Home Built Bars - Add Fun to Your Life and Value to Your Home!

ENTERTAIN YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY!

Do you need a nice spot where friends and family can enjoy your company? How about a home built bar? We would like to show you the secrets of creating your own bar and to increase the home entertainment value of your property!

"The Secrets of Creating Your Home Bar"

"Save TIME and MONEY"

First we would like to thank you for your interest in this valuable information about Home Built Bars. This report will provide you and your family a solid foundation in creating you own home bar.

Every household in the world has at some point in time considered home improvement, i.e., change décor, buy new furniture, new appliances, build or remodel their backyard patio, new vegetable garden, etc..., why shouldn't you think about your own home bar! It is a natural desire we have for our home to be comfortable and comforting for those we love to have around us, whether its for our kids, family or friends.

We will show you the simple and easy way to learn how to create your own home built bar, and with a home bar, you can raise the value of your property and add incredible entertainment value simultaneously!

See our Complete - Home Built Bars eBook – Learn More at http://www.home-built-bars.com/ebook.html

•1) Location of Your Home Bar

When you first start thinking about your home built bar you need to think about location. Think ahead; try to picture how many people you are going to entertain and where in your house you would like to accommodate your guests. Some ideas for the location of your home built bar:

• Family Room
• Dining Room
• Basement (most used for full size bars)
• Back Patio
• Private room
• Gaming Room
• Or even in the Garage

You are the only person who knows where a home bar would fit best in your home.

See our Complete - Home Built Bars eBook – Learn More at http://www.home-built-bars.com/ebook.html

•2) Budget

How much money do you want to spend? You must budget what you are going to spend, and keep your Home Bar expenses according to your budget. You could start putting aside a dollar amount every two weeks or monthly just for your home bar improvements. This "home adventure" can sneak up on you very quickly. It is such a rewarding feeling when you start seeing it all come together and it is also very easy for you to burn a hole in your pocket.

Recommendation: start with only the necessary and the rest will come with time. When we started our Home Built Bar, we had the main bar, back bar, wet bar, a refrigerator and had a little money left over to stock up. When we had birthday parties, and holidays, our friends would get creative and give us what we like to call "bar stuff" - glassware, posters, shot glasses, bottle holders, coasters, cutting boards for cheese and salami, canisters for snacks, neon signs, you name it. The bottom line is you need to plan what you are going to spend and stay within your budget.

See our Complete - Home Built Bars eBook – Learn More at http://www.home-built-bars.com/ebook.html

•3) Size of Your Home Bar

Consider what you will be using your Home Built Bar for, then determine the size your bar should be. Ask yourself, do I want a...

• Full Size Liquor Bar, for serving cocktails and snacks?
• Back Bar, for display and storage?
• Wet Bar, with sink/water/plumbing?
• Mini Bar for a small area (also called Tailgate bar)?
• Keg Bar, indoor or outdoor?
• Coffee and Juice Bar, with coffee maker, blender, juicer, etc?
• Breakfast Bar, with microwave, stove top, oven?
• Or will it be a combination of some of the above?

This will help you determine the components needed for your Home Built Bar. Remember, you do not need to do everything at once. Proper planning will help you determine the highest priority items for your bar, and then you can add on as you have time and money. Make sure that you have a long-range plan if you are not installing everything at once so that you do not run into the need to move previously installed fixtures.

See our Complete - Home Built Bars eBook – Learn More at http://www.home-built-bars.com/ebook.html

•4) Design and Plans for Your Home Bar

When you are choosing a design for your home bar, you should already have in mind where in your home you are going to install it. We say this because of the different shapes that are available and you should use the space to best fit and accommodate your needs and of those who will be part of this magnificent entertaining area. Are you going to want a:

• "L" shaped Bar
• "U" shaped Bar
• "[" Traditional Shaped Bar
• Round, Angled, Half Moon shaped Bar
• 48" or 96" Straight Bar.

