Direct kitchen with breakfast bar. Design of a corner kitchen with a breakfast bar, real photo examples

The bar counter appeared in the saloons of America - it was a high table separating the bartender from the customers. Behind him they sat on stools of increased height, drank, ate. Nowadays, this is what they call a variety of countertop options, they can be of different heights and located in different places in the kitchen.

The functionality of the interior of a small kitchen with a breakfast bar

As a rule, in small kitchens it is quite difficult to allocate a special place for a dining group, and the need to quickly have breakfast or lunch on hastily exists. This is where the bar counter comes in handy. It doesn't take up much space and is comfortable to sit on. In addition, it is also an additional surface for cooking.

Standard stand - tabletop on a support. If space permits, a wide tabletop can be laid on a cabinet so that the knees of people sitting next to it fit under it. The photo shows a bar counter with a work surface and a sink built into it. This allows you to use the entire width of the rack when working, and organize a mini-dining area for two or three people.

In the interior of a small kitchen with a bar counter, the latter often acts as a space divider, which is important for studio apartments, when the kitchen and living room are located in the same room.

Design of a small kitchen with a breakfast bar: accommodation options

The place for installing the rack is determined based on the size and shape of the room allotted for the kitchen.

Perpendicular. Bar table attached to the main working area perpendicularly, forming in terms of L- or U-shaped kitchen set. In small corner kitchens, the bar counter sometimes becomes the only option for conveniently combining the work and dining table. It can be round or rectangular and separate the cooking area from the rest of the space.

Parallel. In this embodiment, the bar island is located parallel to the kitchen set.

Windowsill. If the kitchen window opens beautiful view, it makes sense to arrange a mini-dining area near the windowsill. It practically does not take up a separate place and has versatility. Depending on the shape of the room and the location of the window in a small kitchen, the bar counter is located either perpendicular to the window opening or along it, while usually the countertop and the window sill form a single whole.

Along the wall. This option is used when they want to extend the working surface and at the same time get a place where you can drink coffee and, if necessary, have lunch, but there is no place for a perpendicular arrangement.

Island. In this case, the bar counter is located separately in the center of the room. The island can be of any shape and separate the cooking area from the rest of the space, if the kitchen and living room are combined.

The interior of a small kitchen with a breakfast bar: examples

Working surface. If there is not enough space for cooking, the most logical option is to use the rack as an additional work area. You can install it at an angle to the main one, parallel to the working area, or, if the room is elongated, make it a continuation.

Plus a table. The bar counter can be combined with a regular table if there is a place for such a design. The countertops in this case are at different heights.

Plus storage. The bar counter is combined with a cabinet, which increases the storage capacity in a limited area. The cabinet may consist of open niches, closed drawers or drawers. Equipped with wheels, it can move freely around the kitchen.

Tip: A small kitchen with a breakfast bar, located in the same room as the living room or seating area, will look isolated, remaining in the total volume and without visually reducing the space.

Design of a small kitchen with a breakfast bar: we place accents

In a small room it is inappropriate to use artsy, complex shapes, therefore, so that the kitchen does not look too simple, it is worth using decorative elements emphasizing functionality.

For example, even in the smallest kitchen with a bar counter, you can place additional shelves or racks for glasses, beautiful tea utensils - they will serve as a kind of decoration.

Another way to emphasize the winning element of the decor and enhance its decorative effect is additional lighting. So, you can place decorative hangers above the rack, or mount a series of directional lights on the ceiling.

The interior of a small kitchen with a breakfast bar looks expensive and elegant if its base is made of natural materials, for example, lay out a support rack made of bricks, or make it out of wood, decorating it with carvings - it all depends on the chosen style of kitchen design.

Since the bar itself is not so common in kitchens, especially small ones, it is already its decoration. Additionally, you can enhance the effect by applying contrasting tones in its decoration.

Small kitchen with a breakfast bar: structural elements

In some cases, the placement of a stationary rack is difficult, usually it happens if the kitchen space is inconveniently shaped or too small. But this is not a reason to abandon it completely. For such cases, special designs are provided that will allow, without taking up much space, to enjoy all the advantages of this piece of furniture.

Foldable. Even a small free space near the wall can be used to place a bar counter there. In this case, it is attached directly to the wall on hinges, and the base is made folding. This design is easy to assemble, and just as easy to disassemble when it is not needed. It can also be attached to the windowsill.

