The bar counter has been known for more than one century. In America, intellectuals hurrying on business preferred to drink coffee while standing and on the run. They had no time to sit, so the waiters were counting them right at the counter. In those days, such long tables were prudently built next to the kitchen in order to serve the client faster. Yes, yes, that man on the left in the frame is just a descendant of those same Wall Street intellectuals.
The bar in the living room is the fate of the 21st century. Most often, of course, this element of the interior is used in one-room studio apartments. And it's justified. After all, such housing is mostly rented without any walls and partitions. The areas are not very large, it is cheaper and more practical to zone them using a bar counter. However, the question of whether or not to have a bar counter between the kitchen and the living room is still not closed in some families. Sometimes the conflicting opinions of the spouses push back the decision to repair for years. However, let's look at the situation objectively.
Why yes
Benefits:
- A kitchen with such a twist will sparkle with new colors.
- Justifieduse for zoning two different rooms - living room and kitchen. And not just the kitchen - in this case, it will "eat" the space.
- Space saving. If there is no way to install a full table in the kitchen, then the bar counter is a good way out for a small room.
- Easy to accommodate multiple people.
- Can be combined with wash area or cooking area.
- You can easily mount a bedside table, shelves, place household appliances.
Why "no"
Flaws:
- Cannot always fully replace the dining table.
- Sometimes, due to the fact that the bar counter is much higher than the usual table, it is impossible to cook at it.
- Not everyone is satisfied with the need to sit "on the perches like sparrows". Especially if there are elderly people in the family.
Design options
What can be bar counters in the living room? The photos below eloquently indicate that the choice of design depends on what the rack will serve for. First of all, let's define the functionality.
If this is a kitchen-living room with a bar counter (photo above), then most likely it is necessary to provide for water supply, electricians, as well as height dimensions. In such kitchens, all the necessary utensils can easily fit. But the design of the living room with a bar counter is significantly different. Here, it is not cooking that comes to the fore, but rest in a pleasant company or a solitary evening with a glass of readingbooks.
When the surface is used as a work area, it may be lower than standard bar counters (1.20m). This is due to the fact that such an interior element replaces the main working area of \u200b\u200bthe kitchen. Sometimes this type of bar counter is also called "island". It is very popular in the USA. The design of the living room with a bar in the photo requires a lot of space.
This kitchen-living room is as functional as possible. You can place cabinets in the countertop, and install a hob or even run water on the counter itself. The photo shows a living room with a bar counter. Design - corner option.
It does not radically change the interior. But at the same time, the counter helps to clearly delimit the zones - dining and relaxing.
The bar used for zoning the space should (if possible) be decorated either in the style of the kitchen or have neutral tones. Light shades are ideal. Sometimes a small shelf does its job just fine.
This budget option, despite its simplicity, is as functional as possible. It can accommodate not only a bar, but also books, for example, or a laptop.
The smaller the apartment, the narrower and higher the bar counter should be. Due to this, the space will seem more comfortable. Design of a kitchen-living room with a barthe rack, the photo of which is presented below, is just made for small apartments.
As we can see, this is more of a work area than a kitchen area. However, there are quite massive constructions.
Two-tier bar counters
Usually in such designs there are several working areas: for cooking and for guests. These two countertops are always different heights. The lower one is for cooking and the higher one is for serving. This option is very practical, as it is suitable for both adults and children.
And here is a country-style version. Dark furniture and floors blend harmoniously with light vaults.
Bar counters of this type require not only space in width, but also in height. After all, such a rack is much more massive than usual. If you do not take into account the height, then the balance of "air" in the room will be disturbed. The stand will either hang over or get lost in the interior.
Bar counter "a la catering"
Such models maximally duplicate the bar counters of public places. Such designs are usually made out by bachelors and lovers of noisy parties. The counter is necessarily equipped with a mini-bar and classic bar stools with a high leg.
A little about materials
The bar counter should not "fall out" too much from the interior. If you have chosen a high-tech style for the living room, then the Provencal style kitchen will not work at all. Usually the choice is limited to stone, glass or wood. Let's take a look at each one.
- Natural wood. Definitely an eco-friendly option. The material is very durable, but is afraid of moisture. The tabletop will have to be treated with a special coating: not only water-repellent, but also providing protection from insects.
- Glass. On the one hand, a strong, durable material, but on the other hand, easily soiled. Such a countertop will have to be wiped constantly. Glass is quite slippery. It is not always safe to use such a coating if there are children in the house. A plate of food can easily slide off. However, glass surfaces are easy to clean. They are not afraid of scale and heat. There are many more design options for glass surfaces than wooden countertops. It can be a color picture or a mirror reflective surface.
- Stone. These tables are the most durable. However, they are quite massive and give a large load to the wooden base. A poorly processed stone can break off. And accidentally spilled liquids, such as red wine, can soak in and leave marks.
Which way out?
It is better to pay attention to more modern types of coatings.
Laminated panels. Practical and economical solution. They are not afraid of heat, easy to clean, do not let moisture through and are unpretentious in care. If the fate is that such panels can be decorated as beautifully as glass ones, but at the same time they are more durable, then the question of choice here is unequivocal. In addition, laminated blocks can be used to decorate walls and even ceilings.
Suchpanels are easy to replace. If, for example, one of the elements (door or countertop) fails, you can replace it with a new one.
When developing a bar counter design project, it is necessary to take into account not only the material, location and style, but also the availability of connecting electrical appliances, lamps, and, if necessary, sewer networks. Especially if you plan to use the bar for work. Often, diligent hosts plan in advance the possibility of entering a telephone wire or sockets inside the bar.
This is very convenient if the bar is adjacent to one of the walls. However, it must be remembered that sometimes additional illumination of the working area may be required. To do this, you need to consider overhead lighting. It can be a spotlight on the ceiling or built-in lighting of the bar itself.
As we can see, you can use both individual lamps and a group. Most often, lighting options vary. It is very effective to include only the top ones. Then the apartment looks more comfortable. Some craftsmen use LED strips as spotlights, for example, behind cabinets or on the back wall. Remember that such lighting is not very good for the eyes, especially if you cook all the time. It is better to use mixed options and different lamps and fixtures.
Conclusion
Where are the best places to use bar counters? The answer is in any. Everyone chooses for himself. It is important to find that balance betweensize, necessity and functionality. Most often, the choice in favor of the bar counter is made by young people who are not burdened with a family. In this case, the whole apartment can turn into a big bar - with fun parties and feasts. A tastefully selected bar counter will become the highlight of the interior and tell about the owner as a non-standard and risky person. In any case, the new interior will be a good reason for the arrival of guests, especially if the bar is full.
