Help me design our wet bar! Updated!

[krisim]

For those of you who've been following my building snafu (builder installed the wrong front door, without a transom window and offered us concessions not to replace it). We have opted to have a wet bar installed in the basement as our replacement option.  

The style that we'll have will be something like this. 



However we can choose the cabinetry (white or espresso), counter tops and tile flooring.



I'm thinking about white cabinetry and white quartz counter tops to match our kitchen. But I rarely see basement wet bars that are done in white. Thoughts?



Our basement is smallish and pretty dark (no natural light). I don't want the room to feel like a cave! We've painted it light gray.  I haven't decided on flooring yet.  

Here are a few inspiration photos: 

[Deleted]

Well what are you going to use the space for? My answer would be different if you were going to have a pool table, media room, or kid's playroom, for example.

[krisim]

Apr 27, 2016 10:55:22 GMT -5 @missy1 said:

Well what are you going to use the space for? My answer would be different if you were going to have a pool table, media room, or kid's playroom, for example.

We don't have any definitive plans for the space.  It is our primary exercise space and our guest room is in the basement.

Beyond that, I don't know that we'll use it for entertaining as I much prefer to do that on our main level.  Maybe for backup play area for kids or for DH to watch sports?  

[pixy0stix]

Apr 27, 2016 11:03:52 GMT -5 krisim said:

Apr 27, 2016 10:55:22 GMT -5 @missy1 said:

Well what are you going to use the space for? My answer would be different if you were going to have a pool table, media room, or kid's playroom, for example.

We don't have any definitive plans for the space.  It is our primary exercise space and our guest room is in the basement.

Beyond that, I don't know that we'll use it for entertaining as I much prefer to do that on our main level.  Maybe for backup play area for kids or for DH to watch sports?  

So I have to ask why do a wet bar at all, then? You're not going to use it and it's already a small space.

[krisim]

Apr 27, 2016 11:26:46 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Apr 27, 2016 11:03:52 GMT -5 krisim said:

We don't have any definitive plans for the space.  It is our primary exercise space and our guest room is in the basement.

Beyond that, I don't know that we'll use it for entertaining as I much prefer to do that on our main level.  Maybe for backup play area for kids or for DH to watch sports?  

So I have to ask why do a wet bar at all, then? You're not going to use it and it's already a small space.

I didn't really want one, as I don't particularly like to spend time in the basement, but DH has always wanted one and it was really the only thing our builder offered us to make up for the wrong door installation.  

[sju]

I like both inspiration pictures with white cabinets. The lights would be a must if the space is that dark. Drawers are a cabinet upgrade so I would request those if space allows. If you have guests often then the wetbar would be a nice thing to have for their comfort in addition to it being something your H really wanted. They can have their own snacks and eat/drink when they want without fear of waking anybody up. I think of my mom. She brews coffee really early. She would wake me up when visiting with the smell of coffee.

[downtoearth]

I'd do wood tile, white cabinets, and white, not grainy countertops - more like the last picture you posted. And if it's your DH who wants it and you just want light/bright, I'd send him in with those requests and he can pick the finishes.

Did you get the transom fixed/ordered also or just the wet bar in place of any repair upstairs?

[krisim]

Apr 27, 2016 13:38:30 GMT -5 downtoearth said:

I'd do wood tile, white cabinets, and white, not grainy countertops - more like the last picture you posted. And if it's your DH who wants it and you just want light/bright, I'd send him in with those requests and he can pick the finishes.

Did you get the transom fixed/ordered also or just the wet bar in place of any repair upstairs?

Nope, sadly no transom.  The builder made it clear that he really didn't want to do it despite offering it (and our home would be without a door for up to a week after we moved in, which didn't set right with us!). 

[lilac05]

Apr 27, 2016 13:44:59 GMT -5 krisim said:

Nope, sadly no transom.  The builder made it clear that he really didn't want to do it despite offering it (and our home would be without a door for up to a week after we moved in, which didn't set right with us!). 

Sucks to be him.  It's not a matter of what he WANTS to do.  He screwed it up.  You should be getting what you had agreed upon.  Maybe next time, he'll be more careful.  This would be my hill to die on if I was building.  And I'd look for temporary housing for that week, hotel, family, friends...whatever.  I'd LIKE to ask him to pay for that, but I don't think that's really how that part goes.

If you are TRULY satisfied with this offer of a wet bar, then I'd look at it like a mini kitchen & do white cabinets, if the feeling of your area is light & airy as compared to movie room/man cave (then I would do dark, regardless of what is in the kitchen).

