Kitchen Cabinets by Day, Wet-bar by Night

When you think 'wet-bar', do you conjure leisure suits, strobe lights, and refinished basements? If so, think again. Today's wet-bars are well-integrated cabinets that can help you entertain in style.

Wet-bar Cabinet Styles

You can immediately open up a lot of space in your kitchen by adding a new kitchen cabinet in the form of a wet-bar. Here are a few of your options:

• Built-in Bars: If you locate your wet-bar just off the kitchen, order wood to match your existing cabinets. You don't want competing kitchen cabinet styles. Keep in mind that you want to place your wet-bar wherever you want your guests to congregate.
• Accessory-Rich Bars: You can put whatever you like behind your wet-bar's cabinet doors. That means you need not limit yourself to souvenir shot-glasses or beer mugs. Why not install a dishwasher, fridge, icemaker, sound system, and/or plasma TV as well? Such a hopping space will no doubt become any party's hub. Tuck the munchies in the cabinet, and you'll likely find your family drawn there as well.
• Sit-down Bars: Because the wet-bar naturally draws people to it, you may want to consider providing some seating. Ask your contractor about the ways in which you can incorporate a sit-down arrangement into your new cabinet. If you think your family will spend some time lounging at the wet-bar, consider foregoing backless stools for those with a bit of support.

Nothing makes entertaining easier than having the right tools. Whether you install a tricked out plumbed butler's pantry or a doorless cabinet with a water line, a wet-bar will help make every shindig a success.