WetPaperBag
02-18-2011, 01:44 AM
Hello all. Just joined the forums. It's cool checking out what everyone else is doing on here. Lots of good stuff. Anyway, me and my fiancée just bought our first house in September and the day before we were to move in, the water main broke under the foyer and took out the entire finished basement. Master bedroom, living room, bathroom and "in-laws quarters" with full kitchen. We basically had to live in 50% of our house and have all of our stuff stored in our garage while I worked on getting the downstairs back to livable conditions. Initially I told the misses that she could have everything else, as long as I get the garages and could build a bar. Well, after completing construction on our living room, bedroom (and sucking up by building her a 7x7 walk in) I was able to start on my bar.
Here is where you would walk in from the living room. The floor in there is now Allure Teak planks.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5259/5454967143_18795d195a_b.jpg
This is obviously before all the flooding. I was initially going to cut everything at 4 feet but said hell with it and ripped it all out except the ceiling.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5294/5454967109_47c45277b9_b.jpg
Soon to be much better than this..
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5017/5454967123_a44cafdaf3_b.jpg
Ripping out walls and kitchen.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5295/5455615872_cf253971fd_b.jpg
A clean slate.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5260/5455615922_0547f62eba_b.jpg
So the first step I took was sit down and actually draw out what I wanted and what I expected and anticipated it to all look like and how it was going to all lay out. That took me about a week. Then I could finally start putting things together. First step was to run all the electrical and put in the tunes. I went with ceiling speakers because I thought they would deliver the sound best to every inch of the room.
4 Polk Audio speakers flush mounted and off-set to match the seating at the bar.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5215/5454967249_b9e7e060a5_b.jpg
Next was finding equipment. I knew I wanted it to be as true to a bar as possible. All bars I have frequented usually have the large bottle chillers, where you see the bartender reach down to grab out a bottle. I knew I wanted a diecent sized one, not only for beer bottles and cans but, all your juices and water and cold food and anything else you need to keep refridgerated. I ended up finding a 65" Beverage Air on Craigslist.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5135/5455615984_e42441026e_b.jpg
Every bar needs daught beer, right? Well, you can't have just one.
I wanted to make sure I had a nice selection, and happened to come across this old True TDD-3. It was a steal so I had to have it. And, not only did I find that but, I found a soda fountain too!
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5213/5455615944_b71a460d89_b.jpg
I really really wanted to build a custom arcade cabinet and run MAME but, the fiancee really really REALLY loves Megatouch. I happened to find one (again on Craigslist) and that ate my game budget.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5298/5455615962_7dc438da87_b.jpg
So now that I had most of my equipment, I figured the best thing to do was to build the bar around it. I brought in the bottle chiller and kegerator and layed out in tape where I thought the bar should go.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5137/5455579692_7d137ca991_z.jpg
Once I made sure everything was going to have clearance and still have enough room for a barback, the framing began.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5292/5454967341_e0b7fba6f4_b.jpg
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5135/5454967451_66cb8cc640_b.jpg
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5017/5455579836_010014ee1e_b.jpg
Then it was time to lay the top out.
(By then I had gotten the receiver for the bar and couldn't wait to try out those speakers.)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5220/5455579878_05397efc4f_b.jpg
Fit the soda fountain in.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5017/5455579940_a4a0f85f93_b.jpg
Just so you get an idea on how big it is, each tile is 12"
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5138/5454967631_c2a86ec324_b.jpg
Made shelving at the end for glasses, bag in a box syrup, a computer and anything else I may need.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5132/5454967555_9a28b81f82_b.jpg
Then it was time for lighting. I knew I wanted a large gang of switches and everything ran independantly. I started with these hanging over the bar to light the surface.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5297/5455580080_e379d4a35f_b.jpg
Then I had to insulate the room and hang drywall because it was getting really cold in there. If I haven't mentioned it, this room was an addition to the back of our home. It's 15x30 with a small attic space in it's slope.
By now, I was starting to contemplate what I was going to do about a barback. I made some calls and inquiries about having cabinets made, I thought about just making something myself, then I came across this gem. Another craigslist find. It's all solid 3/4 and came with butterfly doors, a built-in sink and glass shelves. When I unbelievably read the crazy low price I handed them cash and RAN!
