Do you need a coat closet?

You could hang pictures up there or it could be a pantry for kitchen appliances

I would do a pantry with an unobtrusive door. It should not be a feature, but would be a great storage area for bulky items, etc.

I have a big closet and a big pantry already but maybe just doors or a bookshelf?

Visually, it might look better if it matched the panelling or wall treatment of the side of the staircase.

You've said you're a Costco shopper. One can never have enough space for bulk purchases: toilet paper, Pellegrino, Basmati rice, whatever. You could make that whole wall hidden storage.

IMO the stairs should have been left open then no issue with what to do now. But I agree make what ever you do disapper and be used for storage of some sort . I always find luggage a paint to store so maybe that or off season sports stuff. I alo would look at painting thta wall something other than white . There are some fab ideas for under stair storage on google . The one I love is the dog bed .You might have to get a dog.

Storage closet. If you absolutely don't need any more storage then you are super lucky. Just add shelves for books instead.

A closet or hutch or bench, desk. A bookcase.

Here is an amazing rendering someone on here did for me. They guessed a lot of the details too. It's pretty close!

It doesn’t appear that there is a basement, so maybe use the whole space for storage, pullouts, etc. Or get a dog! Great spot for a dog bed!

My cat wouldn't like that. You can see that the staircase was nine or ten 24" deep drawers and cubbies... filled with junk. Oh, and a wine rack for about 10 bottles.

You know if I shorten the peninsula by 8 to 10 inches I think the bar might still work there without causing a traffic jam. I could still put the counter around the corner for the wine cooler and frig drawers... it just will be extraa counter not a bar.

First off, I would guess the opening under the stair would not be able to be as tall as the renderings show. It may only be as about as tall as the wine bottle pigeon holes shown in the cat picture. That in itself may restrict the function of the space.

Secondly, as if looks are important, the space looks a bit disjointed from the kitchen (and this could just be me) in the 'amazing rendering'.

Thirdly, Is that a Jeremy Lipking painting in the cat picture?

This is described as a reading nook in a real estate listing - maybe for a very small child. I thought the only thing it would be used for if I bought the house is my cats - they would love it. I'd rather have some kind of nice, hidden storage space.

Have you considered designating the space under the stairs as a mother-in-law suite?

Putting storage drawers, closets, or cubbies under the stairs is always an option. Here are some ideas:

Brooklyn Townhouse · More Info

Entryways & Mudrooms · More Info

a house in a garden · More Info

Before I totally give up on this bar idea and just do more storage I'm thinking of how to make this work on last time. I totally taken advantage of all the wasted space under the stairs now. Roomba garage, printer/shredder station, smart home distribution componentry rack space... and now this last thing.

Mark, you are right about the height. The opening is 6'4" x 34.75" (that's the pantry on the other side btw). I've corrected the bar height and some details of the amazing render including increasing the passthrough to the kitchen by shortening the peninsula about 8 inches. Now there is 48 inches from bar to counter. Is that too open? Cetainly won't have a bottleneck at the bar.

One other change that would be hard to photoshop is that that is a 42" frig and I'm getting a 36" instead. Everything will move down 6 inches and the small drawer on the back wall will become 23" instead of 17".

That is a 90" Ryan McGinley photograph.

I would not give up 10" on a peninsula, which will get frequent use, for a clever bar to be used when you hire a caterer for the occasional party. Unless you host events weekly. My guess is this will be the prototypical "seemed like a good idea at the time". Kind of like whirlpool tubs and hot tubs: not used enough to justify their existence.

This design is not a party bar...its just a bar. Hate to admit that I would use the bar several times a week myself. I'm pretty sure they get plenty of use by people that have them as well.

I forgot to photoshop in the counter inside the kitchen, around the corner that now would be just more counter instead of a bar. Having the bar under the stairs makes that new counter usable for other things other than bottles.

So you've nixed the (short) dude in the tux behind the bar mixing martinis?

There is always the possibility to remove the back wall of the bar to create a bartender bar but this is not a party bar... this is a bar. I'm 6'3" and have no problem standing back there so no need for a short bartender.

Going back to your bar idea (but only for storage vs serving) and add mood lighting.

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Clearly that's where the Litter Robot goes, with a clever cat-accessible decorative lattice work cover. :D (Says the girl who LOVES her Litter Robot... except when the power goes out for 24+ hours, as it has 2 times in the last month).

This is a brilliant rendering; and this seems like it’s enough clearance.

If the bar is basically for your personal use, would there ever be that much of a traffic jam there(?)

Also, imo, shortening the peninsula is a good idea, overall - because it allows for a wider passageway, in general; so therefore, should feel more open, less restrictive/ more freedom of movement there. You won’t have to squeeze past the peninsula, and neither will your guests. I happen to be super skinny - but not everyone is.

Anyway - I think the bar is a nice idea. Here’s some inspiration: https://www.houzz.com/magazine/25-home-bars-stashed-under-the-stairs-stsetivw-vs~156709697

@Rabbitt Design did an amazing job on that. Your photoshop skills are excellent, also.

@Maureen @freedomplace1 @Sabrina Alfin Interiors Thanks for inspo pics and links. The view around corner from the bar opening will look something like this one way or the other. Question is, is it more useful countertop for something other than booze bottles? There will be a 15" wine cooler and 24" frig drawers under it. It's a 43.75" counter.

It looks like you may be planning to use the same art there as you used before; so this idea may or may not work for you. But I am thinking if this is going to be the bar area, as one idea, you could have a wall cabinet there to store a few bottles, glasses, decanters, etc. You could leave the counter basically clear for prep.

https://www.karvdwalls.com/wall-mounted-liquor-bar-cabinets/hitch

https://www.karvdwalls.com/wall-mounted-liquor-bar-cabinets/arch

You could instead have a counter (vs cubbies) for your prep and store the liquor and glasses in the cupboard.

I didnt realize, at first that the stairs were adjacent to the kitchen. I think thats the perfect spot for a bar. Theres never the right place to store the bottles and barware.

P.S. we use our bar and our hot tub several times a week.

Since bars and passthrus aren't used so often I doubt there will be much congestion in that area. Is a kitchen pass-thru necessary? They seldom seem to be used. If you are going to eliminate one or the other I would eliminate the pass-thru instead of the bar.

"Since bars . . . aren't used so often . . . "

We obviously have different clientele. I had one client make me change the name of the 'den' to the "Gin & Tonic Room" on the construction drawings.

In the jurisdictions we build in, having a home with a designated "Gin & Tonic Room" would likely trigger some sort of license requirement or a higher tax assessment or-- at the very least-- routine visits by the local assessor (hey, who doesn't like gin?)

or utility closet for broom, mop/vac, etc?

@Norwood ArchitectsI'm clearly not using the correct term. By passthrough I'm talking about the distance from the end of peninsula to the bar. Someone suggested that with someone making a drink at bar that there might be more space than 40 inches needed in that entryway to the kitchen. I'm thinking of 45 or 48" by shortening the peninsula.

@freedomplace1 Thanks for the great ideas. I'd definitely do something like that there if the bar doesn't go around the corner.