7 tips for choosing a bar in the apartment: types, sizes, countertops

Such a bar counter familiar to all of us, which has become a stylish attribute of cafes, bars and ordinary apartments, appeared in the North America in the 18th century and served not only to delimit space, but to protect fragile dishes from tipsy customers. Today, this element is successfully used not only in restaurants, but also in ordinary home kitchens. The bar in the apartment can take on functions and dining table, and the working surface, and the separator space. It remains to determine what size and shape it should be, where it is better to place it and which material to give preference.

No. 1. The purpose of the bar in the apartment

The bar counter in ordinary apartments is used either in the kitchens, and of any size, either in combined living room kitchens, and assigned to her different functions:

• direct appointment i.e. in order to drink a cup of coffee or a glass of wine at the bar, have breakfast or a quick snack, without sitting at a full dining table. The option is only possible in large kitchens;
• zoning of space in studio apartments and kitchens combined with living rooms;
• as a dining table in small kitchens, and in this case, the counter can be either standard or right next to the wall or window;
• as an additional work surface, which is especially true for small kitchens.

Of course, on the bar, as a rule, assigned several functions at once, and the smaller the kitchen, the more tasks. In the smallest spaces, the bar counter will be a place for cooking, and a dining table, and a place for snacks. Excessively miniature deserve special attention kitchens in Khrushchev, which often combine with the living room, and then the bar counter also serves as a space-zoning element.

No. 2. Types of bar counters

Depending on the size of the kitchen and the tasks that are assigned to the bar, it can be of the following types:

• wall bar fastened to the wall with the short or long side, in the latter case it can be located along the window. The rack, which is attached to the wall with the long side, is an attribute of small kitchens, plays the role of a compact dining table, cupboards are not organized under it;
• island bar located in the center of large kitchens, serves as a buffet table, a place for a quick snack, breakfast, and also sometimes as an additional work surface;
• peninsular bar counter - this is part of the L-or U-shaped kitchen set, it may be assigned any of the above functions;
• mobile bar counter. And this also exists, but does not apply to the classic version of the bar counter. It is a mobile narrow little table on wheels, which can be used for receptions, romantic dinners and, if necessary, move anywhere.

Pa sized bar counts are divided into:

• longthat can accommodate 8 people or more. These are wall and island options;
• shortthat can accommodate less than 8 people and can sometimes be designed for two or even one person.

In shape bar counters are divided into:

• classic with rectangular countertops;
• the original with semicircular, expanding countertops, etc.

In addition, the racks are divided into stationary, mobile and transforming racks. The latter include folding, swivel, extendable and others.

By design, bar counters are divided into two large groups:

• single-level;
• multi-level.

Single-level racks - The simplest option, consisting of only one countertop. Tiered racks may include several countertops located at different heights above each other, as well as numerous shelves, drawers and other storage places under the countertop. This is an option for more spacious kitchens and kitchen-living rooms.

No. 3. Bar counter size

There are no strict requirements for the parameters of the bar counter - it all depends on the dimensions of the room and the functions assigned to the design. However, some recommendations for bar sizes:

• height ranges from 1.1 to 1.2 m, but much depends on functionality. Freestanding racks can be both 1.1 m, 1.2 m and even 1.3 m high. They are designed for large rooms, often playing the role of a zoning element. Racks that are part of headset, lower - 86-91 cm, since their height depends on the height of other kitchen furniture. Such racks serve both as a dining room and as a work surface. There are models with a height of 75 cm - this is an option for the most small kitchensin which the rack will be used as a full desktop. They are often mounted against a wall or window and are not needed. special high chairs. The choice of rack height is also affected by the growth of family members;
• width it can be any, but it is not worth doing less than 30 cm, otherwise even the middle plate can easily fall, and it will be completely inconvenient to eat. In order to have dinner as comfortable as possible, the width of the rack should be 80 cm, but practice suggests that 50-60 cm is enough;
• the length largely depends on how many people will use the rack at the same time. 60 cm of space at the table is allocated per person, and then the calculation is simple.

As for forms, then it can be anything: from a classic rectangle to all kinds of semicircles - which is enough for imagination. Number and shape of legs - also at your discretion. It is worth noting that today many people refuse the classic bar counter on the pipe from the ceiling to the floor, preferring more functional options with additional storage places.

Number 4. Countertop for bar counter

The bar in the apartment is a logical continuation of other elements of furniture, so it should be in perfect harmony with them. First of all, this applies to furniture facades and worktops used to equip the working area. Most often, the same material is used as the countertop for the bar counter as for other kitchen furniture, but you can look for interesting combinations. For example, with stone kitchen worktops wooden bar counters look great.