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5019/5454967753_48eccecae7_b.jpg
While hanging all the drywall, the bar looked more like a work bench.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5214/5455580246_b7d45dc9d5_b.jpg
Next, I installed a carbonator down by the shelving to run the soda fountain.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5220/5454968027_575deefa37_b.jpg
Now that all the structure was done, I started to think about all the finish work. I decided on having a piece of Fermica made for the entire top. I took the measurements into the local laminate place and placed the order which would be fulfilled by the next week. Next I went to a local hardwood place and bought all of my bar rail. The most expensive piece of the entire bar structure..
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5299/5455580456_5313290493_b.jpg
Sealing the rail.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5216/5454968253_da6f51c913_b.jpg
Now it was time to decide what to do about the face of the bar. I wanted to keep with the whole "wood, rustic" theme so I decided to use all-fall, the part of the log that is processed at the mill and usually shipped off to make pulp. I went to a sawmill and picked up a truck load of planks for only $10. Sweet deal!
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5092/5455580374_6c7d771773_b.jpg
Ok, it wasn't a truckfull but, just enough to "skin" the bar. I cut them all to size and started lining the pieces up.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5179/5454968289_e9f87bc525_b.jpg
Then I found some great barstools. Yes, craigslist again.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5098/5454968583_ac956f8090_b.jpg
The top is completed and ready to be picked up. It's so big that I have to hire a roll-off tow truck to bring it home for me.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5096/5454968479_3c2238b8a3_b.jpg
Mounting all of the planks takes about 2.5 hours. I screwed them all in from the back side, so no hardware is seen.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5293/5454968613_f58b3c64ff_b.jpg
Planks all done.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5012/5455581042_3515a047c2_b.jpg
Mounting the bar rail. Just a side note, at $15 a foot, 45'ing this stuff is NERVERACKING. Might I suggest a professional.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5256/5454968797_9d1cb165c5_b.jpg
For the drink rail, I decided to use an automotive undercoating. It's spray rubber basically. I got it from CRST industries.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5294/5454968729_043d2ae1d0_b.jpg
After the coating was dry, I mounted the back trim for the drink rail. This is it pre-stained.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5052/5455581154_ca5dfc3e02_b.jpg
My grandmother had a great collection of old alcohol decanters sitting on shelving in her kitchen for decades. I recently acquired them and hung them up on each side of the barback.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5011/5455581298_b099f4b0eb_b.jpg
I had just a few bottles to start. Hung my Corona neon, and a few other random signs and bar fare that I had. I also brought in my Galaga machine, and hung a dart board that you can't see at this angle.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5136/5454969069_130f0a849c_b.jpg
A good friend of mine's wife knew I was building the bar and painted me a picture for it for my 30th birthday.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5211/5454969151_bf0f907c96_b.jpg
Starting to work on the soda machine. These are more work than you'd think. I cleaned all the pumps and internal lines, then replaced all external lines, and cleaned and rebuilt all the fountain heads.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5171/5455581432_64b4886982_b.jpg
I mounted the pumps next to the carbonator. I prob should have planned this better because I had to run all of the syrup lines the length of the bar. Oh well, it was worth it.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5216/5455691554_dbacb077b5_b.jpg
I wanted to have a jukebox of some sort so people could access all of the music on my media server, so I found a touchscreen monitor and am using AlbumPlayer jukebox software.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5096/5455078417_ac66c08c1d_b.jpg
I'm a HUGE fan of Grand Marnier, and for my birthday, my future in-laws got me a bottle of 150. The most expensive bottle in the bar now, and prob ever. And it is not shared.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5133/5454969201_cf9c94e869_b.jpg
The finished product.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5291/5467781196_104a0e8f65_b.jpg
Not counting the deconstruction, the whole process believe it or not, took 27 days. I work nights, so I would come home from work and bust my ass on this thing ALL DAY, maybe getting 3 hours of sleep a day. The last week I worked on it, I got 6 hours of sleep the entire week. I had a deadline to keep (my 30th birthday) and I wanted to make sure it was ready to go. During the party, everyone who walked through the door had to pick their jaw back up almost immediately. At one time, we counted almost 50 people in the bar during the party. I had everyone bring a bottle to contribute to the bar, which is why you see the barback so full in that last pic. It was a hell of a lot of hard work but, totally worth it. I have just a few nit-picky things left to do, like skin a few exposed parts on the bartender side, and get some drying racks for all my glasses, and maybe something to go on the floor behind the bar, like anti-slip mats or something. I also need to get my TV's mounted. There will be one on each end wall.