The space and location that you have for your bar will help you determine the best design to utilize the area. The most common dimensions for the main bar counter are: Height 42", Depth 24" to 27" (not including railings), length will depend on the space you have available. If you are considering a back bar which is mainly for display and storage, the most common depth is 15" from the wall and the length will depend on the length of your front bar.

Suggestion: once you have decided where your home bar will be located, get a piece of paper and start making some sketches of how you would like to design your home bar looking from the top down.

See our Complete - Home Built Bars eBook – Learn More at http://www.home-built-bars.com/ebook.html

•5) Style of Your Home Bar

Consider the style of bar you would like, for example:

• Modern Style Bar
• Contemporary Bar
• Tiki Bar (bamboo)
• California Style Bar
• Wine Bar
• Traditional Bar Style
• Rattan Bar, etc...

Choosing the style of your home bar is more about how you want it to look like so it blends in with your home decoration (Décor). If you have a separate area like a game room or unfinished/finished basement you could go with just about any style you like. You could pick a regional style of your State or City or a theme style of your choice such as the 60's style, western style, tropical, your favorite sports team bar, or piano bar styles. You can also search the Web typing the words "home bar styles" and get a good idea for your home built bar project.

See our Complete - Home Built Bars eBook – Learn More at http://www.home-built-bars.com/ebook.html

•6) Color, Finishes and Material Types for Your Home Bar

There are a variety of choices for you to choose, but make sure you ask who you are buying from or the contractor you have arranged to help you, or yourself if it is available and how much it will cost.

• Paint colors - Just go to your local hardware store and you will find all kinds of colors for wood, metal, vinyl and plastic. Example: if you are building a home bar style of your favorite sports team, lets say Green Bay "Packers" you would use there colors (green and yellow)
• Stainless steels - it can be brushed stainless, satin stainless, swivel pattern
• HPL (High Pressure Laminates), also come in a variety of colors and patterns which include Copper colors, Steel Textile, Corrugated patterns, Iron and Zinc, Aluminum, Metallic in a variety of different designs and patterns
• Solid Wood/Stained Wood (walnut, oak, cherry, maple, mahogany, etc)
• Acrylic colors (red, white, black, etc)
• Corian® counter top material (blend of natural materials and pure acrylic polymer, stain and scratch resistant), all colors and patterns
• Bamboo, marble, tile, etc...

For each one of these items we could write a full chapter. Our purpose here is to give a general idea of what you could use and make this information simple. Again, we suggest that you go to one of your local hardware stores and speak to a customer service representative, and ask them to show you the different types of counter top materials and a catalog of different bar furniture, colors and finishes. You can also stay in the comfort of your home and do a search on the internet. You will be amazed to find out how much there is out there.

See our Complete - Home Built Bars eBook – Learn More at http://www.home-built-bars.com/ebook.html

•7) Hardware

This topic may or may not be used depending on how and who is going to build your home bar. But if you are going to install a wet bar you will need to select the proper hardware (sink, faucet, drain and pluming hardware). For example, for the faucet you want to make sure you get a classic two handle bar/Prep Sink Faucet, one of those long goose neck ones. They make it easy to wash tall beer glasses and to avoid breakage of glassware. Plus it is just handy. Hardware can be interpreted in many different ways, we are talking here about basic counter hardware (railings), basic cabinet hardware (pulls, drawer slides, hinges), and pluming hardware as mentioned above.

•8) Who are your going to entertain?

Family, friends, and coworkers? Most of us have a preference as to the people we like to socialize with. My wife and I are open to everyone we know and their friends. The more people the better at least that is our choice. We have weekly an average of 10 people we entertain, some times fewer people, some times more. Consider the number of people you will be socializing with when considering the layout for your Home Built Bar. This will help you plan where they are going to feel comfortable and for better socialization. We all like to feel comfortable. Remember what happened the last time you went out to a place where you didn't feel comfortable or well served? I can almost guarantee that you never went back there again. This brings us to the next topic.

