Installing a bar top. The scheme of fastening of various elements of the bar counter

Once upon a time, bar counters were used only for their intended purpose: to sit down and have a drink in a drinking establishment. Somehow they migrated to the kitchen, and took root there. The detail turned out to be very convenient, especially since it has undergone noticeable changes and the modern bar counter for the kitchen has a diverse design. Its variants can be very different in design and style, and their functional purpose can also be different.

Purpose and types

If the area of ​​​​the kitchen allows, the bar counter in the kitchen is set for its intended purpose: sit down for a cup of coffee or something stronger, something to eat. Then her “equipment” is appropriate: holders for glasses, wine glasses, glasses, a shelf / holders for juices, bottles, etc. nearby. They put it resting with one edge on the wall or edge, sometimes they are placed in the form of a skeleton - in the middle of the free zone.

In small kitchens, it is often multifunctional. It can also be used as a divider into zones - a dining room and a kitchen, in very small areas it is often used as a dining table. Moreover, it can be located outside the box - against the wall.

In medium-sized kitchens - 10-12 meters - it is often made in the form of a peninsula - a small ledge on the side. In order to make more rational use of space, the place under the table top is occupied by shelves or a cabinet. This design is very simple - the countertop of the bar often relies on several pieces of straight or inclined pipes fixed on the cabinet table.

Bar counter in the kitchen - peninsula

Such multi-stage kitchens have recently become popular: it is more convenient to perform various operations in the kitchen on surfaces with different heights.

But, nevertheless, more often a bar counter for the kitchen is present in studio apartments to distinguish between two zones: or from the hallway - who has what is combined. Moreover, it is often a continuation of the desktop-island or peninsula.

They do it in the form of a partition. In this case, the base is most often made of drywall, and the surface is “attached” to it - from above or from the side.

In general, there are many options, variations and different types. Adapt the idea that you like to your conditions, and you can begin to implement.

Dimensions and dimensions

There are no strict rules in this regard. There are some recommendations that are violated in about half of the cases. Recommendations apply only to the height and width of the countertop:

• It is customary to make a bar counter in height of 1.1-1.2 meters. Then special high chairs are placed near it.
• In width - at least - 30 cm, optimally 50-60 cm. You should not do less than 30 cm: even a small plate already on such a tabletop will be in danger. And it's just uncomfortable: neither put your elbows, nor lean on properly.

The length, shape, number and shape of the legs are all up to you. Speaking of legs. The traditional racks that were in drinking establishments are a countertop on a pedestal. But for the kitchen, for some reason, a countertop on one pipe from floor to ceiling is considered a “classic”.

By the way, in this form it is almost never used. More functional analogues with cabinets and cabinets prevail.

Bar counter for the kitchen: stages, manufacturing methods, photo reports

The easiest option to perform is precisely the classic one: a tabletop attached to a wall or furniture with one edge, and resting on a pipe with the other. With a tabletop there are options:

• Make from a wide board, preferably not coniferous - their wood is too soft.
• Order from the same company that made the kitchen set. If you bought a ready-made one, you will have to look for similar material from the photo or carry a small spare part with you around the workshops to demonstrate what you need.
• Make it out of thick plywood, then decorate it with something - stick plastic, tiles, mosaics.

Everything else is better to choose in a store selling furniture fittings. The choice is very wide, and the range of prices is generally amazing. For example, a pipe of the same diameter can cost three times more. But such a difference is not without reason. With cheap Chinese pipes / nets / baskets, chrome plating begins to flake after a while. German fittings have a very high price tag, but a lifetime warranty, the Poles are in the middle both in price and quality. The choice is yours.

In the photo above - a homemade bar counter, which was made from a thick board. It rests on one side on a shelf attached to the wall (also made of inch boards). The second support is a traditional pipe. A hole of a suitable diameter is drilled under the pipe in the body of the countertop. Under the countertop on the pipe, a nozzle-stop "fixing ring" is installed, the hole is closed from above with a decorative ring. There is also a "thrust" or universal fastening of the pipe to the floor and ceiling, as well as various holders and shelves for it.

