A member of the RE/MAX Hall of Fame, Bob Nachman is an award-winning Arizona REALTOR. To learn about buying or selling property in the Arizona real estate market, visit MoveToArizonaHomes.com.
Built in wet bars or butler's pantries serve as handy little entertainment areas that allow you to serve beverages and hors d'oeuvres without crowding the kitchen.
Bars aren't limited to rec rooms; they are commonly installed in dining rooms, next to kitchens, home theaters, or even outdoors on the patio. The only real requirement is access to plumbing in order to connect to a waterline.
Here are some of the more popular types of bars and some of the basic requirements for installation.
Butler's Pantry Bar
These are commonly built into buffets or cabinets, and camouflaged as a piece of furniture. They might hold glasses, ice makers, wine racks, and have a counter or preparation area.
Requirements
Access to electrical circuits and voltage capacity is key, especially if a small fridge, blender, or microwave is to be installed in the unit. Easy access to a waterline in the case of a small sink will also be needed.
The Pull-Up-a-Chair-Bar
This is your typical high counter bar with stools that can tuck away when not in use. They may contain a sink, fridge, and cupboards for glassware.
Requirements
Along with the plumbing and electrical, keep in mind that whatever you finish the outside with should stand up to shoe scuffs. You may want to cover with stone, wainscoting or brick.
When making allowances for space requirements, allow two feet per stool with a bar height of 42 inches and a 12-inch overhang for the stools
The Wherever-it-Works Bar
Since you may be a slave to your waterline, this bar is an existing closet or cupboard that can be easily converted to a wet bar because of its convenient location. It should have a large enough counter to do some minor preparation and room for a small fridge or cooler, liquor storage and glasses.
Requirements
As above, ensure electrical capacity and availability, and allow for the ability to tap into an existing waterline and running of a waste line.
Portable Bars
These units are becoming more and more common, and as a result are available in a myriad of styles and price ranges. Designed for small spaces, you can place them wherever they conveniently fit. They neatly organize glassware, bar supplies, wine and liquor bottles, and have small preparation areas.
- Related Videos
- Related Articles
- Ask / Related Q&A
- Home Remodeling Part 1
- Estimation of Home Remodeling
- What a Remodeling Job Will Actually Cost you
- Things to Consider When Planning for Home Remodeling
- How Salt Lake City Bathroom Remodeling Sold My House
- Outdoor Renovation: Turning Dreams into Reality
- Home Remodelers-Your Ultimate Guide
- Dream Home Remodeling Offers Free Consultation
New Era of In-Law Suites
By: Mike Taylor | 12/11/2009Another term commonly used for separate in-law accommodation is a Granny Flat. These are usually small, separate residences built on existing family property, and are set up as a complete living space including a small kitchen. Far enough away from the main house for the parents to get a true feeling of being in their own home, these units are close enough to family members for help in case of emergencies.
Wood Stoves: Warm Homes & Cheap Heating
By: Andy Asbury | 12/11/2009As the winter months creep in, so does the cold and dampness. You cringe at the thought of your home heating bill rising as you pull out your collection of warm sweaters and socks. So how can you escape this reoccurring drain on your pocketbook?
Mitchell Construction Group Wins Big at 2009 BAGB Prism Awards
By: Mary Ellen Slater | 12/11/2009Medfield, MA -- 11/05/09 – Mitchell Construction Group Inc., a multi-award winning home remodeling design and build firm located in Medfield, is pleased to announce they are the recipient of three 2009 PRISM (Prestigious Results in Sales and Marketing) Awards from the Builder's Association of Greater Boston, winning top honors in the categories of "Best Remodeling – Kitchen $75,000-150,000", “Most Creative Use of Space” and "Best Company Brochure"
Untold secrets of remodeling a kitchen within limited budget
By: Sharon Samraj | 12/11/2009Many Florida families spend more number of hours in kitchen because it is attractive and functional. Most families in Florida want a beautiful kitchen so they keep renovating their kitchen every now and then. Requirement of each kitchen will be different because different people require different things. It is very challenging to design a kitchen because each kitchen has to work based on functionality, placing appliances and spaces where they can be intuitively found, and keeping the space neat
The Kind of Information Home Renovators Need to Know
By: Oswald Melman | 12/11/2009Being a home owner is no easy role to fulfill: it is full of enormous responsibilities and many, many challenges that will put a person's merit to the test. As a consequence, many newfound home owners are nervous about their novel role, and don't know exactly how to go about living it up adequately and intelligently....
Essential Steps towards a Successful Home Renovation Project
By: Oswald Melman | 12/11/2009Home renovation: it’s something every home owner has on their mind, yet something which very few of them feel they actually have the time and resources to carry out. It’s a poor balance, as on the one hand the average home has a lot of defects or problems that need to be addresses, yet on the other hand the average home owner is too busy to be able to tackle them all personally.
Taking a Different Approach to Glass Window Replacement
By: Oswald Melman | 12/11/2009Most homeowners will not think too much about different glass styles when considering window replacement options, and understandably so. After all, how can two types of glass be that different? If you are looking into replacing an older, single-paned window with the same type of window, there will not be much of a choice. However, this practice is not recommended, as the superior insulation available today calls for an upgrade in window trim and sash.
Transform your Home by Introducing Luxury Bamboo Flooring
By: Terry Metcalfe | 11/11/2009Until quite recently, bamboo flooring was usually only found in other countries; it has always been very common in Southeast Asia. However, interior design in Britain is becoming increasingly diverse and people are constantly looking for new ideas.
Think Like a Panda: Go for Bamboo!
By: Robert Nachman | 28/03/2008 | Interior DesignUsually when we think of bamboo, we think of tall, knobby stalks that would be anything but comfortable to walk on. When processing bamboo to make flooring however, manufacturers do it in a way that makes it just as smooth and comfortable to walk on as any standard flooring material.
Warning: Your Neighbor's Foreclosure Can Cost You Your Home!
By: Robert Nachman | 20/03/2008 | Real EstateIn terms of your own home, its value can be diminished greatly by being located near a foreclosed house. One reason for this is that foreclosures sell for much less than they are worth, thereby reducing the average sale price of homes in the area.
Grab your Piece of Scottsdale While It's Affordable!
By: Robert Nachman | 08/02/2008 | Real EstateThere is a prediction out in the media that the median price of homes in these gorgeous desert golf communities will be on the increase. Of course, there are some golf communities that offer so much else, that you don't even have to be a golf player to want to live there.
February to Do's for Arizona Gardeners
By: Robert Nachman | 08/02/2008 | GardeningUnfortunately just because it's February doesn't mean your yard requires less attention. Instead of putting a lot of energy into your gardens in the spring and fall, try giving them a little attention year-round. The results will be well worth the effort.
Choosing the Correct Condo (for You)
By: Robert Nachman | 08/02/2008 | Real EstateWith the number of 'single people' buying homes reaching the highest ever and actually overtaking the number of married buying homes, it would be interesting to know how many of the singles are buying condos.
Selling your Home - Entice Single Buyers Too
By: Robert Nachman | 24/01/2008 | Real EstateFor the first time ever - yes ever - single heads of households outnumbered married's. That is difficult to believe but that is what the 2006 statistics tell us.
Investing in Real Estate - the Scoop!
By: Robert Nachman | 24/01/2008 | Real EstateWell, the scoop on real estate investment came about accidentally; no-one kindly put together a market projection simply for investors. Luckily though, a private mortgage insurance company has had to research and project the future risks in the realty market for their own insurance purposes.