If you don’t have time and need to constantly set the dining table, don’t have enough free space, or want to divide the kitchen into zones, equip your kitchen with a bar counter. Initially it was used in drinking establishments, then it found application in other public establishments related to the entertainment and recreation sector: casinos, hotels, cafes and restaurants. After some time, bar counters began to appear in the homes of wealthy people and became one of the symbols of wealth and prosperity. When holding large-scale parties, this attribute turned into the epicenter of the action - it gathered all the guests around it, where they could treat themselves to a variety of drinks prepared by a guest bartender or taste snacks.
Residents of the United States were the first to introduce home bars into kitchen design, then their example was followed by the population of Europe, and soon Russia. Today, the furniture market is replete with all sorts of variations in the designs and designs of bar counters, which are already firmly established in everyday life and are actively used in residential buildings around the world.
A fashionable and modern piece of furniture, literally referred to in the West as a “breakfast bar”, which translated means “breakfast bar” or “breakfast counter”, will ideally fit into a space of any configuration and add functionality and a touch of style to the room.
Ways to place bar counters in the kitchen interior
There is an endless number of design solutions that are focused on taking into account all possible features of kitchen premises and satisfying every customer’s wishes. Qualified interior design specialists will develop an individual project without much effort. But what if you don’t want to resort to outside help and additional expenses, and also if you don’t want to make mistakes in planning your kitchen? Generally accepted basic solutions will help with this, ensuring a guaranteed solution to a number of key problems:
- properly equip the space;
- ensure the maximum possible functionality of the kitchen;
- it is expedient and logical to divide the room into several zones;
- create an expressive design without violating the laws of style.
Types of bar counters
Options for bar counters can be stationary and freestanding, representing an independent piece of furniture, round, rectangular or with rounded edges, with storage boxes and shelves, folding and on wheels.
Freestanding is a bar table. It is more mobile: it does not need to be attached to the wall, it can be moved to any part of the room. On the other hand, such tables may be less compact compared to stationary ones, and heavier, since it is necessary to ensure their stability.
The choice of one design or another will depend on the features and size of the room. There can be at least nine options for home bar counters. We will take a closer look at the most common ones.
Ostrovnaya
If the kitchen area allows you to install an island set, then a great idea would be to combine the island with the BS. You’ve probably already seen this “2 in 1” option in American cinema: in the West, this layout is a classic in kitchen design. In this case, the island-type bar counter serves as a place for breakfast or quick snacks. This is convenient from the point of view of saving time - you do not need to set the dining table in the dining room. The bar counter table can be with a sink or kitchen cabinets, have a rectangular shape or rounded edges.
Built-in
This design can often be seen with a U-shaped layout or a corner layout with a peninsula. The bar counter with the dining table is one with the kitchen unit, as if it were its continuation. This has its advantages - more work surface and space saving, because there is no need to set up a dining group.
Peninsular (as a partition)
A narrow bar counter between the room and the kitchen visually serves as a zoning partition between the work area and the living room; it can be low or high, with glasses, closed cabinets and open shelves. This arrangement is very practical from a storage point of view.
Multi-level
A two-level bar counter gives the interior a special character; it can be stationary or retractable. It looks very unusual and original, but has a significant drawback - a useful place for cooking is lost. If this is not important to you, you simply cannot find a better zoning method.
This design is closer to the classic version of bar counters, when they were exclusively an element of the decor of cafes and pubs.
Mini stand
Non-standard small BS, which can be built-in, folding, wall-mounted, folding, are popular when arranging kitchens up to 4-5 sq.m. It happens that with such an area it is impossible to install a full-fledged dining table or even a standard counter. In this case, the only right solution would be to set aside part of the living room for the dining area, and install a mini-structure in the kitchen for 1-3 people for quick snacks or tea parties.
Near the window
A bar counter along the window is the optimal solution for a small kitchen.
And even for a medium-sized room, a bar counter on the window in the form of a wide window sill can be a pleasant addition to a separate dining room. After all, in the morning or during breaks between work, it’s so nice to drink coffee or tea while looking out the window, especially if it offers a beautiful view.
The tabletop-window sill can become a continuation of the tabletop set.
Wall-mounted
A bar counter along the wall is an excellent option for small and narrow, elongated kitchens, where it is not possible to combine it with a kitchen unit or island.
The bar shelf can be fixed against the wall using corners. If it is necessary to strengthen the structure, then install one or two legs for support.
Transformer
In small kitchens, where there is no space to install even a small dining area, a transformable bar counter will help out. It can be hidden in a closet or under a kitchen countertop and, at the right time, can be pulled out and secured to a support.
Another option is a folding, retractable or rotating tabletop attached to the wall.
Combined with dining table
BS can be combined with a dining table. Such an unusual solution is possible in spacious kitchen-living rooms. With this arrangement of furniture, it is more convenient to set the table.
Bar counter in a studio apartment
For owners of a studio apartment, the bar counter is one of the most appropriate interior items. Regardless of the shape of the room - square or rectangle - it can be easily divided into functional areas - kitchen and living room - due to a sufficient number of square meters.
The owner of the apartment will only need to decide on how to place the bar stools. If you plan to watch TV while eating, which will be in the living room, then it makes sense to install seating in the kitchen area. In the case when you spend a lot of time cooking and you need more free space to move, it is logical to place the chairs on the side of the living area.
Classic white kitchens with a breakfast bar
For classic models of kitchen sets, natural materials from solid wood are chosen.
Italian designers offer beautiful designer facades.
These are noble, stylish models that will decorate the room.