See our Complete - Home Built Bars eBook – Learn More at http://www.home-built-bars.com/ebook.html

•9) Seating

You will want to have some comfortable seating for your guests. If you are seating them at the main bar make sure you allow a minimum of two feet from one bar stool to another (center to center). As a basic rule, if you have a straight bar counter that is 4 foot long you should be able to seat four people, two at the end, two in the middle and you in the inside (total of five people). If you are considering a full size home bar this is of most importance. Also make sure you have other seating options around the bar, for example a couch or other chairs/stools around a round bar table. Now, if you are going to have a portable or tailgate home bar in your dining room or family room you may already have plenty of seating and you most likely only need to buy three or four bar stools.

•10) What are you going to serve?

We all like variety but let's face it, you can't please everyone. You can serve one or a combination of the following:

• Liquors - Whiskey, Scotch, Bourbon, Vodka, Rum, Tequila, Snobs, etc...
• Wine - Variety
• Juices - Orange, Tomato, Apple, etc..
• Mixers - Margarita Mix, Bloody Mary Mix, Triple Sec, etc...
• Coffee - different flavors
• Snacks and Condiments - Nuts, Chips and Salsa, Pistachios, Chex Mix, Olives, Salami, Summer Sausage, Peppers, Variety of Cheese, Crackers or a special snack you make
• You may want to have a breakfast bar with a variety of foods you are specialized in.

Some friends bring their own drinks and food (snacks) and some don't. I personally do not mind if they do or don't, and I usually keep a variety of hard liquors, wine, soft drinks, juices, coffee and snacks for everyone. Remember when serving alcohol to ensure you have designated drivers or alternative transportation to call upon such as taxi cabs. It is always good to have something to eat. You do not need to get fancy. People love snacks and nowadays you can "go very health" with the variety of snacks available. Oh! Do not forget WATER. I prefer bottled water so that people can take it with them if they desire. You can also have a jar of filtered water but make sure you have it handy at all times.

See our Complete - Home Built Bars eBook – Learn More at http://www.home-built-bars.com/ebook.html

•11) Recycle the Waste from Your Home Bar

Protect our environment. You would be amazed of how much recycled stuff you can accumulate during one time that you have 10 people at your home built bar. Glass bottles, plastic bottles, aluminum cans, etc. Our best suggestion is that you have a good size recycling container where people can see it, to throw in all of the recycled items. Print out a sign and put it on the lid with the items you want recycled. Instead of having three or four containers, just have one and separate the items the next day or when you have an extra minute or two. Plus when you separate the items yourself you make sure that all items are properly put in the right place. Trust me on this one, after two or three hours into the party some people do not know the difference of where to put the recyclables.

•12) Are you going to install your home bar or is someone else doing it for you?

Either way you choose it will cost you something - money or time. When we built my full size home bar in our basement, and after we had most of the fixtures for the front bar, back bar and wet bar, it took us an average of two and a half hours a day during two weeks to put it all together (total of about 30-35 hours). Hey! Nobody said it would be easy but I can tell you we had fun doing it. A professional would have taken half the time, but again, we had a tone of fun doing it. If you are going to do it yourself, make sure you have the necessary tools and skills to perform the job or else you could end up spending more money than if you had someone do it for you. We don't know about you but most people we know that do it themselves are some what perfectionists. If they feel they do not have the skills they leave it to the professionals.

Safety First - When you are using power tools, stain/paint or even a hammer, make sure you have proper eye protection (safety glasses) and ear protection (ear plugs). Also, never operate power tools when you are not completely sober. The professionals do it right why shouldn't you. They take their safety seriously because they probably have seen or experienced the dangers of not following safety guide lines, and because it just makes sense - Safety First

Here are some of the tools we suggest you have to Do It Yourself (DIY):

• Circular Saw
• Compound Miter Saw (for 45 degree cuts)
• Table Saw
• Jig Saw
• Router (1/2 HP)
• Cordless or Power Drill
• Power Circular Saw
• Hand Square
• Tape Measure
• Hammer
• Chisel
• Counter Sink Bit
• Screw Driver
• "C" Clamps

