Planning for a bar.

[mlyday]

Im in the early planning stages for our basment bar. We finished the basement, about 4 years ago, and at the time knew we wanted a Kitchen or bar down there, so we did put all the electrical and plumbing which is good.

It will be a straight 8-10 ft bar in front of full wall 13ft back bar. The back bar will have a sink, and might include a stove, but probably not a cooktop.

Im going to mock it all up in Sketch up first, but I am looking and a bunch of pictures and checking out bars in resturants for idea. One thing the wife and I saw that we liked. Was above the back bar, was like open cupboards with lights in them and then wine glass holders on the bottom. But I cant seem to find them anywhere, but maybe im not searching using the right terms.

Im thinking of 5 feet between the front and back bars, does that seem like too much?

I took some measurements last night, now I just need to get them into sketch up.

 

[The_Dog_42]

For cabinet lighting, I like these: Undercabinet Xenon Puck Lights.

I installed them over my countertop in my house and the dimmer is awesome for the application. They are also a small enough profile to be mounted to some of the framing parts on the cabinet doors, depending on the size of the cabinet (the pucks are somewhere around 2.5" in diameter).

The only problem I've found is that if you get any oil on the bulb (say from your fingers during installation) it will explode and sound like a gunshot.

They do make some under-cabinet LED lighting though, which may work for you.

 

[mlyday]

Those would work, But Im also looking for the cabinets. What I want is a cabinet with no doors which is essentaily 2 thick shelfs with sides tacked on them with the light in the cabinet. I want to use them for glass ware, and possible hang wine glasses from the bottom.

 

[The_Dog_42]

So something like this? **EXCEPT NOT $10,100 **...sheesh

 

[brewmcq]

Something that really helped us when transitioning from drawings to reality was using some of that blue painters tape to outline on the floor where everything would be. That helps you get a really good perspective.

5' might be a bit much, but it's personal preference, of course.

As for under-counter/in-cabinet lighting, we went with LED ropelight. It was really inexpensive, uses almost no juice, and never gets hot... hell, it barely gets warm...

Regardless.. I'm looking forward to seeing your progress!

 

[mlyday]

On the wall running perpindicular to the front and back bar there is a fridge indented in the wall so It sits flush with the wall. so the least I could go is 3 feet apart. The five feet gives some room for the doors to open. Im trying to learn some basic sketch up so I can show you better.

 

[mlyday]

So something like this? **EXCEPT NOT $10,100 **...sheesh

Something like this picture the shelving on the top. I want the glassware up there and like the link you sent lights in the top point down. I would want wood grain most likley and some separators to section it up.

I just dont know what its called so looking it up has been hard.

 

[mlyday]

Looks like the keywords to search for are "OPEN SHELVING"

 

[The_Dog_42]

Yup. I searched "Open Bar Cabinets" but some sort of combination of "Open" and some name for cabinets (i.e. cabinets, shelving) seem to be the best bet. Since it sounds like you're hanging it, you may also get some results with "Open wall cabinet".

 

[shuggy]

It is unlikely that you will find what you need "off the shelf". You would be better served going to Lowes, Home Depot, or local cabinet maker and having something custom made for you. The up-tick for having something custom made may very well be offset since you won't be needing doors or hinge hardware. I certainly wouldn't pay for lighting or the glass holders from the cabinet makers since those are pretty easy DIY tasks.

 

[mlyday]

Im guessing it will be custom, so it will match the rest of the bar, I just want something to go off of, and use it as a template.

 

[brrman]

Something like my back bar? (The other pics in the thread are blocked for me here at work...) When I made the bar I added rope lighting up under the face frame. Controlled by a dimmer switch inside the bottom of the cabinet. Turned out really nice.

 

[mlyday]

Yes Open like that but not all the way to bar level. I also want to hang wine glasses from the bottom. And have some sort of puck or rope light shining down on the glasses on the shelves. I like the looks of your bar, Im going to check out your build thread tonight. They block most pics at my work also.

 

[brewmcq]

brrman.. thanks for posting a picture of your bar build, making me feel wholly inadequate with mine.

 

[mlyday]

I really like the look of the top of your bar. Where did you get that veneer.