Retractable. This option is suitable for lovers of multifunctional furniture. It is more expensive, but also more effective. This photo of a small kitchen with a breakfast bar shows one of the options for such a retractable design. The base is equipped with a wheel, and when the tabletop is pulled out, it leaves the provided niche, taking its place.

Materials for the manufacture of a bar counter

As a rule, standard materials are used for finishing. Sometimes they may differ in color from the main furniture, if this is provided by the design. For the manufacture of countertops, stone is used, both natural and artificial, coated chipboard, wood, or the surface is tiled.

most popular in Lately became a composite material, outwardly similar to marble, but characterized by high density and strength, as well as a lower price. Corian is a plastic material, it is easy to obtain a product of almost any shape from it. This is especially convenient if you have to equip a small corner kitchen with a bar counter, stylish and modern.

The rounded shape of the tabletop is not only beautiful, but also convenient, since in a small area, which is also saturated with furniture and appliances, protruding corners can cause bruises. Visually lighten the design can be used as a material for the countertop of durable glass. The material for the base is selected based on the design style of the kitchen and the selected type of rack.

Tip: Above the bar you can place shelves for tea, coffee utensils and glasses, decorative items - small vases, beautifully shaped bottles, candles. It will become an additional decorative accent of your interior.

The bar counter often seems to be a rather voluminous and bulky design, so it is chosen for especially spacious kitchens and combined spaces - with a dining room and a living room. In fact, such a tabletop increases the working surface, provides additional places for a snack or a full meal, allows you to harmoniously arrange pleasant functional and decorative little things - holders for glasses, fruit bowls, etc. Given the wide range of possibilities that such a design provides, it is worth thinking about it. arrangement in a modest room.

A small kitchen with will be more functional and original. This is a non-standard solution for a small room, so the interior will turn out to be unusual. This technique will make it individual and more harmonious. But for this purpose, it is still worthwhile to correctly position the countertop so that it really does not become too cumbersome a detail of the situation.

Bar counter in the joint space

The traditional solution can be called the use of a bar counter as a zoning tool in a room that combines. In this case, the dimensions of the kitchen block do not even matter, because a free territory opens up behind it, which makes the space of the working area more comfortable.

Bar counters in such a room can be different size and shape, depending on total area premises and the location of functional areas in it. Of course, there must be a passage of sufficient width between the countertop and the nearest capital structure.

The design of the rack itself may be different. With all the correspondence to the design style, the supports under the table top can differ significantly. These can be supports, like a regular table, and brickwork, and a cabinet with cabinets. Obviously, capital structures are more bulky, so they are chosen for more spacious rooms. When the tabletop rests on the wall and one leg, it looks unobtrusive.

Often the bar counter is part of the island set, but it should be remembered that the island is only for large kitchens, so even when combining rooms, there may not be enough space.

Separate kitchen: is a bar counter appropriate here

For a small one, a bar counter is a rarity. Despite the minimum area, here you can still see ordinary tables with stools or even a seating area, but the work area is then represented by a compact, most often corner set. But designers offer the latest functional solutions that help to use literally every square centimeter with maximum benefit.

A bar counter instead of a dining table is a concise and not cumbersome solution. It is located approximately in the place of the dining group, but rests on the wall and 1-2 legs. This makes the structure lighter, albeit less mobile - it will not work to move it like a regular table. Accordingly, such a tabletop is at the usual height and is completed with ordinary chairs or stools.
Folding bar counter- Another compact option that helps save space. If necessary, it unfolds, and when not needed, it is removed and stored along the wall. Thus, space is freed up, which is already small here.
Window sill as a bar, of course, involves an extension standard design, but it eliminates the need for an additional dining area. This, of course, is suitable only for small families - without children. You can enjoy the view from the window while having a cup of coffee or lunch. This option is also convenient when the dining room is moved to another room. For example, in the same room with the living room there may be a full-fledged dinner table or a table-transformer. , adjacent to the kitchen, then the bar counter instead of the window sill is also applicable in houses where fairly large families live. Just then it will become a place for the hostess to relax, as well as an additional work surface for cutting food.

