wanting to remove wet bar

2 years ago

Our new to us house has a wet bar in the living room and this wet bar was obviously meant to be a focal point of the room. The cabinetry is beautiful, but I really dislike how exposed it is. My husband doesn’t even drink but he thinks it’s “cool”.
I would like to have that space for storage, maybe have an armoire for games, blankets, and other things that we’d use more than a wet bar.
Would you want to keep an exposed wet bar in your living room? 😬
Including a picture from MLS. Anytime I bring this up to family or friends, they say “turn it into a coffee bar”. That doesn’t address the issue as it’s still going to look like a kitchen in my living room!

Featured Answer

aliciaflorrick

2 years ago

It does look like a mini kitchen, rather like a basement suite. It also looks quite sell-able to someone who is building a basement suite. I would try to sell it as such and use the funds to repair the floor and have the living room you want.

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Comments (16)

cat_ky
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
I would have it removed too. Maybe leave the cabinets, if you need them, there. Put shelves where the small frig is. Remove the sink, and add new countertops. If you do not want any of it, have it all removed. Its definitely not anything, I would want in my living room. It seems to take up a lot of space, that would be nice to have for something that would be useful.
Julie Brown thanked cat_ky
Kate
2 years ago
It you don’t use it, remove it but be prepared to add flooring as there may not be any under the cabinets. Maybe you could use the cabinets elsewhere?
Julie Brown thanked Kate
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maddielee
2 years ago
That looks more like a kitchen in a living room then a wet bar. might work in a basement rec room, but I wouldn’t want it in my main living space.
Julie Brown thanked maddielee
Jilly
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
I agree with you and others — it looks like a kitchen in there. I love armoires and think that’s a great idea.

Also — congratulations! Looks like a beautiful home. :)
Julie Brown thanked Jilly
Yayagal
2 years ago
It doesn't look good. I would have it removed.
Julie Brown thanked Yayagal
RNmomof2 zone 5
2 years ago
While it looks very boozy now maybe with out all of that you could live with it? I would wait until you move in and maybe it will be tolerable as storage?
Julie Brown thanked RNmomof2 zone 5
justcallmepool
2 years ago
If it was just the bottom cabinets with a different countertop, it could maybe work. But the uppers and the granite really make it look like a kitchen/butler pantry area.

If you wanted to live with it for awhile first, I'd remove the uppers and find a way to mask the fridge doors to look like cabinets. But if you already have other plans or items you could put there, then I'd probably start removing it. Just be prepared for plumbing and flooring issues you'll have to address also.

In our old house we had a built in desk that was awful-ugly, not useful, waste of space, had a weird granite top. I wanted to remove it the whole 8 years we lived there but DH was always so worried about repairing the small floor area under it. To this day I wish I had taken a sledgehammer to it while he was at work. Don't be like me. RIP IT OUT! lol
Julie Brown thanked justcallmepool
Julie Brown
Original Author
2 years ago
@aliciaflorrick great idea!
Julie Brown
Original Author
2 years ago
@justcallmepool i will take your advice to not wait!! lol i have told my husband it will be gone or moved within the next two years!!
Julie Brown
Original Author
2 years ago
@RNmomof2 zone 5 we have moved in and it’s bothering me more and more everyday! i am using it for storage like you suggested. And having daydreams of sledgehammering it lol
Julie Brown
Original Author
2 years ago
Thank you everyone! on the broght side of all of this, i now know I’m not alone in how I feel about this blasted wet bar.

oh and I measured this thing last night and it has the SAME dimensions of my our oddly placed laundryroom that is between the dining room and the kitchen. i bet the original owner decided it would be better in the living room!
Julie Brown
Original Author
2 years ago
@jinx thank you! It is a beautiful home, so I’m grateful and over the moon about it, but there are things like this that I just have to fix! I have my work cut out for me
justcallmepool
2 years ago
Does your laundry room have cabinets in it or could it use some of these pieces?

If you don't salvage any of it yourself, either in laundry room or maybe the garage, I like the idea of posting it for sale. Someone will need and buy that!
Julie Brown
Original Author
2 years ago
@poollivingthedreamnow it does have the same style cabinets. so I have a grand plan…lol
i just quickly drew out the changes I want to make - the changes are in pink in the picture
justcallmepool
2 years ago
1. Looks like a great plan to me!
2. Love your handwriting
3. I also use the delta triangle for “change” when I make notes! My DH laughs about it but it makes perfect sense to me 🤷🏻‍♀️