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Design Dilemma: Carving Out a Bar Niche

Have you ever really desired a full-on wet bar like the one above? Neither have we. Except, that is, when holiday season hits and we’re suddenly faced with a succession of gatherings and parties that usually involve liquor. At those times, having a large dedicated space just for serving cocktails seems to make all the sense in the world.

But let’s face it, most of us living in the real world simply don’t have the space for a huge, glamorous wet bar like that one above or just below:

So what to do? We propose carving a much more discreet bar niche out of whatever available space you have. Your bar corner will serve its purpose at your next party, but it won’t make you feel guilty for being a lush or using so much space on storing drinks, otherwise. Here are some examples of small, discreet wet bars:

This is perhaps one of the best examples of a well-designed, discreet bar. Set inside a closet in an older, traditional home, this bar can open up to become a serving station during parties and gatherings, but otherwise remains hidden from view when not in use. It includes a sink and a wine refrigerator, but the mirror and the finishings inside make the bar pretty enough to stay open all the time.

Above is another bar that doesn’t take up a lot of visual space. The bar sits between the kitchen, family room and dining room, thus occupying a central area that would otherwise probably remain unused. When it’s party time, it’s perfectly accessible to everyone.

Below another option:

This bar takes up a relatively small corner of a family room. The bar cabinets blend in seamlessly with the cabinetry in the rest of the room, and the bar does not call attention to itself.

Above is another example of a bar in the center of everything that  manages to remain virtually hidden at the same time — simply because it is set within the wall. It takes no floor space at all in this open concept floor plan but is wonderfully accessible during parties.

And talk about economy of space, you can’t do better than this little pull-out bar below. It’s simply a shelf that can open and close to expose all the goodies.

So what’s the moral of the story? Simply that you need not have a big behemoth of a bar to throw a good party or enjoy a good glass of wine. Think a little bit creatively about your bar and you’ll find it’s possible to find a discreet but practical station for cocktails. Cheers!

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Brazil’s Airy Garden House Renovation Project

The generous proportions of the Garden House project come from a complete makeover of a family home in Minas Gerais in Brazil.

Brazilian architectural practice, David Guerra Architecture and Interior renovated it into a welcoming home for the CEO of a London-based business.

To achieve this flowing, open design, the architects had to integrate spaces, destroy walls and completely transform doors and windows.

Dark and glowing satiny posts and beams are a dominant design element, literally tying together the entire structure.

A rhythmic modular grid of dark wooden posts marches out to the garden from right inside the house.

There’s a wonderful treetop feeling in the high up bedroom, with light bounced up from the terrace into the rafters.

It was important to remake the home as a contemporary haven, befitting the style of a new generation of residents. Read the rest of this entry »

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Design Dilemma: A Truly Special Dining Room

The holidays are all about parties, celebrations and grand feasts. If your dining room wasn’t a central focus of your home before, it probably is this month! But is it up to snuff?

Answer these questions honestly: Is your dining room flexible? Can it seat 4 or 14 with ease? Is it comfortable? Do your guests linger in their chairs for hours? Is it inviting? Does it feel lively and reflect your style the way the rest of your home does? If you can’t answer yes to all these questions, something is wrong.

So how can you improve on your dining room? Keep these tips in mind:

1) Avoid matchy-matchy. Ditch the dining room sets of yesteryear. Mix and match chairs and tables for a more dynamic, creative look that beckons and welcomes without feeling stiff and forced. See examples below:

Or this:

Or this:

Or this:

Or this casual, but extremely inviting dining space below:

Notice how each of the dining rooms above is much more dynamic, more “alive” than they would have been with a traditional dining room set complete with matching chairs. Try mixing a traditional table with modern chairs or vice-versa. Try using benches with upholstered chairs with wooden chairs. Mix it up, but avoid the deadening look of matching table and chairs!

2) Invest in a great chandelier or pendant lamp. Nothing is going to set the mood in your dining room like the appropriate lighting. A beautiful chandelier or pendant light should not only create a focal point when the lights are off, but should cast moody, romantic light during dinners, with the ability to turn up the lights for game night or office meetings. Take a look:

Or this:

Or this:

3) Give people something to look at. A lot of people stick a dining room set in a room and call it a day. But a dining room should exude all the warmth and personality of the rest of your home. That means adding wallpaper, interesting art, and area rugs. For example:

Above, a vivid wall paper creates interest, and lends style and warmth. Below, another dining modern room features wallpaper, a beautiful pendant light, and sheepskin draped over the chairs, which makes it feel cozy and dramatic at the same time.

The colorful dining room chairs below exude joy and happiness.

And below, the wall art adds lots of character:

4) Don’t forget a centerpiece. A little decoration on the dining table is the finishing touch to any great dining room. That decoration could be a colorful fruit bowl, a bouquet of flowers, or an arrangement of candles.

For example:

Or this:

So you see, a dining room can actually offer infinite possibilities for creativity and personal expression. There’s no need to allow it to be an afterthought in your home. Jazz it up and enjoy the holidays!