skip to main content

Home Decorating

Need help with bar room (maybe our new dining room?)

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

We just purchased a big craftsman/prairie style house which was built
in 1913. Need help. Bar (from the 60s) is poorly built and we're not
sure if we should rebuild or re-purpose this room with no bar. There is
an opening to pass through items into the bar area and a sink below.
Right now we are using as our casual dining room because the formal
dining is large and very formal. Here are pictures of what it looks like
now. (We were able to get some free hardwood from a house they are
doing demo work on nearby so we are trying to decide what happens with
the bar before we put in flooring in a couple of weeks.)

And just for reference (and because we have them) here is what it looked like in the 70s/80s.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

redtartan
9 years ago
If you are not bar type people, I say tear it out and repurpose the room so you'll actually use it. If it were well built it may be a different story, but you could still have a little bar area with a nice piece of furniture that is located in your new repurposed room. And wow what a difference some paint makes.
sjhockeyfan325
9 years ago
It would be really helpful to see a floor plan that shows your kitchen, the bar room, the casual dining area and the formal dining room.
Related Discussions
This great room/dining room needs some spice! Please help!
Q
Comments (31)
Here are some pics from Houzz that might give you some ideas. I love the blinds in the first on that hide the upper windows, but it's a pretty contemporary look. The interest on the ceiling along with the chandelier brings it down a bit. [contemporary living room design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-living-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_718~s_2103) by new york interior designer David Landy ASID CID NY State This has a strong horizontal element with lighting that breaks up the height: [traditional living room design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-living-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_718~s_2107) by dc metro general contractor Moss Building and Design [ the last two use lots of wood/built-ins to add heft and interest [(https://www.houzz.com/photos/st-clements-great-room-traditional-family-room-toronto-phvw-vp~81556) [traditional family room design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-family-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_720~s_2107) by toronto design-build Schnarr Craftsmen Inc [traditional family room design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-family-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_720~s_2107) by atlanta interior designer Mary Trantow
...See More
Need help with dining room in new home. Blank slate waiting for help.
Q
Comments (2)
You are in "conversations." Will get much more feedback if you post in Home Decorating.
...See More
I need help with a family room design in our new house
Q
Comments (5)
It is actually not a new house, just new to us. The sun room is one of those porches attached to the house. It is all windows including the 3 doors. I think right now there is those vertical hanging blinds. Yuck! We are hoping to keep the idea of the sun room, but just put on an addition in its place so that we can get rid of the slider off of the kitchen.
...See More
I need help deciding on chairs for my new dining room table
Q
Comments (18)
Hi Wanda- Please, please do not buy chairs from the Internet. Chairs have to be comfortable and sturdy and made to last and support even big people. You are much better off going to charity stores craigslist and tag sales looking for sets of chairs made of solid wood and recovering the seat cushions and painting the wood. These stores have so many of these sets now! It is so easy to cover a chair seat and not difficult to learn how to paint the wood or you can leave the wood the way it is or just sand and varnish it.
...See More
jlc712
9 years ago
I absolutely would tear it out. It looks like a beautiful house, love the french doors. I don't think a bar fits the character of the house. I'd keep the pass-through, and put a buffet-type piece with a landing surface below it. Then you can move your table to the center of the room.
stuk
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks for the comments so far! The room was originally a sleeping porch I believe which is why it has concrete floors with a pattern in them. I'm attaching a rough layout someone made of the first floor. The green line shows the approx original outside wall of the house. The grotto was added on and hopefully will come off in the next few years to restore the original first floor layout.
And here is a picture of the adjacent formal dining room.

Related Stories

LIVING ROOMS A Living Room Miracle With $1,000 and a Little Help From Houzzers

By Mitchell Parker

Frustrated with competing focal points, Kimberlee Dray took her dilemma to the people and got her problem solved

UNIVERSAL DESIGN My Houzz: Universal Design Helps an 8-Year-Old Feel at Home

By Becki Peckham

An innovative sensory room, wide doors and hallways, and other thoughtful design moves make this Canadian home work for the whole family

SELLING YOUR HOUSE Help for Selling Your Home Faster — and Maybe for More

By Laura Gaskill

Prep your home properly before you put it on the market. Learn what tasks are worth the money and the best pros for the jobs

BATHROOM MAKEOVERS Room of the Day: See the Bathroom That Helped a House Sell in a Day

By Annie Thornton

Sophisticated but sensitive bathroom upgrades help a century-old house move fast on the market

DECORATING GUIDES Decorate With Intention: Helping Your TV Blend In

By Laura Gaskill

Somewhere between hiding the tube in a cabinet and letting it rule the room are these 11 creative solutions

DINING ROOMS Room of the Day: Traditional Dining Room Shaken With a Twist

By Becky Harris

This home's colonial architecture inspires formality, while the room's bold color, a mix of styles and a glossy bar update the look

SMALL SPACES Downsizing Help: Think ‘Double Duty’ for Small Spaces

By Becky Dietrich, Interior Designer

Put your rooms and furnishings to work in multiple ways to get the most out of your downsized spaces

STANDARD MEASUREMENTS Key Measurements to Help You Design Your Home

Architect Steven Randel has taken the measure of each room of the house and its contents. You’ll find everything here

REMODELING GUIDES Room of the Day: Antiques Help a Dining Room Grow Up

By Becky Harris

Artfully distressed pieces and elegant colors take a formerly child-focused space into sophisticated territory

KITCHEN DESIGN Key Measurements to Help You Design Your Kitchen

By Steven Corley Randel, Architect

Get the ideal kitchen setup by understanding spatial relationships, building dimensions and work zones

Sponsored

EK Interior Design

5 Reviews

TIMELESS INTERIOR DESIGN FOR ENDLESS MEMORIES

More Discussions

furniture style/colors/layour

6

Help with sidelight design

24

Help with Studio Apt

39

Living Room Setup

8

Undercabinet Lighting in Kitchen

2