Recently, a bar counter has been increasingly used in the interior of a kitchen combined with a living room. If earlier it was something surprising and unusual, now it is an indispensable attribute in many apartments. Initially, it was used only as an element of decor and interior design in the West, but over time it became widely used in our country.
The main difference is that in American countries the bar counter lives up to its name and is used for its main functional purpose - preparing drinks and cocktails and drinking them. On the territory of the Russian Federation, people are more interested in it as a small dining table that can fit into a small kitchen. Also, the stand is often used as an element of the interior, for zoning space and perfect appearance, but not for its intended purpose.
Types of bar counters for the kitchen
There are as many as 7 design options for bar counters, and they differ fundamentally.
By height:
- Dining table ~ 75 cm, regular chairs
- At table top height ~ 82-92 cm, bar stools
- Up to 105-110 cm, when it is already convenient to stand at the bar counter
Here we analyze the last 2 options.
Based on the type of base, we divide bar counters in the kitchen into:
- Open
- Monolithic - brick or aerated concrete masonry covered with a countertop
- Furniture - drawers
Built-in
The bar counter is like a continuation of the kitchen countertop - the same height and without breaks.
The simplest and cheapest option to implement. At the same time it looks great.
Minus: if you're tall, you can't stand up for one.
Completely implemented by kitchen workers.
It's still taller than a standard table and regular chairs won't work.
If you like these, look about them in the relevant paragraphs in the articles about U-shaped and corner kitchens - there is also information about mounting such a counter on a wall with a window (instead of a window sill).
Corner kitchen with bar counter
Most often an open corner counter, perpendicular to the main line of the kitchen. The height of such a bar counter is just +15-20 cm to the height of the table top. Made by kitchen workers. The material of the countertop is the same as that of the kitchen.
According to the layout, a kitchen with such a bar counter is usually combined with a living room, or the size should initially allow it to be approached from both sides.
Freestanding bar counters
Either monolithic or open. For a monolithic base or the bottom of a former wall, or a newly erected structure made of brick or gas silicate blocks.
Maybe with a furniture base, but not as beautiful.
For kitchen design, it would be a good idea to decorate the monolithic base of the bar counter with a material with a deep texture (decorative plaster or stone) and direct light from a hidden strip along this surface.
Bar table
Suitable for medium to large sized kitchens. The height is like a stand, and the size is like a regular table, i.e. wide.
An interesting option because The bar counter table in a free-standing design allows you to accommodate the maximum number of guests - it’s comfortable to sit and stand, and the space allows you to fully serve it.
Bar counter by the window
An ordinary bar counter in a small kitchen is placed either in a built-in format or when combined with a window sill. There are also options for a folding bar counter, but such solutions seem like unnecessary complication to me, so we’ll omit them.
It is sold separately from the main work area by the window as a wider window sill with an overhang and room for legs. Or as a continuation of the corner kitchen with entry under the window.
After redevelopment with the addition of a balcony to the kitchen, the bar counter is installed in the window block in place of the former window sill.
Island type
The fundamental difference between a bar counter and an island is that neither a sink nor a hob is placed on it, and you can sit behind it on a bar stool due to the presence of legroom.
There is a hybrid option, when the island has an overhang of the tabletop to create room for knees, and you get an island bar counter. Below are 2 photos of examples of such islands in typically masculine kitchen designs.
By the way, we are in:
Multi-level
The design of the bar counter with a ladder at different levels sends us back to sad kitchens from the 2000s, but, theoretically, it can have an acceptable appearance.
From the side of the working area, it is done at the level of the tabletop, then rises with a step to a standard height from the side of the living area. I do not recommend using chrome legs for this.
Functionality
As mentioned above, a bar counter can be very functional. Its design plays a big role in this. For example, the basis could be:
- open. In this case, the stand rests on one or two legs. The space under it remains free, which is very good for a cramped room, since this way it will be visually more spacious;
- closed. Such a base is a housing, inside of which there are shelves for storing things or niches for built-in household appliances. This approach makes the bar counter very functional. The base can be made in the form of a cabinet with closing doors, a chest of drawers with drawers, or a rack with open shelves. Either way, it provides additional storage area.
The choice of countertop should also be made taking into account the required functionality. For example, if you plan to use the counter exclusively as a bar, then its surface can be standard, single-level.
If you have it instead of a dining or work table, then it is better to choose a two-tier tabletop. On one side there will be a regular high counter, and on the other there will be a surface located at a lower level.
The functionality is also affected by the presence of additional equipment. First of all, this is a bar cabinet in which various drinks are stored. It can be placed in the rack itself - or rather, in its chassis base. This bar wall is a very good solution.
This element can also be placed separately. The choice of design depends on where exactly you plan to install it. There are corner bar cabinets, wall cabinets, and simple wall cabinets. Some models are equipped with a refrigerator, which is very convenient.
Overall, if you purchase a set of a cabinet with a refrigerator and a two-tier counter, you will get an excellent, highly functional bar corner that will serve as a gathering place for friends, a dining area, and a work area. This approach allows you to make the environment as comfortable as possible.
Kitchen design with a bar counter
A bar counter in the kitchen is no longer an experiment - designers have been offering them to clients for a long time, but many are still afraid and in vain. Let's look at the photos to see which designs are relevant in modern kitchens, and which have already gone out of fashion.
The obvious:
Chrome-plated furniture legs (supports) and the rounded shapes of the racks themselves will only spoil the design of the kitchen.
