getting started
IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE
r u ho
HAPPY by MARY FURGALE
T
‘
is the season of festive cocktails and entertaining with friends and family! It is a time where food and drinks bring us together, where stories are told, memories are made and glasses are raised to our years successes, accomplishments or simply celebrating being together. A home bar can really become the place at which these gatherings happen, but it is so much more than a place to make and serve drinks. A successful bar design will be sure to
64
RENO + DECOR |
DECEMBER 2023/JANUARY 2024
evoke an eye catching and inspiring environment that sets it apart from any other room in the home. Quite often a thoughtful bar design is overlooked when it should actually be treated no differently than other impactful spaces in your home like your kitchen or ensuite. Think of your bar as an opportunity to tell a story. Are you inspired by any bars or places you have come across in your travels? What elements of a bar catch your eye? A well designed home bar can capture these past experiences and design elements, becoming a true escape right in the comfort of your own home.
While being inspired by past experiences or places, it is important to still have continuity throughout your home. Repeat textures or materials in your bar that are found in the rest of your home. Perhaps you are repeating shapes or lines such as an arch or maybe you bring in natural stone that complements your fireplace. A bar is an opportunity to have a little bit more fun, be a little bit more edgy and make some bold and vibrant moves! I really enjoy layering when designing a bar - mixing in old and new, multiple textures, mixing metals, pops of colour, and of course