{"id":347939,"date":"2026-08-27T10:30:49","date_gmt":"2026-08-27T14:30:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.sothebysrealty.com\/?p=347939"},"modified":"2026-08-27T10:30:49","modified_gmt":"2026-08-27T14:30:49","slug":"shaken-or-stirred-how-to-design-the-perfect-home-bar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/shaken-or-stirred-how-to-design-the-perfect-home-bar\/","title":{"rendered":"Shaken or Stirred: How To Design The Perfect Home Bar"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A dedicated drinking den is a luxury must-have. From a \u2018vampire speakeasy\u2019 to an incognito cabinet, the best designs maintain an element of surprise, finds Elizabeth Fazzare<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"a<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A cocktail bar by Chad Dorsey Design with custom branding, menu and drinks, all in the comfort of a private Dallas residence. Photo: Stephen Karlisch<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes staying in really is just as fun as going out. For proof, look no further than the rising popularity of the home bar, now one of the most sought-after elements of a high-end residence. Homeowners are dedicating entire rooms, feature niches and hidden-in-plain-sight cabinets to this hosting staple. However, rather than taking cues from the sleek luxury of their counterparts in hospitality projects, home-bar designs are going full-out, putting personality on display alongside an owner\u2019s libations of choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, a home bar is just as much \u201cabout having people come over to experience it as to look at it,\u201d says interior designer Devin Hines, the founder of Los Angeles and New York City studio Hines Collective<\/a>. Homeowners \u201cwant it to be a conversation starter and very much a visual surprise,\u201d he says.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a recent loft project in New York City\u2019s upmarket Tribeca neighborhood, Hines carved a gilded apse into the red lacquered media room and set a wet bar within it. Its sink is outfitted with a swan-shaped faucet, while a custom metallic plaster finish looks like aged, hammered metal, dramatically juxtaposing the deep oxblood walls and ceiling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"gold<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Hines Collective added a gilded wet-bar to this atmospheric Tribeca space. Photo: Joshua McHugh<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recessing the bar\u2014kitted out with a beverage station, glassware storage and stocked snack drawers for the movie-loving homeowner\u2014leaves floor space free and clear for a sinuous statement sofa<\/a>. The client\u2019s brief for the room was \u201ca vampire speakeasy,\u201d says Hines, who is currently designing bars in all his high-end New York home projects. \u201cIt was up to us to execute that elegantly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Texan interior designer Chad Dorsey is fielding an increasing number of requests for another kind of specialized space, the listening bar. In Dallas, the owner-founder of Chad Dorsey Design<\/a> reinterpreted one home\u2019s narrow and underutilized screened-in porch around how its owners actually spend an evening. At one end, a fireplace is flanked by a turntable and media cabinet full of classic rock records; on the other, a cocktail bar with custom branding, menu and drinks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"opposite<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A Dallas porch becomes a wall-to-wall listening bar by Chad Dorsey Design. Photo: Stephen Karlisch<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a great sound system, a variety of seating, and forgiving materials such as lacquer<\/a>, velvet and brick\u2014\u201cnothing so perfectly coordinated that a little wear or a spilled cocktail is going to throw it off\u201d\u2014this full-room bar is a \u201cdestination inside the house, not an afterthought,\u201d according to the designer.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keeping the scheme relaxed and lived-in is crucial to its appeal, he maintains. \u201cNobody wants a bar that feels off-limits.\u201d Nor do clients want a \u201cgeneric bar cart in the corner,\u201d says Dorsey. \u201cThey want a place with a point of view.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In current projects, Dorsey is \u201cincorporating things like granita machines and a favorite beer, or even sparkling water, on tap. Those details make the bar feel original and personal.\u201d Where possible, dedicating an entire room to a bar allows space to get specific. Adam Kamens, CEO of custom furniture company Amuneal<\/a>, which supplies many bespoke bar and speakeasy projects, notes there is \u201cdefinitely an increase, not just in the number of bars we\u2019re designing, but in the footprint dedicated to them.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just how much square footage depends at which phase the home bar is incorporated into the overall vision. \u201cWhen a bar is being added to an existing home, we\u2019re often designing units that fit into what\u2019s already there: on counters, floating off walls, hanging from ceilings, sometimes claiming previously underutilized or awkward spaces,\u201d Kamens says. \u201cBut when a bar is considered early in the design process, it tends to be more personal, larger in footprint, and much more driven by the experience our client wants to create for themselves or their guests.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"curved<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A curved mesh bar by Amuneal in a Jagr Projects designed Philadelphia penthouse. Photo: Ty Cole<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, even a small space offers an opportunity for a design surprise. In the living room of an Aspen, Colorado home, local designer Karen White<\/a> has concealed a built-in oak-and-leather bar behind floor-to-ceiling blue lacquered doors with a patinated bronze inlay. It\u2019s a pop of color that takes the space from day to night, and a growing trend. \u201cConcealment has become one of the more interesting design problems we get to solve,\u201d says Kamens. \u201cIt lets the bar exist on the client\u2019s terms, revealed only when they choose.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While a home bar behind paneled pocket doors might seem a bit quiet in this revived era of entertaining, it can create a \u201cwow\u201d moment for guests, and taps into the prevailing demand for flexible interior spaces. Plus, says Hines, \u201ca bar is one of the few design elements that can be vertically focused. It\u2019s a nice opportunity to balance a room.