For the interior of a small kitchen with a breakfast bar, you can choose a U-shaped set, part of which will be located near the window. The absence of upper drawers in this part makes the furniture visually lighter and not bulky. The bar counter, which is not a continuation of the countertop, but intersects with it at different levels, contributes to the same effect. This increases the functionality of the work surface, as there is a place to store small utensils or other items. The distance between the desktop and the bar surface can serve as a "shelter" for the little things that the hostess needs are always at hand, and there is not enough space for them in the drawers or it's just not convenient.
An interesting solution is a parallel set with a bar counter.. Here, one way or another, a window is involved if it is located on the long side of the room. Such a project is most appropriate in a narrow kitchen, where the distance between the pieces of furniture will be small - about 1 meter. Looks luxurious in such interiors wooden table top from an expensive type of wood, which is also used for arranging a window sill.

In the photo - a kitchen with a breakfast bar

You can come up with a lot of options for arranging a bar counter in a small kitchen, it is only important to calculate the distance between the structures for free passage.

Features of the design of the bar counter for compact spaces

Kitchen Design small size one way or another, it is developed taking into account the small area and requirements for it. Here, a compact dining group and even folding structures are not uncommon. The bar counter also meets the requirement of compactness. Even when combining rooms, it should remain proportional to the working area. But the dimensions of such do not affect the choice of design. The main difference is the supports.

For a small kitchen space, the lightest visual solutions are usually chosen.. And this is traditionally the only metal support in the form of a pipe, which is often placed between the floor and the ceiling. On the part above the tabletop, hanging fruit bowls, glass holders and just nets for storing various small items are used. The other side rests on the wall. This is how it turns out to achieve maximum stability and compact design.
On one leg without extension can be made as a traditional bar counter and retractable design. The tabletop in this case rests on telescopic guides, and the support is equipped with a wheel for free movement of the legs.
Also a lightweight version of the bar counter is the console., one side of which also rests on the wall, and the other continues in the form of a leg of the same width. In fact, this is a holistic canvas, as if folded at a right angle. There is enough space under the table top to store chairs.
Brick or stonework looks and feels like a more solid support for any size countertop, so it is chosen more often for spacious rooms. This design is appropriate in the combined space, since it simply does not make sense in a small-sized kitchen. The material for the support is selected depending on the design style.

Design solutions today are sometimes amazing. These are transparent supports, and similar chairs, and transforming furniture. It can even include hidden features thanks to folding and retractable designs. Of course, such solutions are not cheap due to the cost of the mechanisms. But for a small kitchen, they become a real way to actually increase the functionality of a small area.

Consider the design options for a modern kitchen, if 2 conditions are set: the kitchen itself is small, but it must have a bar counter.

small kitchen design with breakfast bar

It is necessary to design the kitchen space in such a way that it is comfortable, technological and beautiful, that is, tastefully decorated in any of the interior styles.

If you approach the problem constructively, even in a small kitchen you can successfully fit a compact bar counter. Moreover, a well-thought-out option with a stand can be just a godsend in conditions of limited space.

2. The rack can be attached to the wall and located under hanging cabinets. This will make good use of the space. Under the cabinet, above the counter, you can place holders for glasses or narrow shelves. Sitting at such a counter, however, will have to face the wall - but what to do? Sometimes it just doesn't work the other way.

3. A very common option is to combine a bar counter with some kind of surface. This is either a window sill or a work surface on which the hostess cooks.

The option with a window sill can turn out to be an excellent substitute for a dining table, especially since now there will be not a blank wall in front of your eyes, but a live view from the window.

Advice! It is useful to install local lighting above the bar counter, even with a change of colors. This will enrich the interior and create a more interesting atmosphere in the evening kitchen.

Will the bar counter replace the dining table in a small kitchen, and which is better

Which is better - everyone decides for himself. Let's discuss both possibilities.

1. Option one: the kitchen is available, but there is no bar. This is a common situation, the difference is only in the shape and size of the table, and even in its location.

The dining table is used for a meal and as an auxiliary work surface when the hostess takes up her daily business.

2. Option two: there is no dining table in the kitchen, but there is a bar counter. Behind her, the family eats and drinks, she also performs auxiliary functions.

As you can see, the purpose of the dining table and the bar counter in a small kitchen is exactly the same. The question is which of the options is more convenient.

