Khanyi Mlaba
With a cocktail bar at home, staying in has never been so cool. Drink a toast to these great examples.
More ideas for home bars: Beautiful home bars perfect for entertaining
1. ON SAFARI
In this KZN house designed by Dave Nelson of Bloc Architects, the bar can be closed off from the rest of the living area with shutters. However, on weekends with doors and shutters open, it’s the centre of the entertaining area. Another unique feature is the sliding roof, which gives the impression of being outdoors. The jungle atmosphere created by this and the lush garden is carried through with zebra print bar stools.
2. A GOOD VINTAGE
Jenna Page and Charon Ross of Pepper White Interior Solutions designed this wall unit to store Brenden Harmse’s collection of wines. Not only are the wines stored correctly, the unit makes a feature of the double-height wall in the entertaining area. The bar, which has a practical polished concrete top, is set in the centre of the room to encourage socialising.
Similar to home bars: Stylish summer drinks tables
3. FREE-STANDING STYLE
If you thought that bars had to be built-in, think again. Forming part of an open-plan living area of a home in Umdloti, KZN, this bar consists of a rustic console table from Veranda Décor in Cape St Francis and bar stools from Weylandts. No costly custom-cabinetry required. “The reason we chose free-standing items is that we wanted it to be really informal,” explains owner Dawn Kelly. Providing storage space for drinks and glasses is a dresser from SHF. Highlighting the counter is a pendant, also from SHF.
4. STAR ATTRACTION
This glamorous bar is the focal point of the entertaining area of this home decorated by Celeste Bushnell. Drawing the eye is a striking tile mural she designed in conjunction with Mark Doffay of Tile Styles. Enhancing the glamour is the bar itself, which is clad with metal and mosaic tiles and has a marble top. Highlighting it is a Surilight from Egg Designs.
Related to entertaining and home bars: A contemporary farmhouse designed for entertaining
5. OPEN SESAME
“My client does a lot of entertaining and liked the idea of a cocktail cabinet where drinks could be served, and with doors that closed when not in use,” says Vivian Ward who designed this mirrored unit complete with wine racks and fridges. The mirrored interior and downlights add ambience when it’s open. “What my client loves is that once guests have left, he can close the doors and it’s a beautiful piece of furniture,” adds Vivian.
6. HIGH STYLE
Tall bar tables rather than counters are proving increasingly popular and interior designer Tiggs Crozet chose a tall, slim version for this ‘man cave’ in a traditional Jo’burg home. To complement it and the chrome bar stools from Chair Crazy, she included a wall unit with built-in fridges and storage space. Adding texture is a geometric rug from Hertex and woven drinks tray.
7. COUNTER MEASURES
When Michelle Bumberry enclosed her covered patio and turned it into a casual living area, she included a bar consisting of a counter unit with a prep bowl and stools from Union 3. “It looks more sophisticated than a pub,” she explains. A chest of drawers and a shelf unit from Clark & Lynch Designs hold drinks and glasses while a geometric wallpaper from Wall-Paper in Umhlanga completes the contemporary look.
