When you purchase a home, it’s often listed with specific room types: a few beds, a few full and half baths, and standard additions like living, dining, and bonus rooms. But, there are no rules that state those rooms must remain in their intended function. If there’s one thing we push above all else, it’s that your home design should be functional for your specific family.
If you don’t use the dining room for its intended function, change it! That’s exactly what we did in a Middle Tennessee redesign–we transformed our client’s builder-grade dining room into a cool, swanky in-home bar and vinyl listening lounge. The family transitioned to a work-from-home setting following the pandemic, and were eager to create a relaxing oasis in their home to unwind after a long work day.
Check out our bourbon-meets-bookstore renovation!
The Process
This redesign included a bit of construction. We kept the existing tray ceiling intact, but knocked out a doorway and butler’s pantry to create a larger space for a built-in bar. With the reconfiguration complete, we then looked toward custom built-ins retrofitted perfectly to meet our client’s needs.
Working with an experienced designer can help anticipate needs you may not consider when working with a contractor or going the DIY route. Things like perfectly placed electrical outlets to hide wires, custom cabinetry from Century Living with the appropriate depth and weight to hold a collection or prized bourbon, and hidden storage to maximize every nook and cranny.
In this build, we did all that and more, which created a cohesive space perfect for unwinding after a long day.
The Result
With all our plans in place, we launched into our build-out. Our custom shelving included bench-style seating, and a custom shelf extender built specifically for our client’s record player. We accentuated the dark wood cabinetry with a beautiful blue paint on the walls and ceiling, added gold accents, and green accent chairs from Universal Furniture to round out the space. The room came together perfectly with a custom window treatment and a custom rug from Stark. We sourced fabrics from Romo and Cool Springs Upholstery.
The rear wall included a custom-built bar with an antique mirror and quartz countertop. It included a display shelf for bourbon bottles and hidden shelving for additional storage.
With all of our hand-selected upgrades in place, we didn’t want the prior materials to go to waste. We donated anything we could salvage to the YWCA, and Paige even hung the curtains in a YWCA home in Nashville.
Do you have a room in your home that often sits empty? Let us help you brainstorm ways to make it a functional (and fun!) space. Contact us today.
