Build your own bar?
02-07-2007, 09:06 AM
#1
Administrator Alumnus
Thread Starter
Build your own bar?
I have been looking and looking for a pre-built bar, and haven't found anything that really meets my needs. The few that I have liked have price tags that are well outside my budget.
With that... I was wondering if I could go to Lowes, for example, and buy the cabinets, countertop and materials to build it yourself? Would they even have the expertise in something like this? Examples, etc?
With that... I was wondering if I could go to Lowes, for example, and buy the cabinets, countertop and materials to build it yourself? Would they even have the expertise in something like this? Examples, etc?
02-07-2007, 09:59 AM
#5
Crabcakes and Football!!!
No, I have never built a bar but hanging cabinets is a beotch. I would think that may be the hardest part. I think you'll do great.
02-07-2007, 10:16 AM
#6
The Creator
Originally Posted by michimonster
No, I have never built a bar but hanging cabinets is a beotch. I would think that may be the hardest part. I think you'll do great.
Trending Topics
02-07-2007, 10:44 AM
#9
Administrator Alumnus
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by soopa
what exactly is your question scrib?
if you just want the cabinet/countertop type deal it's really really straightforward. you know what you're doing.
if you just want the cabinet/countertop type deal it's really really straightforward. you know what you're doing.
I really don't think I know what I'm doing.
I know there are cabinets out there, and I know I can get any type of countertop... But bringing it together... No fucking clue.
02-07-2007, 11:09 AM
#10
The Creator
Originally Posted by Scrib
I really don't think I know what I'm doing.
I know there are cabinets out there, and I know I can get any type of countertop... But bringing it together... No fucking clue.
I know there are cabinets out there, and I know I can get any type of countertop... But bringing it together... No fucking clue.
02-07-2007, 11:11 AM
#11
Changin bulbs since '73
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Chi-town burbs
Age: 51
Posts: 8,111
Likes: 0
Received 12 Likes
on
4 Posts
this will be my next project as well.
I am planning on the bottom cabinets to be 1/2 the depth of regular cabinets along the wall.
The actual bar part is killing me.
We have a simple modern look (wood) in the house and I want to keep that going.
Bringing the elements together is killing me as well.
I am planning on the bottom cabinets to be 1/2 the depth of regular cabinets along the wall.
The actual bar part is killing me.
We have a simple modern look (wood) in the house and I want to keep that going.
Bringing the elements together is killing me as well.
02-07-2007, 11:18 AM
#13
Changin bulbs since '73
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Chi-town burbs
Age: 51
Posts: 8,111
Likes: 0
Received 12 Likes
on
4 Posts
i think my problem is that I am afraid to fuck things up.
It's one thing to put up a basement but, I am afraid of the "finishing" skills to make th bar look good.
Does that make sense?
It's one thing to put up a basement but, I am afraid of the "finishing" skills to make th bar look good.
Does that make sense?
02-07-2007, 11:32 AM
#14
The Creator
ya. i can understand the apprehension to actually doing it, but you should be able to at least put together a decent plan. it shouldn't be too hard to find the materials needed to build a basic cabinet bar.
02-07-2007, 11:52 AM
#15
Building a bar for the pool area is on my to do list this summer. I have a few ideas... but haven't quite decided the route I want to go. I think I'm just going to frame out a basic rectangle, wrap it in wood, then face it with stone on the front and sides and a tile as the countertop.
We'll see...
We'll see...
02-07-2007, 12:09 PM
#16
The Creator
Originally Posted by juniorbean
Building a bar for the pool area is on my to do list this summer. I have a few ideas... but haven't quite decided the route I want to go. I think I'm just going to frame out a basic rectangle, wrap it in wood, then face it with stone on the front and sides and a tile as the countertop.
We'll see...
We'll see...
02-07-2007, 12:10 PM
#17
The Creator
Originally Posted by soopa
tile is such a shitty countertop surface. go with a solid surface, concrete if you wanna go the DIY route.
02-07-2007, 04:51 PM
#19
Senior Moderator
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: May 2000
Location: where the weather suits my clothes
Age: 55
Posts: 27,921
Received 1,080 Likes
on
661 Posts
Originally Posted by juniorbean
Why is tile bad? We were going to use granite tiles anyway...
Cause it's a PITA to keep shit from rocking and tipping over with the height differences between the grout and the tile.
If you do use tile, make sure you have tiny grout lines, maybe not even have any. Butt the tiles right up against each other.
But I agree with the boss, SS :ftw:
02-07-2007, 05:45 PM
#20
ENGAGE MY VTEC BABY!!!!!!
www.photos.yahoo.com/jgiguere17
click on the side skirts folder and you can see the bar I built in college
all 2x4's and teh top is MDF 1/2 in thick covered in bottle caps. the outside is a thin fiber board covered with "wood grain" contact paper. from afar you can not tell it is contact paper and even sitting at it you can hardly see the lines. molding for all the edges and all
click on the side skirts folder and you can see the bar I built in college
all 2x4's and teh top is MDF 1/2 in thick covered in bottle caps. the outside is a thin fiber board covered with "wood grain" contact paper. from afar you can not tell it is contact paper and even sitting at it you can hardly see the lines. molding for all the edges and all
02-07-2007, 06:47 PM
#21
Senior Moderator
Scrib I think there's sites that will actually give you diagrams on building a bar so you just have to cut to dimensions listed and put it together per say..
