HOW TO DESIGN + STYLE A WET/DRY BAR

Client’s Vision In Designing Their Wet/Dry Bar

One of my favorite parts about being a designer is the opportunity to create something special for our clients. We are tasked with walking into a space and completely transforming into our clients’ vision. At Clark + Aldine we pride ourselves with thinking outside of the box so that each project, and ultimately each home, is unique. 

Our approach came to life when a kitchen redesign turned into a built-in wet bar (Old Fashinoned anyone?!?!). The client had a dead corner separating the kitchen and dining room, which made the spaces feel disconnected. But, adding a custom wet bar in the corner created balance and brought the spaces together!

I like cocktails so I’m always down to share our guide on creating your very own wet/dry bar (Aperol Spritz anyone?!?!).

BACKSPLASH

The backsplash is your opportunity to create visual interest and add personality to your bar. Since this was an added expense for our client we went with the most budget friendly option. But, most importantly, since making drinks can be messy, durability was key (Frozen Margs Anyone?!?!). If budget allows, you could even use a patterned wall tile to get the same impact. Obviously, the tile option will give you the most durability and longevity. Below are some fun options: 

• Vivace 4″ x 4″ Decorative Tile in Rice Motif
• Ruhlmann Cream Fan Wallpaper Bolt
• Cloe 5″ x 5″ Loire Decorative Pattern Ceramic Tile
• Tiger Face print wallpaper

LIGHTING

If you have the option to add lighting to your bar then we highly recommend it. Lighting is a great feature and allows you to set the vibe. If you know me, I’m a big vibe girl so I will never turn down the option to add lights. This also is another area to show off your personality and tie spaces together. 

• Mitzi Renee Wall Sconce
• Mitzi Reese Single Light Sconce
• Edie Prismatic Sconce

Not sure what light bulbs to get? Check out this post that tells you everything you need to know about light bulbs. 

SHELVING

For wet/dry bars we like to use open shelving since bars are typically a feature in the home. The open shelving will also keep you from storing old bottles/glassware that you don’t actually use. We’re all guilty of stuffing our cabinets full of things we will never use!

We recommend using two shelves spaced out 15”- 20” inches depending on how much room you have. You’ll also want to make sure they are the full width of the cabinets and backsplash for a cohesive look. Our build team designs and builds four our clients but there are plenty of pre-made options. See some of our favorites below: 

• Brighton Floating Wood Shelves
• Rejuvenation Floating Wood Shelves

CABINETS + HARDWARE 

Planning out your cabinets is an essential part of designing a bar. We like to go the custom route so our clients are getting exactly what they want and need. A good place to build your own is CliqStudios or Ikea. A few questions to ask yourself when planning: 

• What do I want to store? 
• Will drawers or shelves make sense for those items? Or a mix of both?
• Is this a wet or dry bar? If you have a wet bar you will need to make sure to provide space for plumbing.
• What color cabinets compliment by backsplash? If you aren’t sure white is always a timeless option.

Now you’ve built your cabinets you will need to dress them up with some hardware. For this project we chose pulls but you can use knobs or a combination of both depending on your design. Below are some good options: 

• Lusso Handle
• Graham Handle 
• Blair Pin Pull
• Emtek Alexander Pull

If you are interested in learning more about hardware and placement check out this awesome post Danielle wrote. She also linked some of her favorites! 

STYLING 

Last but not least is styling. This means you’ve completed your installation and you’re ready to start using this bad girl! This may seem overwhelming at first but if you follow these simple tips then this should be a breeze. 

• Make a list of items you want to store and want to be seen.
• Only use items that are functional and purposeful (coasters, drink mixer, glassware etc.).
• Don’t overkill with one metal (brass everything for example). If your lighting and hardware is brass, think about introducing another metal such as polished nickel to help soften the tones. Check this post out for more tips on mixing metals. 
• For any bottles you aren’t loving the look, simply use a beautiful glass decanter or place that bottle in the cabinet. 
• Adding greenery is always a great option depending on the natural light. You can always put a fake plant as well if you don’t have natural light or have a record for killing plants. 

Now that you are ready to make your bar I will keep an eye out for my invitation to have a drink! Preferably a spicy margarita or martini. 

Keep Doing You- 

LESLIE | Designer