The countertop for the bar, as a rule, is made of the following materials:

• natural wood - this is beauty, luxury and environmental friendliness, requiring in return constant care and treatment with special means to prevent the negative effects of fire, moisture, insects and mold;
• a natural stone - the option is not cheap, but it is maximally durable and not susceptible to negative factors, especially when it comes to granite and basalt, and not about marble. The appearance of such a countertop is not even worth talking about - this is a work of art, but the great weight and some features in the care (for individual breeds) along with the high price did not make the stone the most popular material in the arrangement of bar counters;
• fake diamond can be produced using different technologies, but in any case, maximum similarity with a natural analog is achieved.Since the main part in the composition is stone crumb, the performance is practically the same as natural stone. These are strong, durable and resistant to various types of negative effects of countertops, which can take any shape and repeat the pattern of any breed. Specific care is not required;
• moisture resistant chipboard, laminated with a film with any kind of drawing, is a budget replacement for stone and wood. In maintenance, such a countertop is simple, demonstrates good strength, but its moisture resistance is not up to par, and in which case repair will be impossible;
• MDF - a more durable and environmentally friendly analog chipboard. From MDF, you can create countertops of any shape, and the external decorative coating can be absolutely anything;
• glass allows you to get airy and original-looking countertops, they are not afraid of moisture, high temperatures, but require constant care, because touching your hands, drops of spilled liquid and a piece of food accidentally falling from a plate will leave unattractive traces. Such countertops are usually used to equip racks where they just have a bite and drink coffee;
• ceramic tile It can also be used to cover countertops when the bar counter is equipped with their own hands. The material is not afraid of moisture, high temperatures, detergents and is simply cleaned, but with its laying and constant cleaning of tile joints, you will have to tinker with it, sometimes it will be necessary to grout the joints again.

No. 5. Bar base material

The following materials can serve as the base of the bar counter:

• Particleboard and MDF. Used when the furniture in the kitchen is also made of these materials. Such bar counters are equipped with a large number of shelves and drawers;
• drywall allows you to do-it-yourself bar counter of the size and configuration as you need. Convenient, fast and not very difficult. A structure is created using a frame, which is sheathed with sheets of moisture-proof drywall, and then decorated to your taste: paint, stucco, artificial stone etc.;
• brick it is used when the bar counter is a separate element of the apartment, not combined with the kitchen set. Such racks look massive, but very beautiful, fit well as in style loft, so in minimalism and hi-tech;
• wooden solid base or legs - an option for classic interiors;
• classic base - chrome pipe;
• another option for the foundation is the remains of a demolished partition between the kitchen and the living room or the kitchen and the loggia, for example.

No. 6. Bar Chairs: Size and Material

For bar counters of small height (up to 90 cm), ordinary chairs are suitable, and for racks higher you will have to purchase special bar stools. The seat height in them is 75-85 cm, and the choice depends on the height of the rack:

• for racks with a height of 1.3 m, chairs with a height of 85 cm are suitable - it is almost impossible to find higher;
• for a stand 1.2 m high - chairs 75-85 cm;
• for 1.1 m and 0.9 m racks - 75 cm chairs. In general, for a comfortable meal, the difference in the height of the tabletop and chair should not be more than 30 cm, but this rule is not used for the highest bar counters;
• for bar counters 88-86 cm high - chairs 62-75 cm, bar counters 75 cm - chairs 45 cm.

Of course, bar stools should fully comply with the style and color of the bar and other elements of furniture and interior. For small apartments, not traditional chairs are suitable, but high stools, the advantage of which is that they can be hidden under the counter as unnecessary, saving space. However, if the bar counter is used as a dining table, it is better to pay attention to chairs with a back.

For the smallest kitchens there are almost invisible and stylish transparent plastic chairs, but it’s better to buy them if the household’s weight is small - up to 90 kg, otherwise chairs with wooden and steel legs would be better.The most comfortable feeling will be chairs with soft upholstery, but, in extreme cases, you can also put nice soft pillows on solid wooden and acrylic products.

For high bar stools, a footrest is required. The number of supports can vary: options with one, three, four or more legs are common. The most reliable option is 4 legs. If the growth difference in the family is very large, pay attention to chairs with height adjustment.

Number 7. Kitchen interior with breakfast bar

The size and location of the bar depends on the size of the kitchen, its configuration and combination with other rooms in the apartment. There are not so many radically different options:

• rack location with the dining table. In this case, the dining table is one level below the part where the bar is located. The option is great for studio apartments and kitchen-living rooms, as it clearly distinguishes where the kitchen zone ends and the recreation zone begins;
• The island arrangement of the bar counter - an option for spacious kitchens or combined spaces, also plays a zoning role. Often such bar counters back to backlocated in the living room combined with the kitchen. It turns out that while having a snack, and while relaxing on couch you can use one and the same TV, and this saves and solves the problem of the constant transfer of food from the kitchen to the living room;
• the continuation of the kitchen is a solution for small kitchens, and in a small space a multi-level rack will be superfluous, since it will clutter up an already small room;
• a folding stand, used when necessary, is a solution for small kitchens;
• The counter located along the wall is an option for tiny kitchens, including in Khrushchev.

The color scheme of the bar can be different:

• classicwhen repeating the shade of the kitchen set and furniture in the living room, if we are talking about a combined room;
• contrastwhen the color stand clearly stands out from the rest of the items. The solution is suitable for modern interior styles.

If you need to put an emphasis, then on the bar you can hang some interesting fixtures on a long cord. The bar counter opens up the widest possibilities for the design and zoning of a room, if one approaches its arrangement wisely.