I would love to hear your comments. If you have any questions, feel free to ask, and thanks again for welcoming me to the forum.
-WetPaperBag
Here is where you would walk in from the living room. The floor in there is now Allure Teak planks.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5259/5454967143_18795d195a_b.jpg
This is obviously before all the flooding. I was initially going to cut everything at 4 feet but said hell with it and ripped it all out except the ceiling.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5294/5454967109_47c45277b9_b.jpg
Soon to be much better than this..
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5017/5454967123_a44cafdaf3_b.jpg
Ripping out walls and kitchen.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5295/5455615872_cf253971fd_b.jpg
A clean slate.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5260/5455615922_0547f62eba_b.jpg
So the first step I took was sit down and actually draw out what I wanted and what I expected and anticipated it to all look like and how it was going to all lay out. That took me about a week. Then I could finally start putting things together. First step was to run all the electrical and put in the tunes. I went with ceiling speakers because I thought they would deliver the sound best to every inch of the room.
4 Polk Audio speakers flush mounted and off-set to match the seating at the bar.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5215/5454967249_b9e7e060a5_b.jpg
Next was finding equipment. I knew I wanted it to be as true to a bar as possible. All bars I have frequented usually have the large bottle chillers, where you see the bartender reach down to grab out a bottle. I knew I wanted a diecent sized one, not only for beer bottles and cans but, all your juices and water and cold food and anything else you need to keep refridgerated. I ended up finding a 65" Beverage Air on Craigslist.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5135/5455615984_e42441026e_b.jpg
Every bar needs daught beer, right? Well, you can't have just one.
I wanted to make sure I had a nice selection, and happened to come across this old True TDD-3. It was a steal so I had to have it. And, not only did I find that but, I found a soda fountain too!
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5213/5455615944_b71a460d89_b.jpg
I really really wanted to build a custom arcade cabinet and run MAME but, the fiancee really really REALLY loves Megatouch. I happened to find one (again on Craigslist) and that ate my game budget.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5298/5455615962_7dc438da87_b.jpg
So now that I had most of my equipment, I figured the best thing to do was to build the bar around it. I brought in the bottle chiller and kegerator and layed out in tape where I thought the bar should go.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5137/5455579692_7d137ca991_z.jpg
Once I made sure everything was going to have clearance and still have enough room for a barback, the framing began.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5292/5454967341_e0b7fba6f4_b.jpg
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5135/5454967451_66cb8cc640_b.jpg
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5017/5455579836_010014ee1e_b.jpg
Then it was time to lay the top out.
(By then I had gotten the receiver for the bar and couldn't wait to try out those speakers.)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5220/5455579878_05397efc4f_b.jpg
Fit the soda fountain in.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5017/5455579940_a4a0f85f93_b.jpg
Just so you get an idea on how big it is, each tile is 12"
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5138/5454967631_c2a86ec324_b.jpg
Made shelving at the end for glasses, bag in a box syrup, a computer and anything else I may need.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5132/5454967555_9a28b81f82_b.jpg
Then it was time for lighting. I knew I wanted a large gang of switches and everything ran independantly. I started with these hanging over the bar to light the surface.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5297/5455580080_e379d4a35f_b.jpg
Then I had to insulate the room and hang drywall because it was getting really cold in there. If I haven't mentioned it, this room was an addition to the back of our home. It's 15x30 with a small attic space in it's slope.
By now, I was starting to contemplate what I was going to do about a barback. I made some calls and inquiries about having cabinets made, I thought about just making something myself, then I came across this gem. Another craigslist find. It's all solid 3/4 and came with butterfly doors, a built-in sink and glass shelves. When I unbelievably read the crazy low price I handed them cash and RAN!
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5019/5454967753_48eccecae7_b.jpg
While hanging all the drywall, the bar looked more like a work bench.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5214/5455580246_b7d45dc9d5_b.jpg
Next, I installed a carbonator down by the shelving to run the soda fountain.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5220/5454968027_575deefa37_b.jpg
Now that all the structure was done, I started to think about all the finish work. I decided on having a piece of Fermica made for the entire top. I took the measurements into the local laminate place and placed the order which would be fulfilled by the next week. Next I went to a local hardwood place and bought all of my bar rail. The most expensive piece of the entire bar structure..
