We are about to start work on our bar, located outside our HT. We don't have a huge amount of space, but no real limitations. The water and drain is in fixed position as we don't feel like digging up the concrete, but other than that nothing else is decided. I wanted to use your experiences and ask if there were things you wished you had done, or things you are sorry you did do. I will post some pics of our space soon.

I wish I had put in an exhaust vent in the ceiling over my popcorn maker location. Now I have to crack the window.

I wish I paid more attention to the height of the undercounter. I thought I made it so that my blender could fit underneath it. I didn't take into account the thickness of the slate, the thinset or the backerboard. The finished height of the undercounter is 1/2" too high to fit my blender.

I wish I had put in an exhaust vent in the ceiling over my popcorn maker location. Now I have to crack the window.


I second the exhaust fan. My wife actually astonsihed me by saying that we could smoke cigars in my basement bar since it was "my room." The only problem is that there is only one large window in the room, and it is situated on the side of the house that faces the prevailing wind most of the year. Even a 20" box fan in the windows can have trouble keeping up when the wind is blowing in.

I'm trying to figure out how to retrofit a duct inline fan to a dryer vent type exhaust before the weather turns cold again this fall.

I don't have a bar, but I do have a counter at the back of my media room for food and drinks. The counter has a sink in which I can pile ice to keep beers and other drinks cold, but I really wish I had installed a fridge large enough to hold all the beer and sodas that we buy or people bring when we have a movie party. A lot of people bring snacks to superbowl events, movies, etc. and it is nice to have a counter that will hold them all (as well as any drinks), but I wish that I had made the counter low enough for kids to reach so that someone does not have to help them reach stuff.

Added more thought during design (like you)....i had a general idea of space for where the bar area was and addressed the details as needed.

Turns out the details added time and cost.

I wished I paid more attention to the overhang in the front. You need enough to get your knees/legs under so you can eat without bending over or straddling the stool to get close enough.

I made mine work by sliding the top forward , but it kinda messed up the lines in the rear. Small price to pay to be functional! Live and learn.

Dr V

Yea If I were you I would plan out exactly what I was going to use in the bar and get all the measurements figured out becuase nothing is worse than finishing a project and then it not working for the very things you built it for.

Nothing here, mine has been perfect. The only thing I wish I knew more about was the epoxy coating I used for the bar top. It turned out great, but I had issues with it that cost me time & money.

I wished I paid more attention to the overhang in the front. You need enough to get your knees/legs under so you can eat without bending over or straddling the stool to get close enough.
Eating at the bar? :confused: :D

We have peanuts and some finger food (pizza and other bar food), but otherwise our bar is for drinking and socializing. Our overhang is five inches; the bar is 47 inches high; it's perfect for standing and very nice for seating with 31 inch stools. It feels like a bar.

I only wish I had built it 15 years earlier....:)

Stripper pole... :D

Bud

Eating at the bar? :confused: :D

We have peanuts and some finger food (pizza and other bar food), but otherwise our bar is for drinking and socializing. Our overhang is five inches; the bar is 47 inches high; it's perfect for standing and very nice for seating with 31 inch stools. It feels like a bar.

I often eat at the bar when I drink. Not only the bar at home, but when I go out. Most places specialize in something. In Maryland, most bars are proud of the crabcakes they make. One place I go has the best hot wings you can get. Others might have great steak subs. It all depends where you go. I love to sample the local specialty. Its not like I'm on a frat house budget and milking some dollar drafts. Now my bar at home faces a 9ft x 5ft. high definition projector screen (sits behind a sofa), so I don't mind eating a few meals at my home bar either. Sure beats looking at a mirror!

Dr V

Sure beats looking at a mirror!
Very true! My dad was trying to talk me into putting a mirror behind my bar-- I'm glad that I didn't do that-- but I'm still waiting for my wife to finish the paintings she promised me.

I'm a big fan of bar food. Maryland has great bar food. Last time I was in a bar in Baltimore, I had some fantastic crabcakes (that were almost as good as mine ;)) and some very nice oysters at some dive-looking place.

I dunno, when I look into my back bar mirror, all I see is the footballs and helmets behind me. I actually surf the internet and eat at the bar, while my wife watches her movies. I always have my bar TV on, so I can watch what I want.

I'm with Vinculum, Maryland pub food is tops...

Bud,

A Stripper pole, huh?