What's a typical scope for a custom bar?
Most of our bar projects fall into one of three scopes: a furniture-grade dry bar (one piece, no plumbing), a built-in run (a wall of base + upper cabinetry, often with a sink), or a full bar room (back-bar wall, lit display, wine storage, and front-of-house counter). We scope each one to the room rather than to a stock size.
Can a new bar work in an existing room?
Yes — most of our bars are retrofits into existing living rooms, basements, and dining rooms. We scribe to existing trim and flooring, match adjacent millwork profiles, and build the cabinetry to accommodate the room's quirks instead of asking you to remodel around the bar.
How do you handle refrigeration and plumbing?
Refrigeration (undercounter wine coolers, beverage centers, ice makers) and any sink or tap line get coordinated with your appliance dealer and your plumber before we cut casework. We build cabinetry to the published cutout dimensions of the chosen unit and leave the rough-in clearances documented in the shop drawings, so the install day is uneventful.
Do you build the back-bar millwork, or just the cabinets?
Both. We build the front-of-house cabinetry and the full back-bar millwork — bottle shelving, mirrored or panelled backs, lit display cabinets, and any crown or base trim that ties it into the room. It's all designed and finished together so the reveals match.
What does the timeline look like?
From signed shop drawings to install is generally six to ten weeks, depending on the size of the bar and the finish — stained wood faces with a multi-step finish take longer than a single-color HPL. We confirm a target install window in the contract and update it weekly during the build.
Can you match the bar to other cabinetry I already have?
Often, yes. If the existing cabinetry is in good shape, we'll take samples and finish chips and dial in a matching spray schedule. If it's not, we'll talk honestly about whether to match it or to refinish the existing run so the whole room reads as one project.
