June 30th, 2009 by stacy

kitchen_barBuilding a home bar is a great work. Although we need to concern the whole décor, bar settings and theme, the relevant accessories cannot be neglected in the home bar building. Suitable bar appliances always play very important role when you entertain friends or just hold a informal dinner party, your guests will find a drink they can enjoy if you stock these bar essentials in your home bar.

1. Cocktail shaker. cocktail shaker is a device used to mix beverages (usually alcoholic) by shaking. When ice is put in the shaker this allows for a quicker cooling of the drink before serving.

2. Glassware. Different glasses will be used for different beverages. If you don’t own all of these types of glasses in your home bar, skip the highballs and serve mixed drinks in tumblers as well.

3. Corkscrew. Corkscrews are necessary because corks themselves, being small and smooth, are difficult to grip and remove, particularly when inserted fully into an inflexible glass bottle. The handle of the corkscrew, often a horizontal bar of wood attached to the screw, allows for a commanding grip to ease removal of the stopper. Corkscrew handles may incorporate levers that further increase the amount of force that can be applied outwards upon the cork.

4. Ice tongs. Sure you could use your hands, but it just wouldn’t have the same je ne sais quoi.

5. Ice bucket. Or try a galvanized bucket with ribbon tied on the handle for a festive touch.

6. Ice maker. Ice maker will help to make ice as soon as possible

7. Jigger. This ensures the equal measurement of spirits/liquors to be added into mixed drinks; ideal for when following cocktail recipes.

8. Strainer. Some cocktail shakers come with these built in. This item prevents bits of ice from falling into the drink you are serving.

9. Blender. For blended drinks that involve crushed ice (ex. strawberry daiquiri, pina colada).

10. Stirrer. Stirrer is used to mix drinks. Sometimes, it can be replaced by stir sticks

11. A good drink recipe book for those unusual drink requests, or to choose a themed cocktail especially for your soiree. Or visit Chapters.ca for a stainless steel Manhattan Recipe Shaker with the recipes for 15 cocktails right on it.

12. Straws. When your guests want to have some juice, the straws will be suitable.

13. Juice extractor. It is workable to make fresh juice for you and your guests.

14. Water jug.

15. Champagne bucket. One is enough.

June 28th, 2009 by stacy

portable_bar_topOwning a home bar is not just a great idea, it can also be a positive way of enjoying life. A portable home bar makes it convenient for you to entertain friends in the comfort and privacy of your own home. portable Home bars have different styles, colors, and sizes, which allows you to customize the bar to your home. Below are some types of portable home bars that people may choose from.

If you are hosting a number of summer gatherings and parties, Marvel Outdoor Portable bar is the ideal bar to use. It has a stainless steel finish and foot rollers. This wheeled outdoor cart includes a refrigerator and ice box. It has a bar top and two bottle wells that can accommodate liter bottles; a condiment tray; and a fridge that can hold up to 100 cans. This bar cart is every outdoor entertainer’s dream.

The next type of portable bar is the wood Swing Open Bars. when it’s folded it looks like the average end table or cabinet and can be a regular fixture anywhere in the house. When it’s time to entertain, simply swing open the two sides and you have a bar, complete with brass foot rails that you can pull a few bar stools up to for a comfortable and casual temporary bar setting. The middle panel is the only storage space so that is limited but the mobility makes up for that and it’s on rubber casters so you can roll it around. You can, however, lock up your liquor and take advantage of the glass rack and drawers to fit almost all of your bar tools. It’s a great deal and with the optional finishes it can fit any decor.

Another portable type of home bar is the Bellacor Mini Bar, which is a sleek, black PVC bar cart. Its style is modern and it is adorned with tempered black glass. It is great for casual entertaining. It has limited storage space. There is a speed rail and the counter has bottle holders to display premium wines and drinks. When not in use, it can be stored anywhere. The built-in hanging glass serves to keep stemware safe and ready to use. The racks underneath are useful for storing garnishes and mixers.

