7 fantastic kitchen bar ideas for every home

Lindsay Whitney Lindsay Whitney
MR & MRS BENNETT'S KITCHEN, Diane Berry Kitchens Diane Berry Kitchens Modern kitchen
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Kitchens are coming back in as the central space of a house, so design professionals are dumping more and more energy into making sure their toolkits have tricks for snazzing up kitchen space. The best way to redo a kitchen is to make it more open, and install an island or a bar. Why? Because both make kitchens more liveable spaces and therefore are totally on trend. Furthermore, putting in a bar or island adds functionality and versatility to a kitchen—use the bar to eat on, lean on, drink on or finish up some work—it all works!

A point to note is that a good bar or island should be made of wood, because it is the most diverse and sturdy material. Woods can be matched with virtually any choice of decor, and lend an oh-so-natural element to any room. And what room if not the kitchen should feel natural and easy? So, in this list, we present seven ideas for bars and/or islands, all of them offering something unique so you are sure to find one that fits your lifestyle needs. Have a look!

A breakfast bar that breaks the mould

For those who like to have their Sunday breakfast in a relaxed manner, still wearing pajamas, then this full breakfast bar of quality hard wood should really inspire! 

The warm wood amidst a thoroughly modern environment, and a combination of wood colours that highlights the nobility and grandeur of the material, accompanied by modern materials like aluminium chairs.

For compact and sophisticated kitchens

Sometimes we think that the wood has to necessarily be a material for rustic or rustic spaces, however, it is not always so. For example, in this photo we see a very chic, sleek modern kitchen bar, made of elegant dark wood, combined with metallics, giving a very sophisticated look.

This type of kitchen bar, that is joined with the rest of the island, forms a T, and is ideal for medium-sized kitchens. The bar placed thus allows traffic to flow, plus it provides enough space for people to sit around the bar to enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner while being able to look at each other for a nice chat.

Ideal for meeting with friends

This is a totally modern and versatile kitchen. Featuring a long kitchen bar, big enough for seven or nine chairs, it undoubtedly inspires one to invite friends over for a nice feast. 

While you cook, you can chat to your guests who can watch you filet your meat or pimentos in the flame of the stove. 

Define vibrant spaces

The kitchen bar is made of a hard cherry-orange polished wood—matching the colour of the back kitchen wall—and is connected to the main countertop. 

The bar hugs the sofa in the living area, forming an L-shape, for a super intimate yet open atmosphere—perfect for a kitchen in an apartment or small house. 

Storage solutions

Extra storage has been built into this kitchen island bar—the centre of all operations, where everything is stored. below, and everything chatted about above. 

The bar itself has been made of a light, soft maple, and has been moulded to be compact but practical. This is another ideal island for small or open kitchens that wish to be part of the dining room or other living spaces. 

Double level kitchen bar

Kitchen bars do not always have to arise from the countertop or be attached to the wall. Often, when space allows, a great bar can come from the island itself by introducing a modification in the design. 

A clear example of this is seen in this image, where space has allowed an opportunity to combine different materials and even forms, with the aim of creating original yet workaday designs.

Wooden tiles for texture

For those who like the Scandinavian or Nordic style, this kitchen bar is your ideal. The bar has been left in its completely natural state; solid wood, unpolished, sanded wood. The countertops have been tiled in neutral colours, adding unique detailing. It's modern meets Scandinavian meets traditional. 

We are hoping that now you have a little more of an idea about what kind of wooden bar or island would suit your needs best. If you want to know how to work an island into your home design but think it might look a little cramped, find out how to make your small kitchen appear bigger!

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