Exploring the World of Home Bars
Home bars are more than just a place to serve drinks; they're a reflection of personal style and an essential part of entertaining. Whether it's a small corner in your living room or a full-fledged bar area, these spaces offer a unique opportunity to express creativity and make your home feel more inviting. From classic to contemporary, there are countless ways to design a home bar that suits your taste and lifestyle.
The Tucked-Away Bar
In a Katie Ridder-designed home in Birmingham, a tucked-away bar in the living room features wallpaper inspired by a 1940s Ed Willis Barnett photogram called Cocktail Party. The folding door closes when not in use, making it a versatile and elegant addition to the space. Chair fabric from C&C Milano complements the overall aesthetic.
The Farm Bar
At Blackberry Farm in Tennessee, Mary Celeste Beall showcases a refined and luxurious entertaining style. A simple bar table, dressed with a La DoubleJ tablecloth, overlooks a pasture. A spray of wildflowers gathered from the fields adds height to the vignette, creating a serene and picturesque setting.
The Contemporary-Meets-Classic Bar
This elegant bar in the 2024 Kips Bay Decorator Show House in Palm Beach combines architectural moldings from Casa Metier with Cosentino's Silestone Le Chic stone. The space is accessorized with a sleek Kohler bar sink and faucet, as well as earthy-colored artwork by Tim Woolcock, blending contemporary and classic elements seamlessly.
The Monkey Bar
A “vision in terra-cotta and blue,” this bar pays tribute to New York’s beloved Monkey Bar. Tropical de Gournay wallpaper featuring dapper monkeys delivers a glamorous yet playful touch. Silk taffeta drapery in a poppy orange shade envelops the 2022 Kips Bay Decorator Show House Palm Beach room in pure elegance.
The Marble Bar
Treasured glassware, both heirloom and collected from around the world, commands a bar crafted of Eramosa vein-cut marble for a glamorous glowing effect in a sizzling Mexico City condo. Bronze hardware from Funart enhances the overall look.
The Coastal Bar
This lounge in the 2024 Kips Bay Decorator Show House in Palm Beach oozes opulence and contemporary Parisian maximalism with a dose of seaside flair. Moody colors, plenty of texture, and a sectional covered in a Larsen fabric reminiscent of nearby sandy beaches create a coastal vibe.
The Tabletop Bar
An octagonal rippled-edge Soane Britain table doubles as the barn’s bar at Lauren Santo Domingo's home in the Hamptons. The abstract glassware echoes the colorful and contemporary artwork found throughout the barn, adding a modern touch to the space.
The Pavilion Bar
In this outside-meets-inside pavilion space at the 2024 Kips Bay Decorator Show House in Palm Beach, an elegant games table and plenty of extra seating draw the party poolside. An inviting bar filling the side wall makes lingering longer a breeze.
The Front Porch Bar
Dry vodka martinis are served from a 1940s garden table on the front porch of designer Jan Showers's Colonial-style home. Showers greets guests with bubbly, “of course,” or a mocktail, too. “Always make sure people are offered refreshment when they first arrive, especially if they’ve been traveling,” she says.
The Moody Bar
This proper watering hole is a top destination for entertaining. Because this area connects with the family room in the 2023 Kips Bay Decorator Show House in Dallas, designer Jason Jones made sure the spaces felt cohesive. "It's such a fantastic space to entertain in," Jones says.
The Velvet Bar
In the 2023 Kips Bay Decorator Show House in Dallas, a 10-foot built-in velvet banquette is an inviting perch for afternoon tea and evening cocktails alike. More for receiving drinks than preparing them, this former hallway space got a complete makeover from Richmond-based designer Sara Hillery.
The Jewel Box Bar
From the ceiling's breathtaking custom Phillip Jeffries wallcovering to the mirrored gossamer draperies (fabricated by The Shade Store), this jewel box of a bar in the 2023 Kips Bay Decorator Show House in Dallas has everything you need in one compact space. Designed by Morgan Madison Design, wood grain cabinetry houses a Jenn Air under-counter beverage center, ice machine, and coffee system.
The Wicker Tray Bar
An 18th-century portrait from 17 South Antiques in designer Melissa Rufty's low country pied-à-terre keeps a watch over a makeshift bar in the living room. The early 19th-century Northern Italian console table is from Uptowner Antiques, adding a touch of vintage charm.
The Screened Porch Bar
This Martha's Vineyard screened-in porch makes entertaining a breeze. A long table with bench seating beckons a crowd for meals. A bar cart stocked with cocktail ingredients invites guests to linger longer to soak in the ocean view beyond.