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5299/5455580456_5313290493_b.jpg
Sealing the rail.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5216/5454968253_da6f51c913_b.jpg
Now it was time to decide what to do about the face of the bar. I wanted to keep with the whole "wood, rustic" theme so I decided to use all-fall, the part of the log that is processed at the mill and usually shipped off to make pulp. I went to a sawmill and picked up a truck load of planks for only $10. Sweet deal!
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5092/5455580374_6c7d771773_b.jpg
Ok, it wasn't a truckfull but, just enough to "skin" the bar. I cut them all to size and started lining the pieces up.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5179/5454968289_e9f87bc525_b.jpg
Then I found some great barstools. Yes, craigslist again.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5098/5454968583_ac956f8090_b.jpg
The top is completed and ready to be picked up. It's so big that I have to hire a roll-off tow truck to bring it home for me.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5096/5454968479_3c2238b8a3_b.jpg
Mounting all of the planks takes about 2.5 hours. I screwed them all in from the back side, so no hardware is seen.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5293/5454968613_f58b3c64ff_b.jpg
Planks all done.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5012/5455581042_3515a047c2_b.jpg
Mounting the bar rail. Just a side note, at $15 a foot, 45'ing this stuff is NERVERACKING. Might I suggest a professional.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5256/5454968797_9d1cb165c5_b.jpg
For the drink rail, I decided to use an automotive undercoating. It's spray rubber basically. I got it from CRST industries.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5294/5454968729_043d2ae1d0_b.jpg
After the coating was dry, I mounted the back trim for the drink rail. This is it pre-stained.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5052/5455581154_ca5dfc3e02_b.jpg
My grandmother had a great collection of old alcohol decanters sitting on shelving in her kitchen for decades. I recently acquired them and hung them up on each side of the barback.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5011/5455581298_b099f4b0eb_b.jpg
I had just a few bottles to start. Hung my Corona neon, and a few other random signs and bar fare that I had. I also brought in my Galaga machine, and hung a dart board that you can't see at this angle.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5136/5454969069_130f0a849c_b.jpg
A good friend of mine's wife knew I was building the bar and painted me a picture for it for my 30th birthday.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5211/5454969151_bf0f907c96_b.jpg
Starting to work on the soda machine. These are more work than you'd think. I cleaned all the pumps and internal lines, then replaced all external lines, and cleaned and rebuilt all the fountain heads.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5171/5455581432_64b4886982_b.jpg
I mounted the pumps next to the carbonator. I prob should have planned this better because I had to run all of the syrup lines the length of the bar. Oh well, it was worth it.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5216/5455691554_dbacb077b5_b.jpg
I wanted to have a jukebox of some sort so people could access all of the music on my media server, so I found a touchscreen monitor and am using AlbumPlayer jukebox software.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5096/5455078417_ac66c08c1d_b.jpg
I'm a HUGE fan of Grand Marnier, and for my birthday, my future in-laws got me a bottle of 150. The most expensive bottle in the bar now, and prob ever. And it is not shared.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5133/5454969201_cf9c94e869_b.jpg
The finished product.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5291/5467781196_104a0e8f65_b.jpg
Not counting the deconstruction, the whole process believe it or not, took 27 days. I work nights, so I would come home from work and bust my ass on this thing ALL DAY, maybe getting 3 hours of sleep a day. The last week I worked on it, I got 6 hours of sleep the entire week. I had a deadline to keep (my 30th birthday) and I wanted to make sure it was ready to go. During the party, everyone who walked through the door had to pick their jaw back up almost immediately. At one time, we counted almost 50 people in the bar during the party. I had everyone bring a bottle to contribute to the bar, which is why you see the barback so full in that last pic. It was a hell of a lot of hard work but, totally worth it. I have just a few nit-picky things left to do, like skin a few exposed parts on the bartender side, and get some drying racks for all my glasses, and maybe something to go on the floor behind the bar, like anti-slip mats or something. I also need to get my TV's mounted. There will be one on each end wall.
I would love to hear your comments. If you have any questions, feel free to ask, and thanks again for welcoming me to the forum.
-WetPaperBag