To decide which type of bar counter will best complement the interior of your kitchen, let’s determine the goal setting and your requirements for a bar counter in the apartment:
- Party place and center of attraction
- A method for delimiting functional areas between the kitchen and living room or dining room
- Large free cooking area (with low counter)
- Bar table as a way to host large companies
- Additional storage for utensils (base with drawers or cabinets)
The entire kitchen design can be built around the bar counter: designer lamps above it, lighting from below, stylish bar stools. Interesting photos of kitchens with bar counters from a design point of view:
Those. the most stylish base options are monolithic, the top is solid wood or stone. If you save money, use wood-look chipboard.
A special role is played in the design of kitchen-living rooms. It is placed in the place of the demolished wall to zone the premises, and a TV is hung on the same line with it. In this layout it can be viewed from both the kitchen and the living room. On the side of the living room, a sofa is often placed next to the bar counter.
It is a mistake to think that the counter is only suitable for large kitchens or kitchen-living rooms. Unlike a table, a bar counter takes up less space and often becomes an alternative to a dining table in kitchens in Khrushchev-era buildings. In small kitchens, a bar counter at the height of the work area is used as its continuation, either in place of the window sill, or as the edge of a corner kitchen.
Expert advice
Experienced designers recommend not only adhering to the basic canons of style, but also paying considerable attention to various nuances. For example, it is very important to make separate lighting for the bar counter - this way the zoning will be clearest.
Both built-in and pendant lamps can be used as lighting fixtures. In addition, for some modern styles (for example, high-tech), the use of light strips is quite appropriate. With their help, you can illuminate the tabletop or other elements of the counter.
As for placing accents in the room, a very interesting option is when the counter itself is made in the same color scheme as the entire room, but the bar stools and lamps are made in contrast.
You can also play with the shapes of these elements. For example, the bar counter can be completely simple, and the chairs can have curved intertwined legs.
The rack base doesn't have to be a useful storage area. It may well be an original design element that will become the highlight of the home. There are a lot of options: a large aquarium, a bookcase, entwining with living plants, and much more.
Bar top
The countertop is already important, but when a bar counter is also made from it and its share in the kitchen design increases, the right choice is critical.
The difference is huge:
- Appearance
- Tactile sensations
- Resistance to aggressive environments in the kitchen
- Price
If you're too lazy to delve into it:
In terms of price, quality, speed (the same people who did the whole kitchen will do it), stability, design, tactility - the best is chipboard with imitation wood.
An article with a selection of photos of white kitchens with wooden countertops.
For more details, read on.
Bar counter made of chipboard (postforming)
Laminated chipboard imitating wood, stone, marble, etc. Options with imitation wood look cool and in fact are a standard solution for countertops in general.
Postforming with imitation of any material other than wood must be chosen very carefully. Ideally, look for examples of kitchens with such countertops displayed somewhere in real life, because little is clear from the sample. This is important because Most chipboards with imitation stone or marble look terrible in real life , photos don’t convey this either.
Plus, when a stone is imitated, but when touched and knocked it makes the sound of wood, this causes dissonance.
A natural stone
A bar counter made of stone looks stylish and expensive, and is also expensive. The material is durable, resistant to moisture and high temperatures, and easy to care for. For my taste, it loses in important parameters to artificial stone. You can choose if money allows. The main advantage is tactile sensations. The material is perceived as monumental and solid, which is nice. In real life, no one will confuse natural stone and imitation laminated chipboard.
Limited number of shapes and sizes, difficult to process, but not afraid of temperature.
Artificial stone (acrylic)
Artificial stone comes in different types and can be called a brand or type. Known as acrylic, agglomerate or corian. Created on the basis of acrylic resins. Acrylic is not inferior to natural stone both in appearance and in terms of wear resistance. There are a huge number of colors and it’s almost impossible to go wrong with them - a bar counter made of acrylic looks at least good.
A special feature of acrylic is the ability to use broken geometry without seams. Great for an L-shaped open bar. You can also embed lighting directly inside acrylic, but this is not for everyone. Can be cast in one piece with a sink, etc.
Disadvantage of acrylic: it gets scratched over time, but can be sanded. Afraid of extremely high temperatures.
Made from concrete
A concrete bar counter can become a central part of your kitchen design, especially if you are designing a loft-style kitchen. It’s a one-off object, but it’s things like this that are worth the time and money spent because... take the kitchen interior to a new level.
Solid natural wood
A kitchen with a bar counter made of solid oak and other wood looks very cool and is suitable for both classic and modern styles. But the tree is delicate (it is afraid of mechanical damage).
You will have to worry about searching and making it - this is not something that you can simply order from kitchen specialists. But natural wood is always a unique piece. In the photo below, people tried their best and bought a whole cut of oak, which was also enough for the table.
From tiles
The base is made monolithic or from plasterboard, and the sides and top of the rack are lined with tiles or mosaics.
I don't recommend using it. It will look like a collective farm in 99.99% of cases. In addition, dirt will constantly get stuck in the seams between the tiles - it is inconvenient to wipe a countertop that is not smooth.
Tempered glass
A controversial option that can turn out either successful or unsuccessful. If you are confident and ready to take risks, why not. But there are more proven materials for bar counters.
There are also unusual options for bar counters: stainless steel, porcelain stoneware, timber, round, etc., but these exclusive options are already beyond the scope.
If you are tired of racking your brains and want a ready-made solution - a monolithic base made of gas silicate, covered with decorative plaster, and a table top made of post-forming wood.
If you really wanted a bar counter, but weren't sure, go for it. Now you have all the information to implement your idea without risk. I advise you to read about choosing a kitchen, there is really useful information there.
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