If the tabletop is attached directly to the wall, corners are usually used for these purposes. You can take reinforced, and choose the color based on the finish. But this type of fastener is installed so that it is not visible - stepping back a few centimeters from the edge. You can put several small corners, or one solid.

If you decide to make a bar in the kitchen along the wall, you can use decorative brackets for the shelves. Their bearing capacity should be enough for the countertop, especially since you can put several pieces. An example of assembling a bar counter of a simple design with a pipe in the photo below.

Photo report No. 1: a homemade countertop and pipe rack

The tabletop was cut out of a window sill (massif), the edge was rounded, sanded, toned and varnished. Spare parts - a bar leg, brackets and a fixture to the floor - were bought in the furniture fittings department.

We fasten the emphasis to the tabletop, to the edge - the corners. Everything sits on self-tapping screws with a flat cap. The job takes 7 minutes.

Having attached the assembled rack to the wall, we mark on the wall the places where it is necessary to install the dowels. We circle the pipe on the floor with a marker: we will set the thrust bearing at this mark. According to the marks, we mount the stop for the rack, put the dowels in the wall.

We put the rack in place, fasten it with screws. All. Ready.

Bar counters with shelves

If you don’t like the design with a pipe, you can do without it, but you will have to remove the upper part, which is located under the ceiling. Instead of a leg, for example, you can make the same shelf as near the wall. The view will immediately become more dynamic and modern.

And in general, the entire structure can be assembled from wide boards, joining them at right angles. Looking at the photo below, you will understand what I mean.

Bar counter for the kitchen in a modern style (for minimalism and high-tech too)

In modern interiors, broken lines generally fit better. If the kitchen is in the style of minimalism or high-tech, then it’s hard to fit the classics there, but something consisting of broken lines will look very good (a few sketches in the picture below).

A slightly more traditional version is shown in the photo. That doesn't make it any less interesting. A non-standard approach, even in small doses, significantly changes perception.

Option of bar drain - table

Bar counter on the base

All this we considered options without reason. But the tabletop can be attached to some cabinet. If the countertop is located exactly above the table surface, we take a pipe and standard fasteners to horizontal surfaces. If, as in this case, the surface of the bar counter is displaced, there is a special inclined fastener.

Attach the tabletop to the cabinet - easy and simple

The cabinet can be made independently. Actually, the main thing is to assemble the frame. It can be sheathed with furniture plywood or some other finishing material - it depends on the style of your kitchen. The frame can be made of wooden (dry) slats, or you can also weld a metal corner.

As an option - to assemble from drywall profiles, sheathe them or GVL. Another option is to lay a brick base. But this, if the bearing capacity of the floor allows.

With a drywall base: photo report No. 2

Often choose a drywall base device. The material is inexpensive, the technology has been tested, the mechanics are familiar, the result is at least good. In the order of work, no news: we assemble the frame. In this case, wooden bars were used, but it is also possible with the use of profiles.

The main thing is to observe the verticality and horizontality of the planes, put the racks exactly at 90 °. Everything is checked by a good building level, it is better to track verticality with a plumb line: it has no error. When the frame is assembled, it is sheathed on both sides with drywall or GVL.

We putty marks from self-tapping screws, corners and joints. Further, it depends on the type of finish chosen: some require puttying (water-based painting), others do not. In our case, textured paint was chosen, it is applied in a thick layer, and you can - directly on drywall.

It remains to install a countertop on the bar counter. Choose which one goes best with the rest of the furniture in your kitchen.

Photo report No. 3: Bar counter with a sink

This was the first experience in creating furniture (and in general something worthwhile) with their own hands, as a result, some design flaws were made. Not the most successful design turned out, although they do not argue about tastes.

Source materials:

• cheap countertops bought on sale;
• remnants of the cabinet from;
• bars;
• a couple of purchased doors;
• plumbing filling: sink, siphon, mixer and required pipes, hoses, fittings.

Tabletops are folded with the letter "G", connected by steel plates, sidewalls are attached

Tabletops are laid out face down on the floor. They are connected in the form of the letter "G" with the help of glue, which smeared the ends and a steel strip with perforation, into which the screws are screwed. The strip, of course, is fixed from below.

