Basement Remodeling

The cabinetry and styles utilized for constructing basement bars often have more personality than cabinetry utilized in other rooms of the home.  The homeowner feels free to create a more dramatic space in which their personal style can be expressed without the resale fears present when designing a kitchen or other predominant space in the home.  The cabinetry style typically falls into one of the following three categories: traditional, contemporary, or transitional family friendly.

            Traditional cabinet styles and finishes are often used to create a pub style bar.  Typically a designer would suggest a door style with lots of detail and applied moldings in a darker wood species and stain for this style.  One way a homeowner can add their personal touch to this style is by ordering the cabinets with distressing or in a rustic wood species.  These options give the cabinetry an older more authentic appearance with use of sand through, worm holes, and dents.  Decorative wood overlays are another way the homeowner can add their personality to the bar.  The overlays make cabinetry appear handcrafted; their intricacy makes the cabinets appear that they are custom built by an artisan.  Homeowners should also consider the type of storage they will need in their basement bar.  Typically in a traditional bar you will find stemware holders displaying wine glasses and lighted cabinets with glass doors displaying liquor bottles. 

            A basement bar found in a contemporary home is typically thought of as very simple; design flair and personality are not added necessarily by the intricacy of the cabinets, like in the traditional bar.  These qualities are added by the accessories and cabinet finishes.  Vertical lift door cabinets are being offered by most mid-level and up cabinet companies.  This type of cabinet hinging is considered a more contemporary alternative to the typical hinging.  Integrated appliances fitted with matching cabinet panels, creates a seamless and simplistic design—the bar may house a clear ice maker and the appliance would appear to be just another cabinet.  Putting a dramatic finish on a contemporary door style will also create style and personality—cabinet manufacturers are offering bolder and a larger selection of paints and finishes.  Although, a homeowner may fall in love with Washington Red Cherry paint, she may feel apprehensive about using it in her kitchen, but in a basement bar she can use the color that she loves.

            A family friendly basement bar is possible with some of the options that cabinet manufacturers have.  Typically family friendly cabinetry serves a dual purpose: storage for adult items as well as children’s items.  The cabinets will often have roll trays and other interior accessories for games and children’s snack items.  The adult cabinet storage available consists of locked liquor cabinets, as well as a safe out of reach cabinets for glass stemware.  The most popular cabinet styles in family basement bars are simple in style so they are low maintenance and require little cleaning.

There is a great kitchen design book that can help you to design your space. Its Design Ideas for Kitchens (2nd edition) This book talks about layouts, cabinet types & styles, energy efficient appliances, hot new countertop ideas, and more. There is plenty of useful information that you can apply to the design of your new wetbar.

For more information or purchasing cabinets visit www.thecabshop.com

For more basement remodeling tips visit BasementSource