HOW TO DESIGN A STRIKING YET FUNCTIONAL HOME BAR

“The special finishes on a bar are essential in making it unique, yet it should still complement, enhance and integrate with the rest of the interior of the home,” says Audi Snÿman of Audi Snÿman Interior Architecture and Design. “That being said, if there is one area in the house where a client wants to express themselves and inject an element of the dramatic, then a bar or a wine cellar are definitely the places where it pays to be bold.”

What sort of materials and finishes can be used to make a special bar a reality.

A special feature in Maison Benie’s bar is the use of natural materials (including walnut timber, marble, brass and bronze). “I prefer to use natural, earthy materials where possible, and if the budget allows real timber and natural stone,” explains Audi. “Layers – such as lighting, seating, bar counter heights, display areas, art – can also all add to a bar’s uniqueness – but should be managed to ensure the area doesn’t become too busy, or crowded.”

Recessed LED lighting under the counter and in the wall unit bring out the colours and highlight the shimmer of the brass. The pendant (soap lights) lights add to the mood and atmosphere, while downlighters function as ‘proper light’ when needed. The tiered bar seating and counters in Maison Benie’s gents bar are both functional and aesthetic, with a 12mm solid brushed brass, floating rectangle counter also serving as a footrail. The brass “thread” that runs throughout the house has also been incorporated into the legs of the custom made bar chairs and stools, that are also at two heights. Wall finishings (tiles, wallpaper) are there to enhance the displays, but shouldn’t be too overpowering, or compete with the main features.

Audi Snÿman Interior Architecture and Design commissioned The Wine Room to assist in providing full turnkey solutions for the two bar areas and a wine cellar within Maison Benie. “I think there has to be a bit of drama, and definitely wow factor in a bar area,” says Lauren Snyman of the Wine Room. “It is the one space in the home where a client can really express themselves and it’s a combination of choosing the right materials and design that reflects the clients personality.”

How do you create a space so its shows the owners personality

The two adjacent bars in Maison Benie – a gentlemen’s bar and the ladies’ champagne bar – reflect the unique personalities of the husband and wife team, and both bar spaces have been curated to provide each host with an environment that offers seven star entertainment to their guests.

The first layer of the spaces are in line with the rest of the home – so modern, classical, contemporary etc. This creates the backdrop to personalising the space, that can take the form of any memorabilia the owner would like to display (sports memorabilia, photographs, trophies etc); special artworks or features they would like incorporated; or bar games, such as a pool or foosball table, or darts.

The gentlemen’s bar is dramatic, masculine and bold. The liquor on display reflects the owners preferences and a bespoke, handmade glass sculpture of the home owner and his son adds a very personal element to the space.

The seven star experience continues in the wine cellar, that features a state-of-the-art poker table (that can be closed to serve as a wine tasting table) as its centre piece. It is surrounded by a stellar wine collection displayed and stored in a perfectly temperature controlled environment. “The interior of the cellar reflects reverence and respect of the wine, champagne and liquor making process,” explains Audi. “We wanted the wine cellar to compliment and celebrate the value and quality of these, as well as create a beautiful space to display some vintage wines, that mark milestone dates in the families lives – such as anniversaries and birthdays.”

Is location of the bar a key component in an interior and how do you go about selecting this?

This varies from client to client, and how much emphasis they want to place on this area. In the case of Maison Benie the two distinct bars occupy spaces within a larger entertainment area and can be used on a day-to-day basis. The wine cellar is downstairs, in close proximity to the home theatre, and serves more of a special purpose – storage and display, a poker game, and at times wine-tasting.

How do you merge style with function in the design of a bar.

“The style is often the focus area for the client, and it is up to me to introduce the practical and functional elements,” says Audi. “Functionality is important, otherwise the area becomes a white elephant, that is never used for the intended purpose.” Maison Benie’s gentlemen’s bar offers a functional working space, with different counter levels and seating spaces (and heights) that cater for eating, drinks, watching sports, and playing or watching pool.

What are the key elements to create a stunning home bar

“The liquor and wine displays should be works of art; the storage space should be maximised; the area should be inviting; accessories and appliances should be integrated; functionality be faultless (in particular when it comes to temperature critical wine storage) and the styling should reflect the home owner,” says Audi.

What special components and features do you utilize to make the Wine Cellar special?

The downstairs wine cellar space is unique and serves as a mix between a man cave, wine cellar and poker room. Special components here include the different textures of the wall units (metal, stone, timber, tiles), the cabling (for the wine bottle), a very bespoke spirits and wine display, the lighting, and the quantity of, and the way the wine and glassware is displayed. The Wine Room provided a full styling service that included stemware, nineteen carat gold detailed crystal whiskey tumblers, decanters and carafes. Another special and unusual feature is the poker table (leather, walnut and stainless steel trims), that when covered, will serve as a wine tasting table.

What is a typical colour palette that can be instituted for a special bar?

The colour palette is very subjective to the look and feel of the house – it depends if it is modern, or classical, or contemporary. The I-beams throughout the house are black, and this theme was carried through in the counter tops and some of the floor and wall tiles. The walnut and Caesar stone top in the gentlemen’s bar add a rich texture, and bring an element of warmth and earthiness into an area mainly surrounded by glass (the firepit, and garden to the one side, and the indoor swimming pool to the other).