Trends From the Latest Popular Home Bars on Houzz
Home bars have moved from the basement and the butler’s pantry right into kitchens, dining rooms, family rooms, entries and hallways. A wide range of materials from rustic reclaimed wood to glamorous mirrors change the look while the function remains the same: making stylish entertaining easy. Here are 10 of the most popular bars newly uploaded to Houzz, as measured by the number of users who have added them to their ideabooks from April through June.
1. Reclaimed wood. Reclaimed wood on a home bar wall or countertop recalls oaken whiskey and wine barrels and the pine and cedar used on wine crates. Its casual look creates a relaxing atmosphere.
A sophisticated take on rustic marks this bar alcove off a home’s media room. The walls are covered in wood reclaimed from old beams. Black hexagonal tile connects the bar to the Spanish revival style seen elsewhere in the house, while leathered Spicewood quartzite counters are warm yet elegant.
2. The modern butler’s pantry. This trend from last quarter is still going strong. Many of today’s home bars have replaced the traditional butler’s pantry (a cabinet-lined passageway between the kitchen and dining room). These are well-designed built-ins that can fit into any of the public spaces in a house. This can mean in a kitchen, dining room, living room, media room or family room.
See thousands more butler’s pantry photos
See thousands more butler’s pantry photos
3. Dark cabinets and brass hardware. In the modern butler’s pantry trend, this color combination is growing in popularity just like it is in kitchens and bathrooms.
4. Recessed. If you are able to steal space from inside a wall, you can squeeze a recessed home bar into a spot you may not have thought of, such as a hallway or small alcove. The bulk of this bar is housed within the wall, with just a few inches intruding into the hallway.
5. The freestanding bar. I did not realize that “barmoire” was a term tossed around today until I saw it in a Houzz user question regarding this photo. (I’m always learning from Houzz users!) As you can see, a barmoire is an armoire outfitted to serve as a bar. And just like a freestanding cabinet you’d use for clothing, the doors close to conceal it all when it’s not in use. The mirrored back, glass shelves and bottle drawer make this custom piece a current Houzz favorite.
A freestanding buffet tucked into an alcove can double as a bar, depending on the type of night it is.
6. Eye-catching backsplashes. The great thing about a home bar is you can slip in a favorite tile or wallcovering on the backsplash. There are only a few square feet to cover, so you can choose a tile that would otherwise be too big of a splurge. Here, antique mirror tiles bring in a touch of speak-easy glamour.
Browse beautiful bar backsplashes
Browse beautiful bar backsplashes
Here, a textured metallic tile marks the home bar.
7. Integrating grilles. These cabinet door inserts can add a flourish to a home bar’s facade. They introduce a different pattern and metallic finish to the overall design. In this popular photo, the grilles bring in a sophisticated quatrefoil pattern. If you’re going for more of a modern farmhouse look, you could opt for chicken-wire grilles.