The sidewalls were supposed to be ennobled (presumably with a laminate), therefore the remnants available in the household were used - an old door and a piece of a cabinet. They are screwed with corners, aligned with the edge of the tabletops. And this is the first mistake. And visually, such a cabinet looks heavy, and sitting is uncomfortable. The sidewalls must be moved from the edge by at least 10 cm.

After the sidewalls were installed, the cabinet was turned over and placed in a permanent place. All other work was carried out on site. A hole for the sink was cut out, the plumbing part was installed and connected.

Laths are nailed along the floor - along the walls and slightly stepping back from the outer edge (5 cm indented, 10 can be more convenient), shelves are made. The cabinet on the side of the sink is closed with a door, the shelves on the left remain open. The space is partially finished with wooden planks.

At first, they thought to put several different “bells and whistles” on the pipe, but semicircular edges remained from the countertops. It was decided to use them on the pipe. Panels for decorating balconies (purchased in Leroy) were used as the exterior finish of the pedestal. They almost approached in size, and the remaining gaps were closed with a twisted cord. As a result, a homemade bar counter with a sink cabinet looks like in the photo below.

There are also some comments on finishing. First, the cord will soon be saturated with various liquids, will have a pale appearance and a strong “aroma”. To delay the appearance of the smell, it can be covered with something, even with the same PVA glue. The second is that the countertops are simply docked. Water will get into the gap, various small debris will fill up. Even at the stage of "docking" the edges must be smeared with a sealant (transparent, silicone, not acrylic). It is also possible and necessary to process the edges of the cutout for the sink. Then the countertop will not swell. The joints of the tabletops can be trimmed with furniture overlays, they can also be used instead of a cord. Another budget option is plastic corners and the same T-shaped strips.

Bar counter for the kitchen on the remains of the wall

If the kitchen is combined with a balcony, a piece of the wall remains. The place where the window used to be. If there is no desire to destroy it, you can make a bar counter.

There are two options:

• At the height that is, put the countertop. This will be another work surface or shelf. Above it, on pipes at a height of already about 1.1-1.2 m, fix another plane, which will actually be a bar counter.
• Report / grow the wall to the desired height and place the countertop.

Both options are not bad, but the one on the right in the photo is more practical: two surfaces in the kitchen are always better than one. Please note that the dimensions of the tabletop are larger than the width of the "legs". This is no coincidence: this way you can sit more or less comfortably without turning sideways.

And if you are not too lazy to remove this wall, you can do something more convenient - so that you can put your feet up. An example is in the photo.

Photo design ideas

Desktop - as a basis

Bar counter made of brick or stone - stylish

Related videos

If you want to put the bar in the open, you can borrow the idea in this video. The guy built an interesting rack from snags and a thick board found in the forest.

Most often, questions arise about how to make a countertop for a bar counter. You can decorate it with a mosaic. And how - see the video. In general, the mosaic laying technology is simple: on a special white glue, followed by grouting between the tiles. It is difficult to form an uneven edge. Here's how to do it - watch the video.

Tabletop glued from bars

Modern often involves the presence of a bar counter. It is perfect for both a regular kitchen and a studio apartment. This compact design is simply indispensable in situations where a light snack is required or a casual meeting with friends is planned. And besides, it is quite possible to make a functional and comfortable bar counter with your own hands.

When thinking through the design of your bar counter, you need to build on 3 rules:

• Functionality;
• Separation of space;
• Convenience and aesthetic design.

A bar counter located in a studio apartment or in a kitchen-dining room can be an excellent tool for zoning a room.

Design of bar counters for the kitchen: photo

Choice of countertop materials

Take the choice of materials for the countertop seriously - it must not only be moisture resistant, but also withstand the temperature and mechanical stresses typical for the kitchen. So that the countertop does not stand out in texture and color from the overall interior, you should focus on the materials from which all the rest of the furniture in the kitchen is made.

1. Chipboard top

A chipboard home bar countertop is both stylish and lightweight, but waterproofing is essential for this popular countertop.

