Wet bars
A wet bar is a small run of cabinetry that has to do several jobs at once: hold bottles, chill drinks, take a sink and still look like part of the room. Valmont draws it around the appliances first, since a fridge or a wine unit needs its model number before the panels can be made. Lit glass storage is wired in our shop before the boxes leave.
On the drawings, and on the quote.
- 01Elevations and a photorealistic rendering with the appliances drawn in
- 02A sink cabinet notched for the plumbing, with a waterproof base
- 03Bottle storage and a lit glass shelf or display section
- 04Appliance panels for an under-counter fridge or wine unit, made to the model
- 05A back panel in slats, fluting or mirror behind the counter
- 06Cabinet lighting wired in the shop, ready for the electrician to connect
No figures published. The drivers, in order.
| Driver | What we look at |
|---|---|
| Appliances in the run | Each under-counter fridge, ice maker or wine unit needs its own opening, its own panel and its own services behind the cabinet. |
| Sink and plumbing | A bar sink means a notched cabinet, a waterproof base and a plumber on site before the counter is templated. |
| Glass and display fronts | Framed glass doors, a mirror back or a lit shelf each add machining and finishing that a plain door does not. |
| Counter material and depth | A stone counter with a full-height back adds templating and fabrication time after the boxes are set. |
The quote lists each part of the bar separately, from the sink cabinet to the appliance panels, so you can see what the display sections are adding. Read the cost guide.
Measure, draw, quote, build, install.
The five steps in full, with the walkthrough you see before we build.
Step 01 is a measure with the appliance model numbers, the water and drain locations and the outlet positions. We ask what the bar is really for, since a coffee and wine station is a different cabinet from a spirits bar. Step 02 is elevations plus a photorealistic rendering inside [n] days.
Step 03 is the itemized quote. Step 04 is shop build: boxes and fronts cut, edged and finished here, appliance panels machined to the model numbers, glass sections fitted, and lighting wired into the shelves before anything leaves. The run is dry-fitted on our bench so the reveals around the appliances are already correct. Allow [n] weeks.
Step 05 is install. The crew levels the run, scribes the ends, fits the panels around the appliances and hangs the fronts. The plumber connects the sink and the electrician finishes the lighting. Stone is templated after the boxes are set. Install is [n] days, with a return to adjust once the bar is in use.
Asked before the first call.
Do I need a plumber for a wet bar?
Yes, if there is a sink. Supply and drain have to be brought to the cabinet before it is set, and the final connection is the plumber's work. If plumbing is not practical, a dry bar with a fridge and storage covers most of the same use.
Why do appliance panels need model numbers?
Because each manufacturer sets its own panel size, hinge position and mounting hardware. Without the model number the panel cannot be machined correctly, which is why we ask for it before drawings rather than after the quote.
How is the glass shelf lit?
The channel is routed and the wiring is run in our shop, so the light sits in the cabinet rather than being stuck on afterwards. The driver location is agreed at drawings stage and your electrician makes the final connection on site.
Can a bar go into a room with no water supply?
A dry bar can go almost anywhere with a circuit for the fridge. Adding water depends on what is behind the wall and below the floor, which is a question for your plumber. We draw both options if you are undecided at step 01.
What goes behind the counter?
Slats, fluting, mirror or stone all work, and the choice is mostly about reflection and cleaning. Mirror makes a small bar feel deeper but shows every mark; a fluted panel hides fingerprints and picks up the light from the shelves.