See our Complete - Home Built Bars eBook – Learn More at http://www.home-built-bars.com/ebook.html

•13) Smoke Free or Smoking Bar

Let's face it, this may not seem a very important topic for most people but it does deserve some attention. For those of you that do not smoke, more power to you. For those of us that do smoke, we know that it is an addiction, habit and not at all healthy for you. It all comes down to one word - respect. We have had times that we do and don't smoke in our home bar. We have friends that do not mind being among smokers and we have friends that can not tolerate it. Be polite and ask people if they mind the smoking environment. Believe me they will tell you if they mind or not. What is best: to have a puff and upset your fiends or have a fun time and just step outdoors for a few minutes. What ever type of environment you choose to have, make sure you have an air purifier. We use an Ionic Breeze Silent Air Purifier and it works great. You need to clean it at least one a week but it is worth it. Now, if you choose a smoking environment make sure you have a good exhaust fan that will be strong enough to air out the smoke so it doesn't scatter all over your house. You could get serious and buy an electrostatic air cleaner that will cost you around $500. Most smokers nowadays just step outside or smoke in the garage. It's your house and you need to make that choice. Regardless of whether you have a smoke free or smoking bar, always remember to be safe and keep a fire extinguisher close by and know all your exit options in case of an emergency.

•14) Lighting (illumination)

Lighting is what sets the mood and atmosphere of your bar. There are many options for lighting, including track lighting, spot lights, pendant lights, halogen spot lights, LED lights, cool lights, black light, etc... Lighting that can give you the perfect glow and color to reflect over your home bar. For that matter you can use even candles (scented or non-scented), just make sure you put them in a secure place. You can even consider installing a couple of strobe lights. If you are considering a Home Built Bar than give the lighting and the attention it deserves. Great lighting will give your Home Built Bar the cozy feeling of being in a special place and your guests will feel they are in a real bar.

•15) Storage Space

Again, it all depends on the size of your home built bar. You will need shelf space in cabinets, on the wall and at your back bar for:

• Liquors
• Wine
• Soft Drinks
• Juices
• Glassware
• Platters
• Silverware
• Snacks, etc...

You will want to get something for your home bar where you can store most of what you need close by. You do not want to make multiple trips to the kitchen every time you need something. If you have kids, always have locks on your lower cabinets especially if you stock hard liquor in them. We always suggest keeping the hard liquor out of the reach for children. And for that matter, as an example, if you have your home bar in the basement just lock the door to the basement. It always pays to be safe. When we talk about storage we refer of keeping things handy so you can enjoy the time and conversation with your guests.

See our Complete - Home Built Bars eBook – Learn More at http://www.home-built-bars.com/ebook.html

•16) Appliances

Consider what your appliance needs are when you are designing and budgeting for your Home Built Bar. Appliances can vary from home bar to home bar depending on what you are serving. Some of the most common appliances are:

• Refrigerator
• Coffee maker
• Wine Cooler
• Electronics (we will cover this in our next topic)
• Other appliances could be:
• Ice Cube Machine
• Microwave
• Air Purifiers
• Blender

These are all great appliances to have in your Home Built Bar. You must choose the appliances depending on what you will be serving to your guests and to give them an enjoyable time.

•17) Electronics (TV & Games/Sound Systems)

Part of a great Home Built Bar experience is having electronics available for games or watching your favorite television shows and movies. You would be surprised of how many people enjoy video games, example: Wii, PlayStation 3, Xbox, Nintendo DS. etc.., or watching games (football, baseball, boxing, etc.) and their favorite television shows and movies. Okay! Some of you are already so knowledgeable in electronics you could probably right a book about this topic. We will stick to a few suggestions. My wife gave me a Wii for Christmas and I hooked it up to our 36" TV at our Home Bar area. We have had so much fun with it and so have my friends and family (people of all ages). We also have three small TV's around our bar allowing everyone at any angle to watch what ever channel they like. We will be installing a couple more in the near future. Also consider a good sound system for listening to your favorite music. You can get creative and install a surveillance monitor and cameras to watch who is showing up at the front door or even who is in the back patio. You can find good surveillance equipment (1 monitor B&W with 3 cameras) for as little as $185.00 for black & white or a colored set for about $100 more. We have two cameras in our front entrance and 1 in our back patio for about 2-1/2 years now and they work great at night with the slightest glow of light. We can keep our front door open with just the screen door when we have our guests come over and most of them already know to just come on in. We can see when they park there car and when they walk in to our house, and we can almost have there favorite beverage ready when they get to our home bar. Recommendation: you probably don't want a surveillance camera but don't go without at least one TV set and sound equipment.