Photo: chipboard countertop is not very practical

Advantages:

• inexpensive material;
• the coating can be of any color;
• easy to change.

But it has a wide selection of colors and an affordable price.

Flaws:

• does not like moisture, prone to swelling and deformation.

Important: the high quality of the chipboard is indicated by a tight-fitting edge.

2. Natural wood tabletop

Such a bar countertop will cost more than chipboard, but it also looks more respectable.

Advantages:

• wood is the most natural countertop material;
• fits perfectly into almost any interior.

Photo: solid wood bar countertop

Flaws:

• requires careful care;
• may deform and swell over time;
• knots and cavities can spoil its appearance.

Important: spilled drinks should not remain on the wooden tabletop.

3. Stone bar top

The stone can be both natural and artificial.

Advantages:

• little susceptible to external influences;
• very durable;
• moisture resistant;
• easy to care for.

Stone bar top

Flaws:

• difficult to change in size and shape.
• more expensive than chipboard and wood.

Important: if you need a relatively unpretentious and inexpensive countertop - opt for an artificial stone.

4. Glass bar top

These countertops are fragile, but very elegant in appearance.

Advantages:

• original appearance;

Glass bar top

Flaws:

• subject to mechanical damage;
• fingerprints, dust and stains are immediately noticeable on it.

Important: when installing a glass bar top, pay attention to the absence of even small cracks.

5. Bar top from a combination of materials

In such a countertop, glass can be combined with natural wood or stone, there may be inserts from another material.

Advantages:

• unusual design;

Flaws:

• seams at the joints of such a countertop require special attention;
• different materials need different care.

Important: it is not at all necessary to make a countertop from the material from which the base of the bar counter is made.

When choosing, you should take into account not only the possibilities of your budget, but also the design and power of the structure itself.

Foundation materials

Materials for the manufacture of the base of the bar counter can be:

1. Furniture chipboard. Bar counters made of furniture chipboard are often equipped with a variety of cabinets and shelves.
2. Wood;
3. Drywall;
4. Brick;
5. Artificial or natural stone.

Photo: brick bar countertop base

In addition to the very base of the bar counter, you will need accessories. Often this design is decorated with chrome pipes, which are offered in abundance on the construction markets.

Advice: on the chrome-plated pipes of the bar counter, you can fix not only spatulas and scoops, but also dishes: plates and cups.

Deciding on materials and tools

Before proceeding with the independent manufacture of a bar counter, you need to carefully study the installation process, since its correct installation requires certain conditions to be met.

Tools:

• Screwdriver Set;
• Drill, drills;
• Electric jigsaw;
• Round file;
• Hacksaw;
• Sanding block;
• clamps;
• Putty knife;
• Paint brush.

Proper manufacture of a bar counter requires the strength of all its parts, so first we glue sheets of drywall or chipboard together to make dense slabs 3.2 cm thick. Two chipboard or drywall boards are left unglued.

The classic bar counter is a barrier table in a drinking establishment. Because of its convenience and versatility, it has found its place in people's homes, in the kitchen.

Designers use a huge number of methods and materials to create bar counters for the kitchen.

Unfortunately, it was quite difficult to make such an interior item on your own. But do not be upset, you should arm yourself with instructions, advice from professionals, and the creation of such a structure from wood, chipboard or any other material will become quite real.

Types of bar counters and their need

If there is enough space in the room, the counter serves its intended purpose: visitors are located near it.

Some notice that this design is really an indispensable item in the breakfast or coffee house.

The peculiarity of the racks lies directly in the filling itself: it is impossible without glass holders, wine glasses, various glasses, fruit vases, as well as a large number of other details.

Bar counters for a small kitchen are rarely designed due to limited space. But if the customer wants to equip his kitchen with a counter, then in such cases it is usually attached to the wall. This option is not at all standard, but very practical.

Installing bar counters in medium and large kitchens

When equipping a medium-sized kitchen, they come to the installation of a rack - a “peninsula”. This means that the rack is attached to some other piece of furniture. Reliable fastenings are needed due to the fact that the structure in its height differs from the workplace.

