The functional home bar: How to make one

Fancy cocktail napkins and top-notch liquors are no help to the host cornered by a mob of thirsty guests. Struggling to keep pace while searching for clean glasses and fresh ice, the mixer inevitably makes a mess and bungles the drinks. The discussion of what makes a functional home bar only comes after such a party, as the weary host with an aching back surveys the scene and vows, "never again."

Having been there myself, I'm sympathetic. Often still, I'll show up to a party only to find myself behind a so-called bar that's no more than a kitchen crevice. As the evening wears on, I make a few suggestions to the real host about improvements to the mixing area. Then jokingly, my friends ask if becoming an architect had anything to with my pursuit of the perfect bar or the fact that I still wear bow ties and vests on a regular basis. Although admittedly partly the case, both bartenders and architects play key roles in the vitality of the community and the lives of its individuals.

Although building a bar is a relatively simple project, it shouldn't be undertaken unless done well. Before visiting your local hardware store for supplies or a used-furniture store for a bar front, ask yourself how often you plan to entertain 20 or so friends for cocktails. Weigh that number against the cost of building a basic home bar, which can be as little as US$250 or as much as you care to spend. Keep in mind that if you scrimp on key elements like an ice bin or a sink, your bar - no matter how attractive - will be like a lamp without a lightbulb: useless.

When building a functional home bar, consider the location carefully. In a restaurant, the bar needs to be a focal point, but in a house it should remain somewhat concealed, accessible, and shared with only those who are truly welcome in your home. It should also be near the central entertaining space, but far enough away that the noise and crowd from the mixing area won't interfere with conversations. A lively party is one in which people move around and make conversation. In the home, a bar with stools only inhibits this. Forgoing stools may also allow you to build your bar inside a closet or off to the side of a room, rather than projecting it into any space.

Surprisingly, the most important element in any home bar is its ice bin, which ideally is an extra-deep, stainless-steel sink. The bin should hold about 40 pounds of ice or 5 gallons of water. The top of the sink and cabinets should be about an inch above where your clenched fists fall when they're at your side. Any higher will make it awkward to scoop ice, and any lower will cause back pain after an evening of mixing. The bar itself should have ample room for fresh and tired drinks, plus any garnishes and tools you'll need. A long, skinny top is better than a square one, because it lets you spread things out, while still allowing you to reach everything.

Because you should use only fresh ice and clean tools for each cocktail, you'll need a sink in the bar. One sink will do, but two are much better. The sinks should be a quarter the size of the ice bin, and at least one should be equipped with a colander to catch debris from drinks dumped into the sink. Hot and cold water should be available at these sinks, but if you are able to hook up to only one, go with hot water, which will come in handy when you need to melt ice or clean a glass quickly. If you don't have access to running water, skip building a bar or accept the fact you'll spend much of your time as host running between the bar and the kitchen sink.

Unless you're planning to install a commercial glass washer, have plenty of room behind, above, or below your bar to store glassware. For large gatherings in the home, it's impractical to keep three or four different types of glasses, so settle on one or two types - like the cocktail or highball - that will suit a variety of libations.

These are only the basics of building a bar, of course. Your budget and space will dictate the rest. As you consider the particulars of your bar - the materials and finishes - remember that everything can get wet and nothing should be uncomfortable or distracting to the host behind the bar. By the end of a party, you should have actually enjoyed the gathering, confident that the drinks were well-made, the crowd well-mingled, and the mess (at least around the bar) minimal.