A Quick Guide to the Wet Bar Renaissance
Did you know the wet bar can be traced back to Victorian times? Tea trolleys were invented and quickly spread as they were the most convenient way to transport elaborate afternoon tea to everyone from train passengers to royalty. When not in use, they waited against a wall. Before long, clever people saw the benefit of transferring that use to the storage of alcoholic beverages for consumption when convenient. Those with especially large selections of beverages began to see the need for a more permanent solution without wheels. The bar cabinet was born in the mansions of the 1900s. After prohibition ended in 1933, Americans used the tea trolley for alcohol widely in homes and at parties and had bar cabinets installed in their homes.
Now let’s jump forward to the wet bar’s true heyday. It’s the 1970s and entertaining at home was now a focus in home design. The bar cabinet expanded to become more than a place to store alcoholic beverages, it became a home bar. Plumbing was introduced, bringing the “wet” to the bar. Small sinks and specially designed bar faucets were introduced, fitted into a counter where a person could stand behind it and pour cocktails, just like a commercial bar. The high counter from the neighborhood bar came with the set-up, naturally, and bar stools.
This space was often found in the basement of homes, surrounded by a large area for cards and pool. Shag carpeting dampened noise and Hi-Fi stereo systems completed the ambience. In the 1980s to 2000s, the wet bar was scaled back a bit, but added to smaller spaces and kitchens. The wine fridge added the extra ability to store chilled Champagne and wine within easy reach.
The Renaissance of the Wet Bar
Today, upscale wet bars are back! They are still no longer confined to their own room, necessarily, but they are a key feature in the average home in a slightly higher-than-average cost bracket. They feature two sinks and two faucets, on average, with the main sink sporting a commercial-grade pull-down kitchen faucet. An instant hot water faucet is a must, as well as an ice maker and plenty of counter space and cabinet space.
In design, the new wet bar is sleek, modern and convenient, designed to put everything needed to pour or create a drink in easy reach. The most recent development is the duplication of the wet bar outside. The outdoor kitchen can now include its own wet bar.
We’ll Save You Money and Time
There are many ways to the same destination. This saying applies to multifamily housing builds just as much as to anything else in life. The ultimate goal is save as much money as possible while delivering a great finished project – that’s simply showing smart business sense. But, finding a one-off deal or sacrificing quality isn’t the only way to get a healthy ROI. We have a better way.
Pioneer works with professionals every day to develop specification packages and plans that save our valued partners both time and money, sometimes in surprising ways. It’s our goal to ensure your project meets or exceeds its expected outcome. We want to get to know you and your company and show you how we can save you money. Please reach out via our website form or call us at (800) 338-9468.
Help transform your next home project with these beautiful and exceptionally durable bar faucets from Pioneer and the Pioneer family of products, Central Brass, and Olympia that will stand up to use and abuse, last, and adapt to the needs of those who use the workspace you create. All are backed with a best-in-the-industry warranty, are easy to install, and will stand the test of time.