Note! Yellow kitchen: advantages and disadvantages of kitchen design with a yellow tint (75 photos)

Basically, straight or inclined pipes are used, they serve as a support for the rack.

To place your piece of furniture in a large kitchen, any placement method will do. In a large kitchen, even the installation of a free-standing island will not take up the necessary space for work. In addition, there is no obligation to use decorative details.

Sometimes designers come to the use of a plasterboard wall, to which the tripod itself is then attached. There are a huge variety of bar counter designs for the kitchen, since it is possible to combine different materials: for example, metal with wood, and sometimes even with glass.

Multifunctionality and practicality

In fact, kitchen counters are most often used in situations where you need to separate the kitchen area from the living area.

Studio apartments are usually small spaces, so the owners try to make the most of the available space. In this case, it usually comes out combining the bar counter with the kitchen-living room.

To place your piece of furniture as conveniently and practically as possible, you should heed a few tips: it is possible to install shelves, bedside tables, small cabinets under the counter.

You can hang a variety of mounts above it: on pipes-holders, or under the very ceiling. It is also possible to build a two-tiered kitchen counter.

Kitchen counter dimensions

The height of the kitchen bar is usually about 130 cm. It will be quite convenient to use it while standing, but in order to sit down, you should purchase a special chair.

But the width already has some conditions: usually it should be at least 30 cm: if the rack is narrower, it is simply not convenient to put dishes and other items on it.

For greater comfort, rack cabinets can be equipped with lighting. Usually, LED strips or lamps are used for this. This solution is a very big savings.

LEDs take a small amount of energy, they also do not have the ability to heat up and will last you a long time.

Types of bar counter bases

The metal base is classic. It goes through the countertop and rests with the first end on the floor and the second on the ceiling.

It is recommended to buy high-quality German or Polish pipes. Products from Chinese manufacturers look the same on the outside, but after a short period of time, the paint covering them will begin to peel off.

In the countertop, you need to make a hole for the riser and string the countertop onto the support. A stop nozzle, also called a “fixing ring”, is strung on the base end, with the part visible to the eye, everything is closed with an artificial overlay.

Fasteners are used to fix the tripod. Shelves, holders, etc. are attached only after the rack is installed. When the countertop is along the wall, it is fixed thanks to decorative brackets. For the strength of the structure and reliability, they are placed as close to each other as possible.

How to attach the rack to the wall?

The bar counter in the corner kitchen is attached to the wall with the help of corners. For this procedure, you should buy reliable corners.

There are two types of corners: simple and reinforced. The latter are used for heavy and massive structures. A tabletop, created by oneself, usually rests on one corner, and more massive ones on several.

Kitchen interior with breakfast bar

In sufficiently large rooms, the rack can be located in the middle of the kitchen, while it forms an island.

Quite often, in the designs of kitchen studios, a stove and a sink are placed on this island, and the bar counter towering above them from the side of the guest room closes them.

In addition, the design will appeal to amateurs and culinary professionals.

For the final choice of your kitchen design, we offer you to see photos of the bar counters in the kitchen. We are sure that this will help you decide and make a choice.

Photo of a kitchen with a breakfast bar

It is generally accepted that the bar counter is not the most useful interior element in an ordinary urban kitchen. On the one hand, this is true - it requires free space, and it is difficult to imagine a full-fledged family dinner at the "barge". But on the other hand, a do-it-yourself bar counter for the kitchen can be a very interesting design solution, because the exclusive never goes out of style!

What are the advantages of the bar counter, which are manifested even when it is installed in an ordinary small-sized kitchen?

1. This is a good alternative to a dining table. Of course, the whole family gathered for lunch with the first and second will look somewhat comical, but it’s quite possible to have a quick bite to eat before leaving for study / work for her and everyone together.
2. Properly positioning the bar counter, you can significantly save kitchen space. To do this, it is enough to harmoniously fit it into the interior, connecting it with a kitchen set.
3. In a small studio apartment, a bar counter may well replace a dining table, while separating the working area of ​​​​the kitchen from the rest of the space.
4. A do-it-yourself bar counter in the kitchen is quite simple to manufacture, which is available to every home craftsman who has the minimum set of tools necessary for this business.