[pixy0stix]

Its only a week in a house you're going to live in for years. I really don't understand any of this. Getting something you don't need in replace of something you specifically told them they needed to do. This is not a great trade off.

[nicolewi]

DO THE TRANSOM! Too bad if he doesn't WANT to. I would do it even without a door after moving in. I would definitely do it.

If you additionally get the wet bar, fine, but that door does not look right without a transom!!

I would absolutely insist on the door. Could you do legal action if needed?

I think he is taking advantage of you.

[Deleted]

I think that's bullshit that he said it can only be done after you move in and you won't have a door for a week. I would say, oh then I guess we have to move the closing by one week. The liability of having an unsecured house should be on them, not you.

[hbomdiggity]

No no no. that's not how contracts work. If you want the transom, be firm. thi si nnot about what he WANTS to do, but what your contract REQUIRES that he do.

And even if there is a lapse between taking the current door out and installing the new, that's what plywood is for.

You are being taken advantage of. I'm sorry.

[boiler717]

I like the second inspiration photo. I would do some glass cabinetry and lighting like it as well.
Does your door have not transoms anywhere? Or just not the top?

[auroraloo]

door door door door door door door!

[krisim]

Thank you all for the support! I am hoping that in a few months we won't even miss the transom.   We do have nice sidelights, which do brighten up the space.  Plus, we do have some really nice big columns on the front porch that I think will add some character (they aren't up yet, so we're not sure what the front entrance is going to look like finished yet).

The issue with waiting for the door is that it takes 3 weeks to get the door in and then another week to install, so 1 month or so in total if all stars align. We are closing in 2 weeks and have only 1 week available on our schedules to move in after we close (I am traveling and then dh is traveling for like an entire month!). If we don't move in that week, we will need to stay in our rental for another 6 weeks and move in in July. This isn't ideal because I'm pregnant with twins and really want to be moved before I hit the 3rd trimester when I'll probably be miserable!

[FormerlyRR]

Apr 28, 2016 9:01:40 GMT -5 krisim said:

Thank you all for the support! I am hoping that in a few months we won't even miss the transom.   We do have nice sidelights, which do brighten up the space.  Plus, we do have some really nice big columns on the front porch that I think will add some character (they aren't up yet, so we're not sure what the front entrance is going to look like finished yet).

The issue with waiting for the door is that it takes 3 weeks to get the door in and then another week to install, so 1 month or so in total if all stars align. We are closing in 2 weeks and have only 1 week available on our schedules to move in after we close (I am traveling and then dh is traveling for like an entire month!). If we don't move in that week, we will need to stay in our rental for another 6 weeks and move in in July. This isn't ideal because I'm pregnant with twins and really want to be moved before I hit the 3rd trimester when I'll probably be miserable!

But you noticed it a month ago. The builder should have stepped up then and fixed it. This is ridiculous.

[pixy0stix]

You can move into your house without a front door. The contractor will just have to figure out a way to secure it every night after they leave. It's his problem, not yours.

[FormerlyRR]

Apr 28, 2016 10:13:24 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

You can move into your house without a front door. The contractor will just have to figure out a way to secure it every night after they leave. It's his problem, not yours.

Yes. All of this is HIS problem. He created it, and he needs to fix it. 

[krisim]

Apr 28, 2016 10:00:32 GMT -5 FormerlyRR said:

Apr 28, 2016 9:01:40 GMT -5 krisim said:

Thank you all for the support! I am hoping that in a few months we won't even miss the transom.   We do have nice sidelights, which do brighten up the space.  Plus, we do have some really nice big columns on the front porch that I think will add some character (they aren't up yet, so we're not sure what the front entrance is going to look like finished yet).

The issue with waiting for the door is that it takes 3 weeks to get the door in and then another week to install, so 1 month or so in total if all stars align. We are closing in 2 weeks and have only 1 week available on our schedules to move in after we close (I am traveling and then dh is traveling for like an entire month!). If we don't move in that week, we will need to stay in our rental for another 6 weeks and move in in July. This isn't ideal because I'm pregnant with twins and really want to be moved before I hit the 3rd trimester when I'll probably be miserable!

But you noticed it a month ago. The builder should have stepped up then and fixed it. This is ridiculous.

I don't disagree with that.  Had the builder not waited 6 weeks to address the issues it could have been fixed weeks ago! 

