HomeKylie's HomeOur Last HomeOur Family Room: The Home Bar (Part 2)

Our Family Room: The Home Bar (Part 2)

Posted on June 22, 2022 by KylieMawdsley

THE WINE SHRINE ON A DIME

As you probably know (based on my last blog post), I wasn’t super pumped about the bar area in our family room. I LOVED that it was there; I just didn’t love it as it WAS.

family room before redecorating (2)

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The bar had many fatal flaws, including the following:

  • a layout that blocked off the bar area from the rest of the family room
  • fugly colors
  • a peninsula that was over the average bar height, making it awkward to sit at
  • a big bare back wall that was hard to decorate – it was awkward no matter WHAT I did
  • no room for a wine fridge

Let me repeat that last point – NO ROOM FOR A WINE FRIDGE. Epic fail.

So, when we did my office renovation, it only made sense to redo the flooring. And with re-doing the flooring, it ONLY made sense to redo the BAR.

Why?

Because that’s how I roll, and really, I can convince Tim of just about anything if I wear the right pants.

However,  seeing how this area was tagging on to the end of my office remodel, I had to be careful with the costs. And sure, I say ‘on a dime’, but it was a weeee bit more than a dime. That being said, I’ve worked on homes with bars and wine rooms that cost 10’s of thousands of dollars, so what I spent is just a drop in the bucket – or that’s what I tell Tim anyway.

This was the view when you stood near the back of the family room with the bar to the left…

family room before redecorating (9)

After, we have a new view into the family room, along with a wicked blue hue…

Family room with stone fireplace, Sherwin Williams Cyberspace, leather, laminate wood flooring, chartreuse chair. Kylie M INteriors E-design and home

I want to spray the chrome grills on the fireplace to update it further – we’ll save that for another day

This was the view from inside the bar, into the family room – dark, drab, and dated…

family room before redecorating (17)

And this is the view now…

family room with tv on mantel above stone fireplace with 2 leather accent chairs and Sherwin Williams Cyberspace. Kylie M Interiors E-design and color consulting expert

That’s right  – no more sneaky bar blocking any decent furniture layout, and the light now FLOODS into the rest of the family room from the bar window!

But where did the bar go? Not far…

Sherwin Williams Cyberspace in home bar with reclaimed wood wine display with beer fridge and Cambria Bianco Drift countertops. Kylie M INteriors E-design

family room with sherwin williams cyberspace and home bar with wine display on the wall and fridges. Kylie M Interior E-design

Instead of repeating the ‘L’ shape, I wanted a simple back bar that was ‘part’ of the family room, but more of a backdrop than a visual block. And remember, I am a decorator – a photographer I am not, so I do my best!

Before, as previously mentioned, it wasn’t a super functional bar area…

family room before redecorating (2)

And now it’s like a TOTALLY different space…

Home bar and unique wine bottle display and storage with beer fridge. Sherwin Williams Cyberspace in family room. Kylie M Interiors E-decor, E-design and Online colour expert

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THE WINE SHRINE / DIY WOOD & METAL WINE RACK

I’ve seen my fair share of cubbies and crosses holding dozens of wine bottles, but I wasn’t going for ‘bulk’ storage – I was going for beauty (and affordability). I wanted something unique you don’t see anywhere, but that still aligned with the rest of our home. And I found it. Well, I didn’t really ‘find’ it.  I drew up what I wanted and had a creative fellow named Christian make it for me out of 100-year-old barn boards!

Bianco Drift Quartz countertops. Wine bottle display Kylie M Interiors

This is undoubtedly my FAVE DIY type project I’ve ever done (or not done, really; Christian did it, but I cheered him on!).

I chose the same gray quartz countertop (Caesarstone Bianco Drift) that went in our main bathroom remodel as I love its versatile range of neutrals.

And of course, Tim’s contribution…it ain’t a home bar without a little Gord Downie!

Home bar with wine wall display, growlers and a photo of Gord Downey. Kylie M Interiors E-design

Seriously, just look at this wood (if I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard that…).

Home bar and unique wine bottle display and storage Sherwin Williams Cyberspace in family room. Kylie M Interiors E-decor, E-design and Online colour expert

Unique home wine bar display and storage with reclaimed wood on Sherwin Williams Cyberspace. Kylie M Interiors e-design and Online color consulting

The 12 Best Navy Blue Paint Colors

COSTS

Wine and beverage fridges: Lowes $499 each. That might look like a double unit, but it’s two separate pieces that we just reversed the doors on and butted together. At $499 a piece, we saved some good moula.

Countertop:  Caesarstone Bianco Drift and undermount sink $1900. We did not…save any money with this choice, but it had to be done.

Wine racks: $180

Cabinets: Mid Island Cabinets $1800.  I love the soft gray of the cabinets and how it plays with Bianco Drift—in the words of the great Goldilocks – not too dark, not too light – juuust right.

Paint: Sherwin Williams Cyberspace

Grand Total:  Under $5000

So, there you have it; the family room is complete!

READ MORE

6 Budget-Friendly Home Update Ideas

5 Ideas to Update Your Fireplace

How to Create a Timeless Home

NEED HELP?

CHECK OUT MY ONLINE PAINT COLOR PACKAGES

E-design and colour consultations. Online color expert Kylie M INteriors. Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams specialist (2)

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2017, UPDATED AND TWEAKED IN 2022



Comments

  1. Utterly fantastic room makeover!!! May I ask what the cabinet color is and also what the ceiling white color is? I’m thinking about SW Cyberspace for parts of my basement but probably need some medium-gray walls as well. I want my ceiling to be a very crisp white, just like what you did here. I also have to deal with trim and am not sure whether that should be the same bright white as the ceiling or something slightly different. I would appreciate any suggestions.

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      Author

      Hiya! It was actually a colour offered by the cabinet company and not a regular BM or SW colour – it was VERY close to BM Metropolis though (or similar to SW Dovetail). The ceiling, it was original and we never painted it, but I do love BM White Dove or the cleaner look of SW Pure White and YES, I would do the trim/ceiling the same colour in the ideal world 🙂

      1. Thank you! This is incredibly helpful. I’ve noticed online that the best and most confident designers share their ideas, paint choices, etc., while lesser ones sometimes hoard what they know. I’ve spent enough time looking at your excellent work online that I knew you would fall into the first category. You did not disappoint. Anyway, great room renovation and thanks for your help with mine.

  2. I am SO happy I saw this post before I had my new townhouse painted. I copied this and put Cyberspace on the walls and Light French Gray on our bar cabinets – I am OBSESSED! Thank you for inspiring me!!

    1. Post
      Author

      Hi Meryl! We’ve actually moved, so I don’t have the measures, and he’s not doing that work anymore! I know it was tricky figuring out the distance to effectively hold the wine bottles, while leaving a good distance to get them in and out. I’m sorry I can’t help more!

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      Author
    1. Post
      Author

      You bet – that was a hard one to figure out! Notice there are two ‘plugs’ in the center top and center bottom of the surrounding frame. That’s where we had a hole predrilled and then screwed them to the wall via that and made sure we went into studs. With the amount of weight, next time I might do two on the top, two on the bottom and use SUPER strong anchors or at least hit a stud with one.

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