Lynx Cocktail Station is one of the most versatile portable bars. This bar has commercial casters that make it very mobile and portable and includes a sink with a faucet and water filter. Aside from these very extravagant features, it also has an insulated ice bin with cover, bottle opener, speed rail, removable cutting bard and lots of extra storage. Additionally, the two shelves on the sides can be removed, flipped and converted into serving trays. For all these great functions, this portable bar is certainly not the least expensive.

The above-mentioned portable home bars are just a few types that are worthy to choose for your home. Prices and other features as well as more types can easily be found on various websites. Look around a little, make the choice that best suits your home and enjoy life with the bar you like.

June 23rd, 2009 by stacy

wet_barWet bars have been an important part of American homes for many years. They range from country western themes to island retreats and include everything from neon signs to exquisite works of art.

Wet bars are intended to be a place for entertainment and relaxation. They should be warm, inviting, and fun. One of the easiest ways to build a unique Wet bar is to make plans. If you are good with your hands, you may be able to build your own wet bar. There are many websites that offer wet bar plans and instructions for free, so you can them and instantly download them to your computer. These types of plans provide step-by-step directions and provide you with a list of construction materials.

If you’re not interested in building work, you can easily find one to purchase. There are several varieties of wet bars, which include the straight wet bar, L-shaped wet bar, kegger bar, bar back, and portable party bar. You can choose anyone of them that according to your wet bar theme. Most wet bars for home have cabinets, storage areas and adjustable shelves for liquor bottles and glasses. Generally, bar tops have high pressure surfaces that are waterproof and heat resistant. Some have built-in sinks and refrigerator systems to keep kegs or drinks cold.

Bar stools are the important part to accompany your wet bar and them are both fun and functional and can be a great accent to your wet bar decor. When choosing bar stools, you should be sure that you get the right bar stools with the right height and material for your space. Bar stools are usually about 30-inches in height and constructed from a variety of materials including wood, leather, vinyl and chrome.

The decoration for your wet bar is not a difficult thing. At eBay or other shopping websites, you’ll find abundant accessories to decorate your wet bar. Neon sign is one of the most common design elements of a wet bar, and they are very affordable and come in a variety of designs and colors today. You can even buy customized neon signs and further personalize your wet bar. Beside the neon sign, the lovely accessories such as wall art, custom mirrors, darts &darts board, etc. will bring more pleasure.

June 17th, 2009 by stacy

50 years ago, wine was considered as a privileged drink to be savored by the wealthy who were supposed to know all of the inner workings of wine drinking. But now, this has completely changed and you can see many people enjoying their wine at modern wine bars in various places around the world.

food-and-wineThe modern wine bar also make great change in their service, unlike the wine bars of yesteryear where the wine server would look like his was the only opinion on wines that mattered, today it is the patrons who make the choice of what they want to drink. While having inexpensive wines is still common for many people there are those who don’t mind paying more for a good quality wine.

The fashion design is another big change for modern wine bars, lighting and soft music emphasize the atmosphere of wine, comfortable bar stools, counters and lounge, while you can easily forget the lateness of the hour during evenings at here, daytime offerings are equally enticing and engrossing.

In modern wine bars, most of the customers are in their 20 to mid 30s. These people are now more informed about the various wines that you can drink and the way that these wines are supposed to taste. In addition these young people are not afraid to drink new varieties of wine. This does not mean that they will just drink any type of wine. For a good wine to be selected at the wine bars not only does the price have to be affordable but the wine itself should look palatable.

Modern wine bars are great places for you and your friends to relax and talk after a long hard day at work, and invite yourself in to the bar and let your worries roll off while you enjoy a glass of good red wine is a good idea. If you see a wine bar the next time, you should step into and find more pleasure in the amazing atmosphere.