The Weekend Bar
In her former New York loft kitchen, designer Katie Leede's goal was ultimate functionality. Depending on the event, the island can be used for dining at night, working during the day, or setting up as a bar for entertaining on weekends.
The Jazz Era Bar
Playful gestures, such as the bar's neon sign, animate the Jazz-era details of this 1920s New Jersey estate by designer Steven Gambrel. Deep, satin-brushed shades of teal connect the bar to the neighboring library.
The Apartment Bar
With a kitchen as sexy as this one in Garrow Kedigian's Manhattan apartment, who wouldn't want to stay a while at the curvaceous bar for Champagne and nibbles? Leather stools from Le Forge add a touch of sophistication.
The Welcome Bar
Rich warm colors invite travelers to sit back and relax in the upstairs bar designed by Errez Design at the Kips Bay Decorator Show House. The bar's built-in undercounter JennAir beverage center makes it easy for guests to treat themselves to refreshments.
The Cabin Bar
At this Amy Meier-designed Michigan cabin, stitched leather stools and vintage Swedish lamps welcome guests to gather around an oak bar after a day on the lake. Meier relied on reclaimed materials like the barn wood ceiling and oak-and-paver flooring to give the space rustic charm and character.
The Tortoiseshell Bar
A sexy tortoiseshell wallpaper and antiqued gold shelving create a dazzling bar in this Arkansas farmhouse by Heather Chadduck Hillegas. The counter skirt fabric elegantly hides any bar supplies, maintaining a clean and organized look.
The Sleek Bar
A chartreuse hallway leads guests straight into the glossy bar at designer Ceara Donnelley's 18th-century Charleston home. Sleek peacock-blue cabinetry and unlacquered brass make for a genius decorating cocktail.
The Midcentury Bar
In this midcentury Dallas home, designer Meredith McBrearty and architect Ryan Street cleverly added a bar into the dining room to break up the sprawling space. The eye-catching black Moroccan tiles with walnut paneling and cabinetry draw attention to the area where they can view video work by photographer Gregory Scott on the neighboring wall.
The Entry Bar
A chilled bottle of Champagne welcomes guests to this Arkansas farmhouse. A series of antique nature prints hangs above a Henkel Harris buffet that serves as a makeshift bar as needed. Mercury glass lamps from Circa Lighting add a touch of elegance.
The Alcove Bar
Scenes of whimsy headline the arched bar alcove in Janie Jones's Birmingham cottage. Arabescato stone grounds the playful wallpaper, creating a vibrant and inviting space.
The Terrace Bar
Folding louvered doors reveal a chic glazed-tile bar for poolside drinks on the terrace at Ceara Donnelley's 18th-century Charleston home. The cabinetry and doors are painted Mizzle by Farrow & Ball, adding a sophisticated touch.
The Kitchen Bar
Classic form meets ultimate function in Barbara Sallick's kitchen bar with its narrow shelf for decanters, beautiful brass sconce lighting, and subway tile backsplash with an exaggerated, 4" by 8" scale.
The "Tented" Bar
A dose of cocktail-hour frivolity reigns in this New York apartment designed by Chiqui Woolworth, thanks to the cabana-striped “tenting” that drapes the bar and its slim swinging doors.
The Sunroom Bar
At this Connecticut home designed by Miles Redd, the sunroom features a built-in bar on one side, along with a delightful trompe l’oeil tent decoration embellishing the curved ceiling. The chairs and sofa (the latter from a Sister Parish–decorated apartment) are covered in Sanderson’s rose-printed Chelsea fabric.
The Loggia Bar
This jaw-dropping outdoor space was designed by lauded Jazz Age architect Maurice Fatio in 1928 and was restored to its former glory by designer Susan Zises Green in 2016. A covered bar and ceiling fans ensure you can enjoy drinks on the patio no matter how hot the Florida sun gets.
The Old Florida Bar
Local treasures like a carved wooden alligator, sea fan, and varnished turtle shell idle in the bar of this Naples, Florida, home designed by Celerie Kemble. A subtle stripe in the woven shade echoes the stripe in the wallcovering from Phillip Jeffries.
The Chippendale Bar
In designer Caroline Gidiere's Mountain Brook, Alabama, home, antique glass and Chippendale fretwork give the built-in bar cabinetry beautiful historic character. Stained mahogany is framed in fiery orange trim and gold leaf ceiling paper, adding a touch of luxury.