What are the bar counters for the kitchen?

The bar counter in the classic version is most often made as a separate element, fastened with one side to the wall. The other side is fixed with a metal pipe, which is connected with special heels to the table top, as well as the floor (and ceiling, if the design provides for such fastening). The classic is quite high, its working surface is at a height of 110-115 centimeters from the floor. It is proposed to sit at such a counter on high stools or chairs with a crossbar for the legs.

A more popular version for the kitchen is something between a classic rack and a dining table, its height coincides with the main height of the kitchen worktops (on average, 90 centimeters). A big plus of this approach is that there is no need to buy special ones, which are also difficult to use somewhere else.

A more complex combined option combines the advantages of the first two types, but it is intended exclusively for spacious kitchens and separates the living area from the kitchen area. The tabletop of such a "barge" is made in two levels: the high one is located on the side of the living room, and the low one, respectively, on the "kitchen" side.

Another interior solution for large kitchens is the "island" bar counter, which is made in the form of a separate block located in the center of the room. Such racks in ordinary apartments are much less common.

We make a bar counter with our own hands: what do we need?

A do-it-yourself bar counter in the kitchen can be made from a variety of materials. The easiest to process and therefore the most popular of them is chipboard. To work with it, you only need a drill and a jigsaw, which any fan of the "do it yourself" method has. You can use it for a work surface and a kitchen countertop, but you will need a special tool to trim it. Another popular material is stone, but in the absence of experience with it, it is better not to risk it.

Chipboard is sold on the market with the design "under the tree" and "under the stone" of various colors, so it can easily replace these materials. For finishing the edges of the furniture chipboard base, a melamine-based tape is perfect, which is very easy to fix. Appropriate fittings are also needed for attaching the rack to the wall, as well as a chrome-plated pipe that acts as a support. If you want to decorate the counter, it is easy to do this with the same pipes of a smaller diameter, and you can attach bar accessories and ordinary dishes to them.

All this is purchased in a specialized store or in the construction market, where they will always tell you what type of fasteners will be optimal in the conditions of your apartment, and also tell you about the intricacies of its installation.

In addition to an electric jigsaw, you will need a drill driver, a hacksaw, and a regular electric iron.

Making a bar counter: action plan

As in any other business, before you work with your hands, you should work with your head. It is necessary to think over everything to the smallest detail, from the shape to the smallest structural elements. There are a lot of variations in the manufacture of a bar counter, so in this article we will focus on the most popular of them: a bar counter made of furniture chipboard, which is mounted on a rack made of chrome-plated pipe.

How to cut a countertop correctly?

If you are thinking about how to assemble a bar counter for the kitchen, start by marking the chipboard sheet from which the countertop will be cut. When cutting it, you must follow three basic rules, and then the cut will turn out to be even, beautiful and without chips:

1. A new file should be installed on the jigsaw. If the canvas is even a little dull, it can lead while working with chipboard, because the condition of the file is critical when working with this material. As a result, you will get either an end face that is not perpendicular to the surface, or an uneven cut.
2. Choose a file with fine teeth that should point upwards. If you do the opposite, the edges of the cut will be torn, which will be almost impossible to fix.
3. Do you want to get a perfect cut, which will not even have small chips? A little secret: glue the place along the intended line with the most ordinary tape, and you will succeed.

Now you need to think about the processing of edges, which are pasted over with either special plastic or melamine tape. It is much more difficult to fix plastic at home, for this it is advisable to have a special building hair dryer, because heating it with an iron can easily lead to edge cracking. Melamine tape is attached much easier - it is applied to the chipboard, after which it is heated with a conventional iron. The adhesive base at this moment melts and securely fixes the edge, which, after cooling, is already firmly held.

Fixing the bar

The finished tabletop needs to be fixed. The easiest option for attaching to the wall is wide metal corners, fixed with dowels on one side and self-tapping screws on the other. If you are more concerned about the aesthetic side of the issue, you can purchase hidden shelf supports, for which you will have to drill holes in the end of the chipboard. But keep in mind that such fasteners can withstand a smaller load.