June 14th, 2009 by stacy

glasses_typesPeople generally expect certain drinks to be served in certain kinds of glasses. The problem is that there are more standard bar glasses than most people (and many bars) care to purchase. It is often said that the right glass can enhance the drink you serve and the bar glassware has evolved into specific shapes and sizes according to the type of liquid it holds. In modern bar, there is stunning range of bar glassware available - beer mug, beer pilsner, brandy snifter, champagne flute, cocktail glass, high ball glass, red wine glass, sherry glass, shot glass, whiskey sour glass and not to forget, the white wine glass and so on.
Below are the main  types of glasses that popular in modern bar:

Highball Glass
The base of this glass is the same diameter as the rim, creating a tall, straight, wide glass.
Size: Approximately 12 ounces

Cocktail Glass
Also known as a martini glass. The shape of the glass helps keep ingredients from separating, and the stem allows the drink to stay cool while holding.
Size: 4 to 6 ounces

Old Fashioned Glass
The base diameter of this short glass is the same size as the rim.
Size: 4 to 8 ounces

Collins Glass
Named after the drink Tom Collins, this glass is tall and skinny and can be found in clear of frosted glass.
Size: 10 to 16 ounces.
Red Wine Glass
This elegantly shaped stemmed glass is generally used to serve red wine. The stem is used for holding not to affect the temperature of the drink.
Size: Approximately 8 to 10 ounces.

Whiskey Sour Glass
This is a stemmed, wide opening glass, alike to a small version of a champagne flute. Size: Approximately 5 ounces

Champagne Flute
These are tall, slender dainty glasses. The flute helps preserve the carbonation of champagne, while the stem helps keep it chilled.
Size: 7 to 10 ounces

Cordial Glass
Small and stemmed glass used for serving small portions of liquors at times such as after a meal.
Size: Approximately 2 ounces

Irish Coffee Cup
With a short stem and a handle, this glass is also known as the Irish Coffee Glass. It is used for almost any hot beverage.
Size: Approximately 8 to 10 ounces

White Wine Glass
The stem helps keep the wine stay chilled by not allowing the heat of the hand to be in contact with the part of the glass that actually holds the wine.
Size: Approximately 6 to 8 ounces

Brandy Snifter
They have a very short stem to be placed between the middle and ring finger, to allow the palm to heat the spirit while holding.
Size: 5 to 25 ounces

Parfait Glass
Pronounced Par fey is also known as the glass for foo foo drinks. This glass comes in various shapes. The stem keeps the ice cream from melting quickly.
Size: Approximately 12 ounces

Shot Glass
Usually made of very thick glass, especially at the bottom. They come in two types. The regular shot glass is approximately 2 inches tall and the tall shot glasses can be as high as 6 inches. Normally they both have the same diameter. The regular shot glass is also used as a measuring tool when preparing cocktails.
Short Size: Approximately 1 to 2 ounces
Tall Size: Approximately 2 to 6 ounces

Pitcher
This larger container usually has a handle and a lip or spout for pouring the contents into several glasses. Available in glass or plastic.
Size: Approximately 30 to 60 ounces

Beer Mug
Usually made of thick glass, quite heavy, with a large handle, it’s the traditional beer container.
Size: Approximately 16 ounces

Punch Bowl
A large semispherical bowl suitable for punches or large mixes. Often used at parties.
Size: Approximately 1 to 5 gallons

Mason Jar
This large square containers are effective in keeping their contents sealed in an air tight environment.
Size: Approximately 16 ounces

Hurricane Glass
This tall and elegantly shaped glass was named after it’s hurricane-lamp-like shape and used for exotic or tropical drinks.
Size: Approximately 15 ounces

Sherry Glass
This small narrow stemmed glass is the choice for aperitifs, ports, and sherry.
Size: Approximately 2 ounces

Margarita-Coupette Glass
This slightly larger and rounded approach to a cocktail glass has a broad-rim for holding salt, ideal for margarita’s. It is also used in daiquiris and other fruit drinks.
Size: Approximately 12 ounces

Pousse Cafe Glass
Traditionally a sort of narrow, tall cordial glass often to contain a slightly greater volume of liquid than a standard 1 ounce cordial. The Pousse Cafe and its variations were liqueur drinks poured in layers so the heaviest liqueur or syrup would settle in the bottom and progressively lighter (lower specific gravity) liqueurs or spirits would float atop one another creating a layered effect. Pousse Cafes are meant to be sipped one layer at a time.
Size: 1.5 ounces

Pint Glass
This glass is often used to serve a pint of beer and beer-related mixed drinks Size: 1 pint

Beer Pilsner
This glass is often used to serve beer and beer-related mixed drinks
Size: 12-20 ounces

June 11th, 2009 by stacy

With the changing trends and increase in socializing, the wood bar is gaining prominence just like other pieces of furniture. Wood furniture can add charm to any bars- whether home bars or commercial bars. A right bar room is surely a boon, not only is it used to entertain guests but it also provides a relaxing atmosphere.

