis urges clients to invest in great barstools. “If you’re trying to create an easy place for guests to hang out, then make it comfortable for them to hang out,” she says, adding that comfortable swivel stools with arms and footrests are a must.

Finally, don’t forget about good lighting. Davis recommends table lamps, pendant lights, wall sconces or under-cabinet lighting.

“All of these create drama and effect,” Gambino says. “You want to have a good time, and good lighting helps with the ambience.”

RESOURCES

Est Est, Inc.
17770 N. Pacesetter Way, Scottsdale
(The Perimeter Center)
480-563-1555 • estestinc.com

Republic West
8101 E. McDowell Road, Scottsdale
480-481-9595 • republicwest.com

Wiseman and Gale Interiors
4015 N. Marshall Way, Scottsdale
480-945-8447 • wisemanandgale.com