The bar counter, made in the form of a console, is attached to a pole with the second end, which can either simply support it from below, or pass through to the ceiling. A stand of standard height in the form of a chrome-plated “leg” can be immediately purchased complete with mounts. The second option is more reliable, but you will have to perfectly fit the size of the pole by sawing it to the desired height with a hacksaw. The pole is attached to the tabletop using standard heels with a threaded connection. In the case of a through pipe, you will need four of them.

It is also necessary to make a hole for the diameter of the pipe. If you're doing this with a jigsaw, be sure to use the smallest file you have and work very slowly. It is best to make such holes with a manual router, sometimes you can make a “hole” with a router right on the construction market when buying a chipboard sheet.

When fixing, pay special attention to the height of the countertop - it must correspond to the height of the other work surfaces.

Variations in the manufacture of a bar counter

We have described the simplest option, but you can come up with your own individual project: a kitchen with a bar counter with your own hands can look completely different. Someone prefers to equip the "barque" with shelves and cabinets, someone decorates it, and the base is made of a variety of materials - up to drywall and brick.

But no matter what original project you come up with, remember that the material of the countertop must meet the following requirements: it must not be afraid of scratches, high humidity, grease, not absorb kitchen odors, and also be resistant to any influences that can be exerted on it in kitchen conditions.

Let there be light: lighting up the bar

Having figured out how to make a bar in the kitchen, you should think about lighting it. Such an exclusive piece of furniture, and even made on its own, needs a good selection of light. An ideal option for this is the use of halogen lamps mounted in a beam located above the countertop.

If there is no possibility to mount such a beam, special chandeliers or shades are suitable, which are suspended directly from the ceiling. It is best to connect them not directly, but using dimmers - lighting intensity controls. By setting the dimmed backlight at the right time, it is easy to achieve the perfect resemblance to the bar atmosphere.

It will be correct to mount the bar in the immediate vicinity of the junction box and electrical outlets, but you can also use an extension cord, which will not look so aesthetically pleasing. If you do not want to spoil the interior solution with extension cords, but there are no close sockets, a separate circuit is drawn to the rack.

It is recommended to think about this before the start of the repair of the premises, planning simultaneously with its implementation and the installation of a bar counter. In this case, you can hide the wires under the surface in prepared strobes. But if you realized it too late, it is enough to purchase special boxes for wires.

Cable routed? You just have to mount the junction boxes and bring out the wires to connect the lighting fixtures. After checking the wiring for operability, the switches are mounted, and - voila - the lighting is ready.

• The best bar stools are height-adjustable, with backrests and footrests.
• We decided to use a stone for the countertop - order its sawing to a specialist.
• If you want to save space, consider a storage system in the form of shelves for accessories and hangers for glasses.
• We chose an "island" bar counter - make sure that the area of ​​​​your kitchen is at least 15-18 squares.
• The most popular solution in the form of a console with a pole to the ceiling is at the same time the most reliable.

How to make bar counters for the kitchen with your own hands is rather a matter of design, and not of optimal work with material and tools. Do not limit your imagination, and a bar counter made by yourself will be a real source of pride for you among friends and relatives!

Also check out the article.

The exclusive and stylish interior of the kitchen almost always includes a bar counter. It can be located not only in the kitchen, but also serve as a separator between the kitchen and the dining room, and can become a home mini-bar. The process of creating such a structure is not too expensive, but it requires preliminary preparation and design.

If you can harmoniously fit the bar counter into the interior of the kitchen, then it will become its central element. However, it is worth remembering that a bar stool is not as comfortable as a traditional dining one, and therefore there should still be a separate table for family dinners. However, modern designs can solve this problem, and our article will help you answer the question: how to make a bar counter with your own hands? In the “studios”, this design will become an excellent zoning element, separating the recreation area from the place of eating, and will also allow a friendly company of guests to settle down.

Materials for bar counters

To make a bar counter at home, you must first select the materials. Do not forget that in most kitchens a counter is made in mini format, in this case, grandiose construction is not expected.

