Home Bars
Crafted by Berber artisans. Curated by decor enthusiasts
This article was written by Shanna Shryne as part of our Interior Design Newsletter series.
When the cost of cocktails and gas rise daily, there’s no better place to grab a drink than in your home. In-home bars are all the rage, adding opportunity for visual appeal and unbeatable convenience.
LA-based Interior designer Shanna Shryne, a professional of almost two decades, has recognized a significant uptick in home bar requests over the past few years. From brassy bar carts in living room corners to full blown built-ins, it seems everyone wants a mixology station.
Prior to Shanna opening her boutique design firm in LA, she worked exclusively with builders, developers, and architects. Her current projects vary from single-room design to full-scale remodels, and both offer ways to incorporate interesting, unique bar designs. You don’t need to tear down walls; a reimagined armoire or a few floating shelves do the trick.
When a home's architecture allows a built-in space for a bar, it’s all about balance. In this home, Shanna juxtaposed the dark, rich tones of the wooden bar with a clean marble slab countertop. Mirrored tiles as a shiny backsplash bring a punch of fun without overpowering the more traditional design elements.
Now you may be asking, what is a bar without alcohol? How do I decide which bottles to display in an aesthetically pleasing way? Some are prettier than others and just beg to be shone, like the white and blue ceramic cistern of the Clase Azul tequila. Others vary on your drinking preference, color themes, or bottle shapes. The #1 rule is don’t overwhelm the space. Sporadically group or cleanly line the shelves to add color, interest, and make it a true bar. Finishing the look with a pop of green or florals is always recommended.
In smaller spaces, well-placed floating shelves and undersized appliances make all the difference. On the left, Shanna extended the small bar area over the home office. She created more space, added visual appeal, and who knows? Maybe the homeowner is more motivated to push to that blessed 5 o’clock moment with the stock so close by.
On the right, Shanna’s client opted for a chilled kegerator filled with kombucha, instead of a beverage fridge. The floating shelves provide easy-access to glasses and draw your eye up to the vaulted ceilings.
Basically, any space or cabinet can be turned into a home bar with the right design eye and ingenuity.
For inspiration and inquiries, you can find Shanna Shryne here:
Website: www.shannashryne.com
Instagram: @shannashryne
Email: info@shannashryne.com