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"recessed<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Behind closed doors: the bespoke Amuneal bar in Karen White\u2019s Aspen scheme. Photo: Dallas & Harris<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether hidden, showstopping or specialized, home bars allow designers a bit of space to play. \u201cBecause of the social nature of the home bar, clients seem to be willing to have a little more fun and be riskier in their design choices,\u201d says Hines, who notes that metallic, glass and luster finishes are currently top preferences. \u201cWe\u2019re presenting bolder things and they\u2019re going with it.\u201d The ultimate goal, according to Dorsey, is \u201ca spot in the house that feels like [you\u2019re] going out, without leaving home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s how to design a party-perfect interior, whatever the season<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A dedicated drinking den is a luxury must-have. From a \u2018vampire speakeasy\u2019 to an incognito cabinet, the best designs maintain an element of surprise, finds Elizabeth Fazzare A cocktail bar by Chad Dorsey Design with custom branding, menu and drinks, all in the comfort of a private Dallas residence. Photo: Stephen Karlisch Sometimes staying in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":232770377,"featured_media":347948,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_wpcom_ai_launchpad_first_post":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1399],"tags":[1427,1472,1477,1498],"class_list":["post-347939","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-home-and-design","tag-colorado","tag-new-york","tag-pennsylvania","tag-texas"],"jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pf4gbL-1svV","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":345500,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/how-to-design-a-party-perfect-interior\/","url_meta":{"origin":347939,"position":0},"title":"How to Design a Party-Perfect Interior","author":"Kate Marburger","date":"December 1, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Whether you enjoy hosting cozy soir\u00e9es or grand events, create a welcome haven for guests with luxurious materials, subtle lighting and clever, streamlined design, writes Claudia Baillie Bel Air, California | Sotheby\u2019s International Realty - Beverly Hills Brokerage Entertaining at home has become a defining part of contemporary luxury living,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Home and Design"","block_context":{"text":"Home and Design","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/category\/home-and-design\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Custom wine bar in an London home","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Party-Interiors_Hux-London-Bespoke-Bar.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Party-Interiors_Hux-London-Bespoke-Bar.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Party-Interiors_Hux-London-Bespoke-Bar.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Party-Interiors_Hux-London-Bespoke-Bar.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Party-Interiors_Hux-London-Bespoke-Bar.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Party-Interiors_Hux-London-Bespoke-Bar.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":344737,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/collecting-focus-rare-whisky\/","url_meta":{"origin":347939,"position":1},"title":"Collecting Focus: Rare Whisky","author":"Kate Marburger","date":"October 9, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Decades in the making, collectable whiskies are becoming even more desirable for their striking bottle designs, writes Katie Armstrong The Aberfeldy One of One 49 Year Old 1975, offered at The Distillers\u2019 One of One Auction, 2025. Photograph: Sotheby\u2019s Once a humble commodity, whisky is fast evolving into a centerpiece\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Art and Culture"","block_context":{"text":"Art and Culture","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/category\/art-and-culture\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Whisky_Aberfeldy_Sothebys.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Whisky_Aberfeldy_Sothebys.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Whisky_Aberfeldy_Sothebys.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Whisky_Aberfeldy_Sothebys.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":342795,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/inside-a-modern-oasis-in-san-francisco\/","url_meta":{"origin":347939,"position":2},"title":"Inside a Modern Oasis in San Francisco","author":"SIR Admin","date":"October 8, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Comprehensively reconstructed and thoroughly modernized, this majestic home in Cow Hollow features some 7,000 square feet of stylish living and entertaining space, an enviable \u201csky lounge\u201d and rooftop deck, and a luxurious backyard that recalls a tropical oasis. 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Warrenton, Virginia TTR Sotheby's International Realty North Wales, a magnificent estate established circa 1713 in Fauquier County, offers unparalleled seclusion with approximately\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Home and Design"","block_context":{"text":"Home and Design","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/category\/home-and-design\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static-sir-corp-blog-production.gtsstatic.net\/blog-api\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/palisades1-1024x683.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static-sir-corp-blog-production.gtsstatic.net\/blog-api\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/palisades1-1024x683.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static-sir-corp-blog-production.gtsstatic.net\/blog-api\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/palisades1-1024x683.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":341567,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/blue-crush-properties-perfect-for-swimming\/","url_meta":{"origin":347939,"position":4},"title":"Blue Crush: Properties Perfect for Swimming","author":"SIR Admin","date":"May 2, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Annie Lee Borges - Turks and Caicos Sotheby\u2019s International Realty\u00a0 A meditative state is most commonly associated with stillness; a way to transcend beyond disruptive thought into a state of pure observation. 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