The Barn Bar
At this Vermont party barn designed by architect Gil Schafer, the owners converted a black walnut console into a home bar during the holidays by gathering decanters, glassware, and a pitcher on a woven tray. A custom wicker and leather log basket fits neatly under the table.
The British Racing Green Bar
Dallas hostess extraordinaire Kimberly Whitman wanted to paint her bar the same color as British racing green—an almost black green shade that mimics the color of British race cars from another era. So designer Jan Showers chose Black Forest Green by Benjamin Moore in a high gloss, which she brightened with warm brass hardware.
The Holiday Bar
At designer Alessandra Branca's Chicago townhouse, "everyone contributes to the festivities at the holidays," she says. Here, her daughter-in-law Georgia pours festive Negronis in the bar area with cabinets painted a rich black.
The All-American Bar
At the bar in this Lowcountry hunting lodge designed by Andrew Howard, Urban Electric pendant lighting perfectly matches blue plaid backsplash tiles from Hollingsworth. The woven bar stools are from Palecek, adding a rustic touch.
The Antique Armoire Bar
Boston-based designer Elizabeth Georgantas converted an antique armoire into the ultimate party closet: a home bar that's fitted with a small sink and icemaker, along with wine storage and shelves for her vintage barware collection.
The Gallery Bar
In this Hudson Valley home designed by Lynne Stair of McMillen and architect Cynthia Filkoff, a collection of oil paintings hung salon style and 19th-century figurines of Napoleon keep watch over gatherers. The bar counter is copper and the barstool upholstery is by Pindler, adding a touch of elegance.
The Cobalt Bar
At this Newport, Rhode Island, home designed by Ruthie Sommers, the bar cabinetry is lacquered a custom color from Fine Paints of Europe. The whimsical valence is covered a Katie Ridder fabric. The grasscloth wallcovering on the walls and ceiling is from Astek; the vintage rug is from Lawrence of La Brea.
The Closet Bar
In this historic Dallas home, designer Cathy Kincaid converted a small closet into a butler's pantry that doubles as both a china and silver display as well as a beverage serving station. A textile hung below the wooden counter conceals additional storage. The wallpaper is by Zoffany.
The Yacht Bar
Designer Jeff Lincoln updated the wet bar of this retro-chic ship by coating the woodwork with white and natural lacquer. A mirrored backsplash and blue geometric patterns complete the groovy vibe. The barstools are from John Boone and the carpet is by Stark. The window shades are from Quadrille.
The Stately Bar
In this the lounge area of this Hudson Valley home, the walls are painted Avocado by Benjamin Moore in a high gloss-finish. A grouping of chairs makes for easy conversation over drinks. An ancient Greek frieze pattern matches the scale and refinement of a collection of European oil portraits.
The Library Bar
Designers Thomas O'Brien and Dan Fink converted a cabinet in the library of their Connecticut home into a bar that holds their collection of vintage Steuben, Baccarat, and Heisey glassware. The cabinet exterior is painted Southern Vine and the interior is Townsend Harbor Brown, both from Benjamin Moore.
The Poolside Bar
When designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard teamed up with friend and client Ellen Pompeo to host a Moroccan-inspired soiree, he twirled up a table for serving poolside cocktails with a tablecloth made from his fabric line. The Moroccan lanterns from Berbere World Imports provide pretty evening ambience.
The Francophile Bar
For the bar in her Manhattan apartment, design historian and author Maureen Footer chose a custom wallpaper inspired by the work of Armand-Albert Rateau, a French furniture and interior designer who helped popularize the Art Deco movement. The Louis XVI console is from Galerie Delvaille; the pendant light is by Aerin for Visual Comfort.
The Pattern Play Bar
In her Atlanta home, Danielle Rollins paired an iconic print and oversized geometric pattern for a potent pattern cocktail in the bar. The wallcovering, lampshade, and curtains are by Brunschwig & Fils. The custom cork flooring, a hardy material for this high-traffic space, is by Globus Cork.
The Beach House Bar
Glazed Moroccan tiles from Moorish Architectural Design brighten the backsplash of this outdoor bar at an Alys Beach house designed by Khoury Vogt Architects and Shirlene Brooks. The fixtures are from Kohler, adding a touch of sophistication.
The Royal Bar
In the bar at designer Meg Braff's Long Island home, high-gloss royal blue paint on cabinetry creates a rich pass-through space between the kitchen and dining room. A vintage pagoda lantern and fretwork-inspired details on the cabinet add sophisticated charm.
