PRODUCT FEATURE | Home bars and wine storage
spaces, which can include coffee stations and breakfast nooks, have started to become standard demands. So, what should retailers and designers consider? Firstly, from a design perspective, the home bar can be treated differently from the rest of the kitchen, offering the opportunity for a bolder approach. It can be a place where the homeowner and designer can let loose creatively and really show off their personal style. Creative director at Harvey Jones, Melissa Klink, comments: “Just like a powder bathroom, it can be really unique and more standout in the design, going a bit beyond what the rest of the kitchen is presenting from an aesthetic point of view.
“Home bars are a great place to apply a funky tile or bold wallpaper, dynamic worktops, and interesting handles. There is a lot of functionality that must happen in a home bar – drinks
storage, sink and drainage,
prep station, glassware storage, bottle display. Make sure you have your client’s full checklist of requirements against the size of the space so when they are in that amazing new home bar, making their favourite drink is effortless and impressive.” The most important consideration though is what sorts of drinks are likely to be stored. If the client drinks mainly red wine, then the need for refrigerated storage will be reduced. Most modern wine chillers can be set to store all wine – red or white – at the right temperature, but a mix of different types of storage might be preferred.
Premium built-in column wine cellar from Bertazzoni
It’s also important to establish
whether the client wants to be able to make cocktails and whether they want to show off their home bar or hide it. “Once these questions have been answered,” comments Cassie Jones, brand manager at Masterclass Kitchens, “it will direct the designer into the correct avenue.
“If the customer is a wine connoisseur, then wine drawers with integrated lighting will allow for perfect presentation. However, if a customer wanted a more conventional ‘bar’, they may choose to hide it behind closed
Designing the perfect home bar
Julia Steadman, commercial director at Brandt Design, offers her advice
As a bespoke kitchen design studio, we have been lucky enough to work on many home-bar projects and strongly believe they should be in keeping with the architecture of the client’s home, as well as supporting and enhancing their lifestyle.
In a nutshell, I would advise a focus on the three Es – ease, elegance and ergonomics. This will stand you in good stead when you consider how the homeowner likes to entertain guests, how often they do so and the preferred drinks on offer. Once you have established these parameters, you are better resourced when it comes to working out cooling provision, surface treatments and the bar footprint itself, in relation to seating and dining areas. For example, having a dedicated bar area that is fully integrated into the kitchen with a wine cooler close by will free up
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A home bar by Brandt Design
doors, only opening when a show- stopping moment is required.” For Häfele UK’s Davenport, the top priority should always be functionality, with everything else following after that. She notes that positioning is one of the most important considerations. “Integrated wine coolers should be installed
in a suitable spot in the
kitchen that is easy to access but doesn’t impact on the way the rest of the kitchen works,” she advises. “Alternatively, for those that want to make even more of their home bar, space should be dedicated to create something special.
“Cabinet doors can be fitted in a larder style in front of one large cabinet, complete
with shelving to display
space in the main refrigerator and ensure that it is separate from the cook zone.
A bespoke unit will also make it easier to check on supplies and allow the client to have ice-making equipment or bar snacks to hand. Offering a combination of open and closed storage will also enable the end user to ring the changes when it comes to displaying notable vintages or marking important occasions.
glasses, bottles of choice and all the tools required to whip up a guest’s favourite drink. The cabinet doors can be installed using pivot-and-slide mechanisms, and slide back into hidden pockets when in use. Clever LED lighting that can be controlled by the user to suit any mood or atmosphere can also add the final wow factor.” It’s also worth noting that wine tastes best when kept at its optimum temperature. Humidity and light will influence the wine’s quality too. For those discerning customers who take their wine seriously, this is important to bear in mind when choosing where to put the bar/wine storage.
Liebherr national sales manager
Matt Jinks elaborates: “One of the most important factors in a wine cabinet is the interior humidity levels. By introducing innovative technology that ensures protection against UV light and vibrations, alongside the variation of temperature within the unit, customers are able to enjoy their wine instantly or in the future. “We offer units that provide con -
ditions similar to a wine cellar, such as the GrandCru and Vinothek wine cabinets, to multi-temperature cabi-
CDA says its wine chiller range is one of the largest on the market
nets, such as the Vinidor, for those who want to house a wide selection of wines in one unit.
“Properly stored, wine continues to develop its natural flavour in the bottle and, on reaching peak maturity, the wine will be deeper and more complex. For a good character wine, consistent storage conditions are a prerequisite for long-term storage.” When it comes to design, there seems to be two broad approaches – either a hidden bar that can be revealed to guests, to make a real statement, or more understated wine storage, perhaps with a combination of chilled storage and racking. And don’t forget to have a bit of fun
with the space. Make sure you ask loads
of questions not only to
determine your client’s favourite drinks, but how often they entertain and their personal style preferences. And if you were wondering what’s in it for you, bear in mind this area of the market is
insulated from economic
downturns because, as Salice’s Gosling notes, “most wine buyers fall into the 50 to 64 age group – ‘mature haves’ and this group is probably less vulnerable to the spending pressures faced by other demographics”. On the flip side, home bars might be appealing for those who want to stay in and save money, rather than go out. As Neil McDonald, design manager at Moores, says: “These products are absolutely here to stay, with the cost- of-living crisis people are going to be looking at alternative and cheaper ways to socialise.
“At-home socialising is still hugely popular following the pandemic and a lot of people enjoy being at home now as they have spent the past couple of years investing in home improvements rather than holidays.”
What is more, in an increasingly tough market, selling this type of product will also help set you apart from the competition.
· November 2022
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