This is where additional factors come into play. If a bachelor or a family of two adults lives in the apartment, then the second option is more preferable, since the counter takes up less space than a dining table. She is a desirable attribute, and the owners are happy to sit behind her.

Another thing is when the family has kids or people of respectable age. Children, of course, will be happy to climb onto high bar stools, but they also fall off them willingly.

People of the older generation, as a rule, do not welcome such innovations, especially since they do not want to climb on high stools and try.

Here it would be convenient to make a two-level counter: on the one hand, you get a bar counter in its pure form, high, as it should be, and on the other, a dining table of normal height, perhaps a little narrower than we are used to.

This option would be ideal if it could be implemented. But in a small kitchen, this is very difficult to do.

Is it possible to combine a bar counter with a dining table in the kitchen

A bar counter located along a wall or window sill can be successfully interpreted as a dining table. This is a great option for a small kitchen, and in the case of a window sill, the surface is large, almost the same as a familiar table. Access to it is one-way, but you quickly get used to this inconvenience.

If we are talking about combining, then most often the work surface smoothly passes into the rack. At the same time, since it takes up space from wall to wall, it is necessary to attach the rack in the form of the letters “G” or “P”, in the same plane.

What size should the bar be?

A standard bar counter must be 100-130 cm high, 110 is considered optimal. Bar stools are made under it or, also high, usually equipped with a height regulator so that you can adjust the chair for yourself.

If the counter is two-level, then the second level, which acts as a dining table, is 90 cm. The counter, which is a continuation of the work surface, has the same height. In this case, bar stools up to 60 cm go to it.

The width of the countertop at the counter should not be less than 30 cm, 50-60 cm is considered optimal. The length is calculated according to the standard: 60 cm is allotted per person.

Thinking through the design of a small kitchen, you can abandon the usual dining table and replace it with a modern alternative solution - a practical, stylish bar counter. Design solutions for this type of kitchen furniture allow you to choose an option for different interior styles. About how to choose the right bar counter in a small-sized kitchen from quality material and it is convenient to place it in the room, read on.

We place a bar counter in a small kitchen: all the pros and cons

Despite the modest size of the kitchen, do not be afraid to experiment with interesting solutions design, because in the end you can get a spectacular and multifunctional layout. A kitchen with a breakfast bar will have some advantages:

This product does not take up much space in the room, as it can be installed in various convenient ways, both along the window sill and perpendicular to one of the walls.
In the kitchen, combined with the living room, the bar counter will allow you to correctly zone the room, visually enclosing the work area.
Models with drawers and shelves under the tabletop allow you to conveniently store dishes and various kitchen items, towels and napkins, which will save space.
A wide variety of models will allow you to choose the most optimal furniture, for every taste and budget, making the interior exclusive and memorable, according to your ideas about the perfect kitchen.

Among the shortcomings, it can be noted that it will be difficult to put a child or an elderly person behind such a rack. You will need to purchase a special child chair with elongated legs, or make the stand height small.

A small kitchen limits the width of the countertop. It should not exceed 40-60 cm, otherwise moving around the room will be difficult, which will lead to inconvenience.

Design features of the bar counter

If your kitchen has an awkward layout or very little free space, then it will be difficult to place a stationary rack in it. But if you wish, you can choose furniture with a special design. It does not take up much space, and in terms of functionality it is not inferior to other models.

The folding rack can be installed on the wall itself. Attach it to the hinges, with a folding base. The mechanism is easily unfolded, and when not needed, it is assembled back, occupying a minimum of space in a limited area. This option allows you to attach it to the windowsill.

A retractable bar counter is perfect for connoisseurs of multifunctional pieces of furniture. The model looks spectacular and beautiful. A small wheel is attached to the base of the structure, which, when the rack is pulled out, helps it to leave the niche and stand in the right place.

What are the types of racks for small kitchens

There are several types of racks, each of which is convenient in its own way and will suit a certain interior layout option. Let's consider everything in order in more detail:

Bar counter in the form of an island. Such a model is installed remotely from the rest of the kitchen set. Usually it is a multi-level structure, the necessary accessories are stored at the lower levels. A separate island is good for organizing large kitchen, especially in the living room kitchen will help to zone the space. But in a small room there is not enough space for such furniture.
Table top that turns into a bar counter. In every small kitchen, you have to save precious centimeters, so the option of continuing the kitchen set under the bar counter will be a welcome salvation for the owners. Here you can sit with friends and cook food, as well as arrange a full meal. Versatility and convenience will be provided.
A wall-mounted bar counter is suitable for a kitchen of any size without taking up much space. Such an interior does not look boring, original, allowing you to conveniently dine or drink tea with friends.
Rack - window sill - one of the bold and tempting options in modern design. You cannot do without such a solution in a narrow elongated kitchen, where it is difficult to turn around and find a place for a dining area. Rack - window sill will save space, beautifully fit into any interior idea. Here it is important to think over the lighting well, so that it is convenient to cook in the dark.