 

Wood bar furniture always gives people a warm, traditional or pleasant rustic look. They come in a variety of stains or painted colors and varying heights to match different bars, stools or tables. People like wood bar furniture also because of the smooth, clean finish of the grain, especially the wooden bar stools that have been around a lot longer than metal and they remain a tried and true choice for any bar.

 

Generally speaking, bar furniture made of hardwood are more appealing to a traditional “good old days” pub feel. Hardwood (refer to oaks, beech, ash, maple and cherry, etc) is a privileged and most preferred choice in wood bar building. Available in varied natural colors and ranging from darkest to lightest ones, hardwood is considered as most durable among the kinds of woods used to make bar furniture, no matter the stools, tables or counters. Moreover, hardwood requires least amount of care among all the other woods. Due to its sturdiness, it is long lasting and largely maintenance free.

 

Buying bar furniture it is important to acquaint yourself with the trends in the market, of course after taking into consideration your style and your budget preferences. When choose the wood bar furniture, there will also be many details that is important to decide on:

1.       The theme of your bar room and the atmosphere you want to create.

2.       The price that that stock good bar furniture at reasonable rates.

3.       Measure the space you have and think of designs that make optimal use of the space. Make rough sketches.

4.       While buying the stool and tables make sure that they are of suitable height and comfortable too.

June 8th, 2009 by stacy

Home bar is not just a place for drinking, it is a place to relax after one day’s hard work from your office, and an area that is enjoyed by you as well as your friends. If you want to design a bar for your home that will make your house the one where everyone goes to party, watch the game, or just hang out, then this is where you will want to be to get started. Here are a few ideas to make your home bar welcoming, enjoyable and functional.

 

Before you build a home bar, you should make sure the shape and space of your home bar. For example, a straight home bar design is suitable for a bar that will be set-up at the end of a room. L type wet bar design with an L shape plan is most suitable to accommodate washing requirement in a wet bar. Corner bar design is most resourceful when space is an issue. The bottom and top cabinets offer maximum storage space.

 

Depends on the bar you want to build, you should buy or create your own bar plan. In order to build a bar in your home, you will need a blueprint to follow. Some bar design websites will provide such service, but if you want get a sense of achievement, creating a plan by yourself is also a good idea.

 

The next step is to decide where is the best place to build the bar. A home bar can be placed in a way that looks outside or also as a place from where the television is visible, which make you not miss the wonderful program When enjoy drinking with friends. If you choose a home bar that attached to the living room, it serves as a serving place during party or a small family get together.

 

The third step is to measure and make sure the area where you want to build. If you want to build a bar indoor, the precision is needed in your measurements, otherwise you may have too many supplies or even too little. There are different types of bars for particular areas, which will come in free standing, straight and L-shaped designs.

 

Build your bar in home. No matter the indoor or outdoor bar, follow your home bar plan closely and take your time to make sure that each step of the instructions are covered, and try not to neglect small details.

 

Complete the whole home bar project with careful decoration and stocking. You can create a theme such as tropical, Retro Martini, Tiki, sports. If you want a very traditional home bar, then decorate it like an Irish or English pub. When stocking your home bar, keep in mind the tastes of those who will be sharing in the relaxation of your home bar. Most often, a few basic types of liquors, wine and an assortment of beer will be enough to satisfy the majority of your guests.

June 8th, 2009 by stacy

Planning and create a theme before your home bar building will help making the task of design much easier. It is not difficult to set up a theme-based home bar. Just smartly mix and match home bar features from the varied options available today and home bar isn’t anymore a privilege of the super rich alone.