[munkii]

What everyone else said. Contractors have no qualms about charging customers when it comes to change orders on the customer's request, and he's hoping you're uneducated on the process of these things.

Are you you're own representative on this project, do you have an owner's rep, or is this design-build? If it's one of the first two, and he doesn't have anything in writing approving the door change, he needs to fix it on rush to meet schedule and, therefore, on his dime.

If this is design-build, he basically gets to make the calls unless you have something in your contract about changes going through you.

IF you feel compelled to move forward with the wet bar, I would probably make it more guest-oriented. Install a microwave, sink, coffee maker, and mini-fridge. On the m/w and fridge, I would have them installed under the counter. Since you say it's small and dark, I'd go white on the cabinets.

[nicolewi]

Move in without the door. He can tarp it. It's a short term inconvenience for something nice that you'll have in your house for years and years. Seriously. I'm not very confrontational but this would be a huge issue for me.

It's inconvenient now, but this is your only practical opportunity to FIX THIS. and it really, truly should be fixed. And it's HIS FAULT.

People who come over are going to be like, "Huh, weird. Looks like there was supposed to be a transom!"

[simpsongal]

I'd go w/the lighter cabinets given the details provided - light counter too probably.

I hate to pile on, but I probably wouldn't have give up on the transom. But if you let it go, I think you should brainstorm some sort of decorative treatment above the door. Perhaps a scrolly cut out w/nice colors, to mimic the look of stained glass? Or wood paneling to match the door w/a nice house number in the center.

[neonpink]

I don't think I'd budget on the transom. Didn't they already put a window in the wrong spot?

[mrspez07]

I'm agreeing with everyone else on the door thing.
Also, unless I'm way off and they need special equipment or skills for the transom, the replacement of the door should not be a full week. We have a guy telling us he's going to remove and replace two doors (front and back) and a sidelight in 1 day (after a day of painting). Even if it's double that with trim, etc, that's still less than a week, and you leave the old door on until the new one is ready to go in.
ETA: we are replacing the original 1979 door. Your front door is likely to be there a long time, do it right!

[boiler717]

I feel super self conscious of my non-transom front door now. I'm wondering if I'm not getting something about it?

[downtoearth]

Apr 29, 2016 14:09:25 GMT -5 boiler717 said:

I feel super self conscious of my non-transom front door now. I'm wondering if I'm not getting something about it?

Does yours have a big spot at the top for a transom, but no transom? Or does your door stop at the top of the door frame?

I think that's the issue, is that her door has this big box above it where the transom would be, but is solid.

[neonpink]

@sfgal530, I came to the post looking to see if she made an update.

[bunnymendelbaum]

Apr 29, 2016 14:14:15 GMT -5 downtoearth said:

Apr 29, 2016 14:09:25 GMT -5 boiler717 said:

I feel super self conscious of my non-transom front door now. I'm wondering if I'm not getting something about it?

Does yours have a big spot at the top for a transom, but no transom? Or does your door stop at the top of the door frame?

I think that's the issue, is that her door has this big box above it where the transom would be, but is solid.

Wait, really? I thought that photo was a mock-up of what the transom would look like if it was installed. But you think this is what it looks like without the transom window? This weird blank header box?


ETA: OP I hope you don't think we are being mean or ganging up on you. We are just house/design nuts! I know how stressful building and renovating projects are, so I sympathize.

[krisim]

May 2, 2016 16:35:28 GMT -5 @sfgal530 said:

krisim , I will cop to being super over-invested in your front door drama (just because I can totally empathize about the intense process of overseeing a house build)... so sorry for being nosy, but did you say anything more to your builder about the door? And did you decide what your wet bar (if you're going with that) will look like? I'm so curious!

We decided not to pursue the door, our builder is over-committed right now, he has taken on way too many new homes recently and can't seem to finish the ones that should be done by now.   Our progress has pretty much been stalled for the past 3 weeks because they either run short on supplies (like not ordering enough of the kitchen back splash tile) or they ordered the wrong tile (for our fireplace), or it's "too wet to lay the sod," on and on... We just want to be finished with this process so that we can close and move in before I hit the 3rd trimester!    

We did decide to do the wet bar (though the builder was going to do after we closed, but changed his mind, so this too is now holding up everything as we have to wait for tile and cabinets to come in before he'll finish other projects!) We went with the darker cabinetry and light quartz counter tops and light tile.  We'll have a small sink and mini fridge as well.  I think my dh will enjoy having it!   And I don't mind the extra storage in the basement.