You can come up with your own exclusive version, because your imagination is not limited by anything. These can be the most daring ideas, the main thing is that they should be comfortable using the kitchen with them. Do not forget to take into account the dimensions of the kitchen and future furniture, the shape of the rack, its location in the layout, as well as the presence of various drawers, stands, shelves and armrests.

Bar counter - table in a small kitchen

If you're not ready for a radical change, there is an option to successfully combine a mini-stand with a table, for example, if you install it along a wall or window sill. Such an idea is great option for small spaces, allowing you to increase the surface of the tabletop to almost the usual size for everyone. Of course, it is possible to sit at such a table only on one side, but you can quickly get used to it.

This two-in-one set has a two-level height. The upper level serves as a counter, where you can have a quick bite to eat, drink a cup of coffee with friends. The lower level will cope with the role of a table for eating, it is convenient to dine on it in the family circle. This is especially true for young children and older people who are uncomfortable sitting at the counter.

If you combine the bar counter with a storage system for accessories and kitchen utensils, which looks like a cabinet, consisting of sections, drawers or open niches, you will get a convenient complex for saving usable space in the kitchen.

How to choose material for a future bar counter

In the production of bar counters, a wide variety of modern materials can be used. The most affordable and cheapest of them is plastic. It is lightweight, with many color variations, but does not differ much in strength.

A more expensive option is chipboard with a laminated surface. Such a product will last longer in operation. In addition, you can choose a color that imitates marble or natural wood.

A popular material for countertops is Corian. It is a composite similar to marble, but superior in strength characteristics. It has high plasticity, which allows you to give the table top any shape, curved, multifaceted or round.

You should not overly complicate the shape of the bar counter with a lot of curves or decorative details, so as not to overload the overall atmosphere of the room. The main thing is that everything should be convenient and as practical as possible.

The metal bar counter is reliable, durable, looks stylish, expensive and attractive. It is easy to care for it, the material is resistant to temperature extremes, humidity and steam.

Natural wood is of high quality, environmentally friendly, will bring coziness and comfort to your home. A bar counter made of wood will require careful maintenance and a constant thrifty attitude.

What do designers advise when choosing a rack in a small kitchen? According to the recommendations, the best option there will be a stand made of tempered, impact-resistant glass with a glossy effect on the tabletop. Such a model will visually lighten the compressed space. In addition, you can choose a tree attached to the counter to fit wine glasses, glasses or fruits on it.

Deciding on the size of a small bar counter

The standard dimensions of the product are height parameters from 105 to 130 cm. The most optimal is a height of 110 cm. Chairs or high stools for such furniture, as a rule, are selected with adjustable height in order to find a comfortable position for each family member.

As for the width, it should not be less than 30 cm. For a small-sized kitchen, the optimal size is 40-50 cm, so as not to clutter up the passage with a counter and not interfere with free movement in the room. The length of the model according to the regulations is calculated at 60 cm per dining person.

Bar counter for a small kitchen - design photo

Before you opt for one or another model of the bar counter, it would not be out of place to get acquainted with the photos of the implemented kitchen interiors, in which such furniture is present. Firstly, you can find the most successful solution for the shape and location of the rack. And secondly, you can give free rein to your creativity, choose color solution and a style close to the design version of your room.

There are a lot of modern photo projects on the Internet, each owner will definitely find what they like. Particularly attractive are non-standard solutions, for example, from natural wood, with bizarre, original shapes and designs.

The kitchen plays a big role in people's lives. In the warmth and comfort of the kitchen, the family spends time during morning breakfasts, family dinners or weekend lunches. The versatility of this special place makes the design of the kitchen interior an important issue. How to fit everything possible options worries of cooking, joint meals, quick snacks and long gatherings? One of the answers to this question is the design of the kitchen with a breakfast bar.