 

If you’re one of sports enthusiast, it is the perfect starting point for a sports themed bar. If you select a particular sport, or sports in general, consider covering round seat barstools with white or orange vinyl and paint on the details of a basketball or baseball with fabric paint. Hang the accessories that relevant to sports on the frame and hang jerseys and sports equipment to create more sports atmosphere. The bar itself can be made out of a wood top with pipe supports. Thread softballs or hockey pucks with holes drilled in them onto the supports.

 

The Retro Martini Bar is absolutely a new trend in recent 20 years, which also the mixture of hip trendy, and nostalgic. Use mirror tiles on both the bar backdrop and on the bar top itself. There are many fabulous retro posters available to frame and hang on the walls. You can get them either in geometric style or for a more Sinatra like feel, with vintage martini prints. For perfect lighting and bar stools, select items with an art deco design. Be sure to stock plenty of martini glasses in both small and large, as well as at least two shakers, olives, and pearl onions.

 

Tiki bar is another popular trend for home bars. It is most suitable for an outdoor home bar set-up. A tiki hut and a tiki home bar in your backyard or patio involve creating a tropical feeling within the confinement of home. To achieve the Tiki look, a grass skirt bar is a must-have as are bamboo bar stools and a thatched roof hut. Adding small touches like stringed lights, paper lanterns and drink umbrellas make your Tiki bar all the more authentic.

 

If you like a very traditional home bar, decorating it like an Irish pub is a good idea. The Irish bar, which is one of the most popular classic bar themes, will make use of wood and trim everywhere, stained in mahogany stain. Rich in history and Irish roots, a pub should have the look of a rustic, rugged drinking spot tucked into the corner of some quaint little Irish town. 

 

There are so many great ideas for a home bar, whatever the bar style you decide to go with, your bar should be a reflection of you and your family and friends. Once the project finished, you’ll owe it to yourself to celebrate! Why not invite your friends to your home and enjoy your unique bar? Not only will your home bar create the atmosphere, but it will be sure to take center stage!

 

June 8th, 2009 by stacy

Which stools will be suitable for your bar? This can be difficult to decide when you have never had to buy bar stools before. There are some different things to consider, besides the materials, size, style, budget and overall décor in the bar should all be taken into consideration.

 

Materials: When choosing the right stools for your bar, you will see that the two main classifications are metal and wood. Metal stools have a more modern design and came about after a desire for stools to be more sturdy and strong. They are more difficult to break and will last for a long time in a commercial setting. Metal stools can also be used in outdoor bar settings where wood chairs would typically not hold up. However, as for the wood stool, which always gives warm, traditional look, is better in creating “old days” atmosphere and they can also come with many different upholstery options and colors for you choose from.

 

Size Matters: This expression definitely holds water when it comes to bar stool buying. Choosing the right height for your bar stool is essential! First, think about your space. Are you outfitting a home bar, or commercial bar? The height of your eating/drinking surface will help determine how tall your bar stool needs to be. A bar stool’s height is determined by the stool’s seat height, not the total height. This will help ensure that the legs will fit under the table. A couple of things to keep in mind - counter height seats are typically between 24″ and 26″ high, while bar height seats are between 30″ and 32″ high.

 

Bar Style: Bar stools exist in nearly every style imaginable, which from traditional wood bar stools, complete with ornate detailing or carving, to retro backless bar stools, like something you’d see in a 50s-style diner. Your decor style really does say something about your personality and personal style. If you prefer a modern or contemporary design style, then opt for something sleeker, made out of stainless steel or aluminum. If your bar is totally decorated in traditional look, hardwood stools would be a better choice.

 

Budget: Reasonable budget is also very important in your bar stools selection. Price most often depend on the overall quality of the raw materials that are used to make the bar stool you are purchasing. Both wood and metal bar stools can range in prices. For example, wood bar stools are most often cheaper than their metal counterparts. But don’t let the price deter you if you are already set on a particular type of bar stool for other reasons, and discounts are often available at bar furniture online stores.

 

Bar stools come in a variety of materials for you to choose from and they can greatly enhance the look of any interior design. You should carefully plan for your bar stools whether installing them at a home bar or other commercial location.

June 8th, 2009 by stacy

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