See our Complete - Home Built Bars eBook – Learn More at http://www.home-built-bars.com/ebook.html

•18) Gadgets

Let's face it... we all at some point in time just love gadgets, rather it be for fun or just to have. There are an infinite number of home bar gadgets such as:

• Neon Signs and Bar Signs,
• Bar Posters,
• Personalized Glassware,
• Bar Clocks,
• Bottle Dispensers,
• Variety of Bar Magnets,
• Personalized T-Shirts,
• Baseball Caps,
• Hand-held Games,
• Candles,
• Coasters,
• Board Games,
• Phones (different styles), etc...

At this point gadgets are probably not as relevant because you are starting and worrying about more serious things for your Home Built Bar. But keep in mind all of the above suggestion and we are sure you have a tone of other interesting gadgets.

•19) Electrical Capacity

We are squeezing this topic in the 19th position because it will apply mostly for those of you that will be building a full size home bar and that will require more electrical capacity than already installed when your house was built. Make sure you have plenty of amperage (minimum of 20 amp circuit breaker to handle lighting (track lighting), refrigerator, coffee maker, fan, televisions, wine cooler, ice maker, video games (electronics), etc. Nothing will ruin your get together with your family and friends faster that blowing a breaker and being in the dark. You probably will not have all of your equipment when you first have your home bar functioning but in time you will and you want to have the proper wiring to handle all your electronic needs and future enhancements. Suggestion: have two circuit breakers, one for electronics and another for appliances. Talk to your Electrician.

•20) Home Gaming

You may have a big enough area in your Home Built Bar area that will allow you to have a gaming recreation area. There are many home gaming options available, such as:

• Pool Tables,
• Dart Boards,
• Ping Pong Tables,
• Pinball Machines,
• Foosball Tables,
• Air Hockey Tables,
• Table Tennis,
• Poker or Card Tables,
• Karaoke Machines,
• Shuffleboard Table and
• Even Home Slot Machines.

If you are considering having any of these, make sure you have enough room for your guests to comfortably be able to play without having walls or furniture in their way.

•21) Give Your Home Bar a Name

Give your Home Built Bar a personality of its own. You have no idea how much fun it is to invite people to your own home bar and call it by its name, plus it gives your home bar a personal touch. People really get a kick out of it. Our oldest daughter (27) came up with the name for our home bar which is with part of our last name (Senn) and Denn (den = refuge, hideout), so we call it the Senn Denn. You can do something like we did or pick something in your region that is very typical, or you can go toward the romantic side and call it by the name of a place where you and your significant other first met. You can even have a bar naming contest like we did. Don't rush and be creative, there is a perfect name for every home bar out there.

See our Complete - Home Built Bars eBook – Learn More at http://www.home-built-bars.com/ebook.html

Visit our Website at www.home-built-bars.com and order our Home Bars eBook. You will be amazed with all of the good information we have to share about Home Bars.

We value your interest in creating your own Home Built Bar and for that reason we give you this information for FREE. Please take your time in planning for this rewarding home improvement for mainly two reasons: 1) Creating more financial value to your home, and 2) Creating a world of happy entertaining and good social environment with your friends and family. Have fun and be responsible.

If you have any additional questions or comments, please tell us using the comments area below. You can also contact us via email homebuiltbars@mswealthinc.com.

Good luck and hope to talk with you soon.

Thank you and have a great day.

Mark E Senn