Creating a kitchen interior involves solving practical problems of space organization and aesthetic function. Therefore, in the interiors of modern kitchens, the use of a bar counter has become a very common phenomenon. The bar counter allows you to conveniently organize the space and brings a stylish, elegant zest to the atmosphere of your home.

Background

In Britain, for several centuries, furniture for storing alcohol has been called bars. In the same sense, the word "bar" is used today. In drinking establishments, the subjects of the British crown drank, had a snack right on the boxes, which also served as a storage place for the coveted bottles of booze.

But, according to the main version, it is believed that catering establishments in the USA in the 18th century contributed to the appearance of the bar counter. In the saloons of the cowboy West, the bar separated the service area for hot Irish guys and the service area. In case of frequent conflicts with the use of forceful "arguments", the bar counter served as an effective protective barrier for the bartender and fragile glassware.

Those times have long turned into a legend that cinema carefully nurtures in the Western genre. But the principles of convenience and functionality of using a bar counter in saloons are still widely used in public institutions. Nowadays, this design has become a frequent interior detail in residential buildings.

Zoning the kitchen space as a functional necessity

Zoning of the premises is carried out in order to divide it into several necessary household functional zones. To do this, individual areas are allocated using different materials, contrasting colors, furniture and lighting. Thus, the common open space of the studio can successfully combine the living room with the kitchen.

The bar counter separates the places for cooking and storing kitchen utensils from the equipped place where you can sit at the dining table, eat quietly and chat with family and friends. Note that this approach allows you to maintain the hygiene necessary for the kitchen.

In the process of zoning the kitchen, it is important to use different types floor coverings in functionally separated areas. On the side where food is cooked, the floor is often contaminated. Here it is more appropriate to use floor tiles for floor decoration. The side where they eat will look more comfortable with laid laminate or parquet.

Advice! When zoning the kitchen with a bar counter, use the possibilities of lighting. Highlight and highlight areas, according to the need for brighter or diffused light. Install halogen spotlights or a chandelier with a directional light source above the countertop.

A luxury item or a necessary item?

As an element of the kitchen interior, the bar counter has recently appeared. Once upon a time, such a kitchen design personified a sign of prosperity, financial well-being, luxury. Quite a bit of time has passed. Now in many kitchens, the bar counter is used as a stylish and functional type of furniture. Thanks to the variety of shapes, materials, and the well-established base of standard and individual design solutions, the option of a kitchen interior with a bar counter has become an affordable solution for every taste and budget.

Its use helps to solve a number of practical problems in the organization of space. Especially important is the solution of this issue in a small area. For example, designers achieve amazing results by combining a small kitchen area with another room. In this case, the use of a bar counter can stylishly and functionally combine areas of different configurations. This makes use in the kitchen a must.

Optimal Height

Question optimal height offers two possible solutions.

The bar counter is installed at the level of the countertop of the kitchen set. This method allows you to significantly add a working surface for cooking and eating.

To calculate the height in this case, it is necessary to take into account the height of the facades, the thickness of the countertop, plinth, base. Considering that the manufacturer's standard is typical kitchen furniture assumes an average height of countertops of 88-91 cm, approximately this height should be guided by when choosing the optimal height of the bar counter in the interior of the kitchen.

Advice! This design is very convenient as a dining table. Use a comfortable width breakfast bar as a dining area in a small family kitchen. This will make the kitchen space more ergonomic.

The bar counter, installed separately from the kitchen set, has an independent function. In this case, it becomes part design solution and is selected individually according to the height and needs of kitchen users.

Optimal Width

Definition optimal width is also an important issue when installing the structure. Standards require a countertop width of at least 30 cm so that glasses with drinks traditional for this type of furniture can be placed on its surface. With an increase in the functionality of the bar counter, an increase in the width of its countertop is required. In order to fully use the area of the bar counter as a work surface for cooking or a dining table, the width of the countertop in this case must be at least 50 cm or more.

On the other hand, the wider the bar top, the more space it takes up. On the area of a small kitchen, this can turn into the fact that this stylish and multifunctional type of furniture will clutter up the entire kitchen, thereby reducing all the advantages of its use to almost zero. To prevent such a result, it is necessary to approach each project individually, to combine convenience and respectable appearance.

