Is this a commercial bar or a home bar?

Even if it‘s a home bar, I prefer the work area to be a bit lower.

I put together some general visuals just for fun - and maybe inspiration:

I need more info please .

It is for a home bar that we are building in our formal living room. We are going for something modern. Does it make more sense to have the look of the first picture where the counter levels are the same height? Or does it look to kitchen like?

Or the next two pictures where there is an actual bar height. And the back bar and lower part of front bar are counter height.

Can we see pics of your space? The answer is, "either one, but it depends on..." so give us more info, please.

I've had both (though neither in a formal living room). Dual height in the first one and single height in the current. Again, the decisions were made based on the space.

It’s 18x15 size room. Back wall has no windows- that is the wall the back bar will be on. Room is empty!

I’m confused…will people be sitting on both sides. Having some at bar height and others at counter height will be awkward and also not very practical surface wise. Or…are you saying people will be sitting along wall and I just can’t envision as being conducive or practical.

If lowering counter to create a work space, that‘s different but no one will be able to sit on that side. If possible suggest a bar height surface and functionality along on back wall.

Your best bet is to search on line, as it really comes down to preference and the more you see, the more you’ll know what you want both layout and style wise.

Love the first picture! People will only be sitting on one side! The other side will be for standing and making drinks! Just want to understand if it makes more sense for all to be counter height or if the side people are sitting at should just be bar height and the back bar and front part of the front bar should be counter height!

It’s true that there is no one answer. However, imo, beyond the functional advantages, it also overall can often look more bar-like, if at least the front bar has two levels. And with what you are doing - ie putting a bar in formal living room area in a modern aesthetic, if it is all not designed well - with one level on front bar, it could potentially look like you just transported a kitchen to your living room. So I would suggest you at least do two levels on front bar. If you had pics of the actual bar piece you are having made, as well as pics of the actual space it’s going in, and your furnishings, etc., etc. - maybe someone here would take the time to sort it out further.

Here's a bar we did with a waterfall counter on one side and all counter height. Our clients had this as part of a larger game/media room and we kept it level so they could also use the bar as a buffet for laying out food/snacks in addition to serving drinks.

Pandemic Playroom on the Peninsula · More Info

Pandemic Playroom on the Peninsula · More Info

Pandemic Playroom on the Peninsula · More Info

Weird, my photos didn't attach to my earlier comment. Here's our current bar, which is part of a larger media room & library off to the side. Seats eight on two sides.

One or two levels also depend on the height of the ceiling and the size of the bar.

Unless the room is enormous I would have one level for the whole bar. This is not a commercial bar and the taller the bar height, the more space it takes up in the room.

Bar Height at 42 or 48" tall is too high for most homes.

And most people don’t have bars in their formal living room.

She doesn't have a designer. She is also planning for this to serve as an actual bar with drinks being made behind the bar. All one level doesn’t work well functionally, nor imo will it likely work aesthetically for the purpose and environment.

You have NO IDEA how tall the ceilings are or how large the room is. So even if these things were even remotely factors... in this case, you are advising her to do all one level, based on zero information

We visit someone with a home bar that is two heights. He can keep things on the lower counter and it doesn’t look cluttered because it’s slightly hidden by the higher counter, which is clutter free. Works well, is nice to sit at. They don’t need to use it as a buffet.

I ahve no idea wtching TV from a bar stool works for maybe pary of a game but honestly where is the actaul seating and the TV I have abar in my media room it gets used off and on when we have a crowd watching a game but honestly no one sits there for the whole time . I have no idea why sitting with your back to the room makes any sense .

The home we visit has a tv behind the bar and in another location. Nobody sits there all night but someone sits there off and on all evening.

Ker9 - Do your friends also have swivel stools? Wonderful new invention... ;)

freedomplace1, yes, they swivel. Easier to get in/out.

That’s another advantage, ker9. I thought of mentioning the swivel stools because of issue raised above, regarding people sitting at the bar with their backs to the rest of the space. With swivel stools, there is flexibility. Easy to turn around.