A do-it-yourself bar counter can be made of the following materials:

• Plastic is a cheap and light material, with a variety of colors, easy to handle, but not too durable;
• Chipboard with laminated coating - more expensive and more difficult to work with, but more durable than plastic, available in a wide range of colors, with surfaces that imitate multi-colored marble and noble wood;
• Drywall allows you to create designs of any shape and style - from classic to loft; the material is easily painted in any color suitable for the interior of the house;
• Precious wood species - such a design will look noble, solid and expensive, but elementary carpentry skills will be required to create it.

Types of construction of bar counters

When creating a bar counter at home, the following typical solutions can be used:

1. Stationary bar.

It can also be made in mini format. The maximum height of the countertop in this case is no more than 1.2 meters from the floor. Here you can use a traditional bar stool - high, with a footrest, with backs and armrests.

1. Combining a counter with a dining table will be the best option for a small kitchen. The height of the working surface here is about 900 mm. As an addition - a standard chair.
2. A two-level design, when a high bar counter is adjacent to a typical dining table. This is a great option for zoning a house - the low part remains in the kitchen, and the high part is taken out into the living room.

We make a countertop - the whole process

A do-it-yourself bar counter for the kitchen is created in several stages. Moreover, the base element here is the countertop - it is she who creates the necessary interior accents. Therefore, the plate used as it must be attractive, durable and resistant to wear. To make a countertop yourself, you will need chipboard, veneer or other lumber. The desired shape is cut out of it (with an electric jigsaw). In places of cut, the edge is carefully cleaned and glued with a special tape from the end.

Advice! The original color of the countertop can be easily changed using a self-adhesive film.

If you do not want to make the countertop yourself, then buy a finished product made of chipboard or acrylic stone.

The basis of the "bar" - the main rules of construction

The manufacture of a bar counter for the kitchen (standard or mini) requires the construction of an appropriate foundation. The following options are available here:

1. Brick base - laid out of brick on cement mortar so that the shape of a rectangle is maintained. It is better to use red facing brick, which does not require additional decoration. Other types of material will need to be plastered. "Bar" can be located on the island type and will become the central element of the room. Such designs are stable and massive, and products made of thick wood or marble are used here as countertops.
2. You can make a frame base structure. For this, a metal corner up to 50 mm wide or a wooden beam with a section of 40x40 mm is used. Structural elements are interconnected (welded or twisted), after which they are cleaned, painted and sheathed. To give the base strength, it is additionally fixed to the wall or adjacent furniture. Since this type of construction is light, massive countertops are not used here.

Below we present you a step-by-step photo-instruction for creating a do-it-yourself bar counter from veneer on a frame of wooden beams. You can use: chipboard (but this material is not the most reliable), plywood, fiberboard, MDF and drywall.

We will need:

• Wooden blocks or edged boards 100-120 cm in length (in this case, edged boards 5 cm thick, 15 cm wide, 105 cm long will be used);
• Plywood sheets, veneer, fiberboard sheets (in this case, oak veneer);
• Clapboard nails, as well as self-tapping screws 3.8 cm and 50 mm;
• Joiner's glue;
• Moldings, decorative skirting boards or plywood trimmings, as well as 2 - 5 brackets if desired;
• Stain, as well as wood varnish or two-component epoxy.

Advice! It is necessary to create a bar counter of any design, including a mini-format, according to a pre-made drawing. It's better to use a 3D model, but graph paper will work too. This approach will create a harmonious design, suitable for the dimensions of the room and the existing interior. You can also immediately select a chair and a suitable set of equipment for the stand.

But do-it-yourself bar counters according to the same principle, but in a different design.

And here are other ideas for DIY enthusiasts.

Bar counter lighting and suitable equipment

In order for the bar table to fit better into the interior of the kitchen, you need to consider its lighting. With the right lighting, even a mini-bar will become a relaxation and comfort area.

It is best to illuminate the bar counter with halogen lamps, placing them in a special beam above the countertop. However, mini-plafonds or chandeliers suspended directly from the ceiling are also suitable for this purpose.

The photo shows various ways of lighting the bar counter.