Classic style

The classic is undeniable in all its manifestations. The bet on the classic style is a priori proof of excellent taste and practical approach.

The classic bar counter is similar to its "ancestors", who "served" in saloons, bars, restaurants. According to the established tradition, the height of the classic bar counter is 110-120 cm. High bar stools or stools are required, sometimes bar chairs with high legs. Application classical style obliges to take care of the appropriate details and stylish little things. Antique-styled wooden shelves for alcohol, shiny roof rails, glass hangers will complement the atmosphere of the old bar.

The classic bar counter is made of high-quality natural materials. Especially in such projects, natural wood is invaluable. Also applicable are materials that imitate the surface "antique".

Two-level

A two-level bar counter in its design has a top and bottom panels. The top panel is supposed to be used as a dining table and drinking drinks. The bottom panel is used for preparing food, snacks, mixing cocktails. Like the classic version, for a comfortable pastime at a two-level counter, furniture for sitting on long legs (bar stools, stools, armchairs) is used.

It is very convenient to use a similar design for a large family with small children. In this case, the ability to cook and feed a noisy children's company, practically without leaving one place, becomes a special convenience. Moms who know what it's like to feed their restless children and clean up after them at the same time will undoubtedly appreciate this convenience.

However, it should be borne in mind that two panels of one bar counter occupy a double width. With minimum dimensions, the width of such a design will be no more than 60 cm. For small kitchens, such a solution may be too cumbersome.

From glass

The glass bar counter is able to successfully fit into the interior of the kitchen. Glass as a countertop is a very good material in terms of maintaining hygiene due to its density and smoothness.

For the manufacture of a glass bar counter, ordinary sheet glass with a thickness of 10 mm or more is quite suitable. The thicker the glass, the stronger the product.

Also for the manufacture of countertops, laminated glass is used - triplex. It is a strong durable material up to 30 mm thick. Existing technologies make it possible to lay decorative coatings with patterns, ornaments, and textures between its layers. This gives wide decorative possibilities for the use of this material.

Thick glass top bar counters look stylish, but the considerable mass of this material requires a solid base to properly distribute its weight. To avoid damage and cracks, when installing bar counters with a glass surface, it is better to contact specialists who can mount such structures.

small rack

If the kitchen area is very limited, then it is extremely difficult to arrange a full-fledged bar counter in such conditions. No problem! The mini-version will fit perfectly into the design of such a kitchen.

It is enough to place a narrow long rack along the wall to comfortably drink morning espresso or arrange cozy evening gatherings while watching your favorite TV series.

To save space, the fold-out mini-rack can be attached to the wall, unfolding it as needed. Another solution that optimizes the use of space in the kitchen is a retractable breakfast bar. When you need to increase the working surface, it simply slides out of the cabinet headset. When this need is not there, it moves in, freeing up space.

The height of the small rack varies as needed from 80-90 cm to the classic height of 110-120 cm. It can be compactly stored under its surface kitchen chairs and stools so as not to clutter up a small room.

Combined with window sill

Another way to increase the working surfaces of the kitchen is to combine the window sill and the bar counter. The bonus of this solution is the ability to cook and spend time at the window. Thus, natural daylight is used, it becomes possible to admire the view from the window while cooking and gatherings.

For a thorough alignment, it is sometimes necessary to increase or lower the base of the window sill. To avoid such worries, it is ideal to plan this design at the stage of designing and renovating a kitchen. The areas of the bar counter and the window sill are covered with one tabletop. The width of the window sill allows you to plan dining places for 2-3 people.

The disadvantages of this solution include an increased risk of contamination of slopes and window panes. Heat transfer may be impaired if heating batteries located under the window, but this problem is solvable. To do this, one or two holes are cut out in the countertop, which can be closed with ventilation grilles.

Kitchen interior with a bar counter - "island"

The kitchen "island" is an excellent example of kitchen ergonomics. The incredible usability of this design is provided by the combination of storage systems for kitchen utensils and products with extensive working areas. However, it should be noted that the placement of a small but functional “island” in the middle of the kitchen requires a minimum room size of 12 sq.m. and more.

The bar counter - the "island" is more compact. This gives more options to fit it mobile into a small kitchen. Therefore, in small kitchens, a design with a chrome pipe and a small countertop surface is often used.