Might cost a few bucks but if you're hesitant about building your own this might be the way to go..
Might cost a few bucks but if you're hesitant about building your own this might be the way to go..
02-07-2007, 08:03 PM
#22
Burning Brakes
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Boston MA
Age: 44
Posts: 1,078
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you have no idea on how to build a bar, I'd suggest not building one.
If you can't or won't buy one, then I'd suggest you start building little things, and keep increasing the difficultly, working your way up to the bar. There's no reason to jump straight into the bar if its going to come out crappy.
Or better yet, have your father do it (and help him out), that way you learn something & he does all the hard stuff.
If you can't or won't buy one, then I'd suggest you start building little things, and keep increasing the difficultly, working your way up to the bar. There's no reason to jump straight into the bar if its going to come out crappy.
Or better yet, have your father do it (and help him out), that way you learn something & he does all the hard stuff.
02-07-2007, 08:59 PM
#23
Health's Angels
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Age: 55
Posts: 2,633
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Maybe start of by finding an existing bar that is the 80% solution, copy it, and tweak it to your own needs.
I had no creativity to build my fireplace mantle, so I went to Eddie Bauer, photographed one in their store, and more or less copies it for 10% of the price.
I had no creativity to build my fireplace mantle, so I went to Eddie Bauer, photographed one in their store, and more or less copies it for 10% of the price.
02-08-2007, 10:28 AM
#24
Originally Posted by NSXNEXT
Cause it's a PITA to keep shit from rocking and tipping over with the height differences between the grout and the tile.
If you do use tile, make sure you have tiny grout lines, maybe not even have any. Butt the tiles right up against each other.
But I agree with the boss, SS :ftw:
If you do use tile, make sure you have tiny grout lines, maybe not even have any. Butt the tiles right up against each other.
But I agree with the boss, SS :ftw:
02-08-2007, 05:26 PM
#25
Senior Moderator
Originally Posted by Jonesi
Scrib I think there's sites that will actually give you diagrams on building a bar so you just have to cut to dimensions listed and put it together pe.
Another idea is to check out an unfinished furniture place... I just bookmarked a place near me yesterday, since I've been looking for a small cabinet for the kitchen:
http://www.millstores.com/display.cc...dex,cat1L.html
Maybe you have an unfinished furniture place near you ??
02-09-2007, 11:05 AM
#28
Originally Posted by GreenMonster
Another idea is to check out an unfinished furniture place... I just bookmarked a place near me yesterday, since I've been looking for a small cabinet for the kitchen:
http://www.millstores.com/display.cc...dex,cat1L.html
Maybe you have an unfinished furniture place near you ??
02-09-2007, 12:26 PM
#29
is learning to moonwalk i
eve - that is a sweet looking bar.
But as you pointed out, bars don't get used nearly as much as people think they will. It's something I've considered, but haven't had the time or justification for one. Maybe someday, but it sould suck to spend all the time and effort to build something that would rarely get used.
But as you pointed out, bars don't get used nearly as much as people think they will. It's something I've considered, but haven't had the time or justification for one. Maybe someday, but it sould suck to spend all the time and effort to build something that would rarely get used.
02-09-2007, 12:54 PM
#31
is learning to moonwalk i
Originally Posted by Scrib
I don't really care if it doesn't get used as long as I didn't spend a shitpot to get it.
03-04-2007, 07:49 PM
#34
Administrator Alumnus
Thread Starter
Ended up going to The Great Escape.
http://www.shopthegreatescape.com/
Pretty decent deal. I found some stool at Target to match, I think. I was going to get something there, but figured there are many more options for stools and chairs out there.
http://www.shopthegreatescape.com/
Pretty decent deal. I found some stool at Target to match, I think. I was going to get something there, but figured there are many more options for stools and chairs out there.
03-17-2007, 10:25 AM
#36
Go Giants
Looks great....Always something I wanted...Next house maybe (although I picture myself ending up like Jack Nicolson in the Shining)....
03-17-2007, 06:03 PM
#38
Administrator Alumnus
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by GreenMonster
Looks great (the mirror is a nice touch), but now you need some stools...
Working on that... Not sure if I want stools or chairbacks.
03-17-2007, 06:10 PM
#39
Senior Moderator
I prefer chairbacks, but stools and chairbacks are another one of those things that are sometimes hard to find. You'll see alot of 'em, but you never seem to find the exact ones you're looking for...
03-17-2007, 06:15 PM
#40
Administrator Alumnus
Thread Starter
yih, I hear ya. I saw a couple that I like, but they were $150 a pop... And I want 4, so that would be $600. No thanks.
I like the idea of a combo... Two stools, two chairbacks. But matching that will be a royal pain.
I like the idea of a combo... Two stools, two chairbacks. But matching that will be a royal pain.