Need some Bar ideas

[mbailey]

I cant think of a better resource than this to ask my question...knowing all the folks here that tend to tip a few from time to time, i knew this was a goldmine!!  

THe wife and i just purchased a fairly large home, with a 1300+ sq ft finished basement...Luckily (for now...like i said i have a wife   ) ive been given the ok to build my bar in a section of the basement appx  18ft wide and 35ft long..... I know the bar area will have tile or slate flooring.....but beyond that....Im looking for ideas.... Cost is really no issue, as i am extremely handy, (was a builder for years) I plan on doing the work myself, and with a good friend whos a miracle worker with anything wood.....The cost would really be limited to the cost of materials, which i get at a contractors rate. Im thinking the materials budget will be around 5K....not including the flooring.

Im actually stuck as to what i want to do, and need some ideas......so like i said earlier.....i have a goldmine here, so.....any ideas would be wonderful!!!  Oh and with that I also mean decorations/theme .....  ( I was thinking of making it a Military OClub....something 50's era......or a Revolutionary era Public House..or a Hunting/fishing club  etc etc......Its killing me not having a solid idea...  Im open to anything at this point....

Thanks in advance  

 

[morfiend]

  Find some sunken timber and cut a slab out of it to make the bar top!   It will be a one of a kind type thing and as an exbuilder should be easy enough to DIY.

  I'm sure Von will be along to give some ideas on both the bar and items to stock in it.....

  I saw a dinning table made from waterlogged logs,it was absolutely beautiful!!!



   

 PS:  I'd go with fishing gear and airplanes for a decore,tell them your a flyfisherman....

[rpm]

I saw a bar top that was covered in new pennies and lacquered over. It was a very cool look.

[caldera]

Leave some space for a brass pole and a small stage.   

[macleod01]

Does it have to be a military scene? If not then why not go for a prohibition era Speak-Easy. Always a cool, almost mystical look.

[Dragon]

I built my bar walls using rough cedar planks and topped it with cherry hard wood flooring.  I only have a small single bowl sink because the bar is small. I made a rack on the ceiling to hang some of the wine glasses by routing some cedar and have a few cedar shelves on the wall above the sink.


You might want to look into a small 3 section sink since you have the room.  A small ice machine comes in real handy too.  My theme is traditional with a shot glass display (I buy one from every state as I get the chance to travel through it) as well as rare or unique beer bottles as well as other bar trinkets.

[detch01]

Hey Bailey
 In keeping with the theme of the current scenario (BoB) -how's this strike you?



www.whitehorsehawkinge.co.uk

[Banshee7]

I saw a bar top that was covered in new pennies and lacquered over. It was a very cool look.

I saw one like that somewhere.  It was definitely cool looking! 

#S#



Josh

[jimson]

If I had this opportunity, I'd go with a western saloon look, because there is so much you can do with that. Guns displayed behind the bar, a poker or faro table, spittoons, some way to incorporate swinging doors etc.

[rpm]

This place sells DIY kits, but they might have some ideas you'd like.

[Tec]

I saw a bar top that was covered in new pennies and lacquered over. It was a very cool look.

I like those type bars, and you can go with whatever suits your theme like baseball cards, or old photos.  If you go for the outdoorsman's club you gotta have a fish tank with some native species in it.

And most important of all.  A bar isn't a bar without a pool table and a dart board.

[surfinn]

Pappy Boyingtons drinking hole as seen in Ba-Ba black sheep would be cool

[Banshee7]

And most important of all.  A bar isn't a bar without a pool table and a dart board.

Yes, this is definitely important, second to what the bar is stocked with.    It would be cool to have the pool table and dart board with the same theme.

#S#



Josh

[Bruv119]

party around MBailey's !!!   

[Bizman]

What I've found out in many commercial bars and restaurants is that they all have nice looking walls with all kinds of fancy decoration. Alike you, they also seem to have put an idea or two into the floor. But in many cases the ceiling is plainly awful! The worst and most common kind is a dull black unfinished concrete with massive air ducts in the same "colour". The second worst is the same with a lowered fake ceiling made of sparse planks showing all what's above. The third worse is the same sparse boards with a black cardboard between the planks and the tubing.

The most beautiful so far was in a not-so-cheap hotel/restaurant in Bavaria: Beautiful carved big wooden panels with ornaments reminding of harvest and such. Nothing too descriptive, just a reminder that barley is the base of a good beer. I don't know about your carving skills, but what I'm trying to say is to make a real somewhat decorative ceiling. Something that you'd feel safe and comfortable (and proud of your work) to look at when you lean back in your nice chair.