If the area of the kitchen allows you to mount a full-fledged two-level "island" structure, then this opens up the possibility of removing the sink and hob to the bottom panel.

Modern materials make it possible to manufacture the base and countertops of any shape: round, square, wavy bar counters, consisting of one or more levels.

Corner kitchen with breakfast bar

Using a corner kitchen set allows you to use the kitchen area to the maximum. Arranging kitchen furniture along the walls frees up the space of the main area of the room. This design more than eliminates the shortage of working space. However, if the kitchen area is small, the bar counter can perfectly play the role of a dining table and serve as a style element in the overall ensemble of kitchen decoration.

When combining a rack with a corner set located along two walls of the kitchen, its parallel arrangement of the main line of furniture is recommended to simulate the layout with the letter “P”. This technique optically enlarges the kitchen space, organizes the space, leaving the center of the room uncluttered.

Rack design in a single style with kitchen set will make it a single set of kitchen furniture. Above in the article, the optimal dimensions are given in the case of using a bar counter as a continuation of the kitchen set.

Summarizing information

Types of bar counters	Height, cm	Width, cm	Application
classical	110-120	30-50	Snacks, quick meals, drinks
Combined With kitchen set	≈90	from 50	Cooking, using as a dining table, snacking, other household chores (such as using a laptop)
Two-level	≈90 — 120	from 60	Drinks and snacks (upper tier). Use as a separate table (lower tier).
mini rack	from ≈90 to 120	≈30	Used in small kitchens. Dining table for 1-2 people. Possibility of folding or retractable option.
Bar counter combined with a window sill	≈90	Window sill width + from 30 cm	Used in small kitchens. Snacks, drinks, partial cooking area. Dining table for 1-2 persons
Bar counter - "island"	from ≈90 to 120	Depending on the shape	It is used in small kitchens in the minimum version, recommended for installation in kitchens from 12 sq.m. Cooking, dining table, snacks, drinks.

Materials for manufacturing

In the manufacture of a bar counter, you can use a variety of materials presented on modern market building materials. The combination of fantasy, ingenuity and financial capabilities will allow you to create original, unique designs. The main principle of the selection of materials for the manufacture of a bar counter should be the expediency of using a certain material in the context of the overall style decision. For example, a stand made of wood will fit perfectly into the interior in the style of "loft", "country" or "Provence", and will look ridiculous in a glass-metal "hi-tech".

List of materials from which modern countertops are made:

natural wood;
a natural stone;
fake diamond;
Chipboard (laminated), MDF;
glass.

In the manufacture of the base of the bar counter, the following are used:

chrome pipe - a classic, often used base;
MDF, chipboard;
drywall;
natural wood;
the lower part of the wall, specially left during the redevelopment of the premises.

DIY

The process of creating this type of furniture with your own hands is simple and exciting. A little desire, skills and imagination are enough, and your kitchen will be magically transformed. An approximate algorithm for manufacturing a variant using a chrome pipe:

Select a countertop material. Cut out the shape of the countertop with a jigsaw. Clean the edge of the edges and seal with a special tape.
Using a round nozzle on a drill, drill a hole in the countertop according to the project according to the diameter of the chrome pipe.
Pass the chrome pipe through the countertop, fix it with fasteners.
Mount the joint between the pipe and the countertop with flanges. Attach the tabletop with a bracket.

Advice! When creating a bar counter with your own hands, use a wear-resistant material for the countertop that is not afraid of moisture and elevated temperatures. In stores, you can buy a finished countertop. Do not forget about seasonal sales, this will significantly reduce the cost of purchasing components, getting a stylish result for your design project.

And finally...

After talking about bar counters and their use in the kitchen interior, finally, a couple of tips that may come in handy when installing a bar counter in the kitchen.

Measure seven times - cut one

It is necessary to carefully consider the place of installation of the bar counter. Before ordering from the manufacturer or self-manufacturing it is necessary to carefully measure the space, providing for freedom of movement for cooking and a comfortable location for all family members at the dining table.

Without effort, you can not pull the fish out of the pond

Having decided to make a bar counter yourself, tune in to a thorough study of the project, take the time to find the right fittings, accessories, countertops, materials and other things necessary for making things. With proper selection of quality Supplies, which together look like a good style decision, the bar counter in the kitchen will become the pride of the hearth.