Having already designed the kitchen for this home refurbishment project in the Hampshire countryside; we were commissioned to design and make a curved corner bar for a Games Room situated in a separate outhouse on an extensive property in Hampshire.
Our client’s brief was for a truly social space, a large bar area in the style of a smart private members’ club, just in the comfort of his own home. The bar would be used when entertaining friends and family whilst playing pool, his favourite hobby, and for more grand-scale entertaining.
Because the Games Room is in a separate building to the main house, the bar would have to function as a standalone area for serving drinks and snacks. It therefore required all the amenities and necessary appliances to keep it clean and uncluttered on-site, without having to walk everything to and from the house each time it was used. This was all considered and then incorporated into the design.
Designed in a semi-elliptical shape, the front of the bar is a peninsula, attached to the wall on one side which extends in a curve to a rounded end that acts as the entrance to the bar area. Vertical reeded timbers are a key trend in hospitality interiors, seen in stylish restaurants and cocktail bars, a Northern European aesthetic increasingly being used in residential interiors. For that reason, we suggested a Scandi style dark stained Walnut 20mm diameter vertical reeds to the front of the bar area and as an accent piece behind it. As the reeds are separate pieces, all hand cut, it can be easily curved, making it ideal for creating circular furniture. The front has a plinth with LED lighting at the base to make a feature of it at night. The bar top is 20mm thick Techlam Marvel Gold, in a satin finish, by Levantina.
Directly above the bar is a matching semi-elliptical hanging shelf, made bespoke by a local metalworking company. This is complemented with reeded acrylic, which is inserted within the metal frame of the shelf. LED down lighting at the base has been added to shine directly onto the bar top.
Behind the bar front is the functional area with a run of faceted cabinets that includes a further worktop with a circular sink and rinse tap, both by Franke. The cabinetry comprises of a pull-out bin, a 45cm integrated Miele dishwasher, two Siemens 60cm undercounter fridges, a set of drawers and a plumbed-in ice maker. Â
Designed as a corner display dresser unit directly behind the bar, LED-lit curved glass shelving for bottles and glasses surrounds the vertical reeded timber wall panel. A stained Walnut overhang features three LED downlights. With the same 20mm thick worktop, the corner cabinetry beneath features two in frame painted door fronts that conceal angled cupboards on either side of a Siemens dual-zone glass fronted wine conditioning cabinet at the centre.
The bar is styled with a photographic portrait of actor, Roger Moore, and with framed artworks by Banksy.
Searle & Taylor has been designing and creating beautiful traditional bespoke and contemporary kitchens for clients since 1991.
