Patterned Tile Showcases an Open Kitchen’s New Minibar
A couple’s kitchen update puts the focus on entertaining by inviting guests in for a drink
Minibar. The minibar takes the couple’s entertaining abilities to the next level, designer Karen Nepacena says. And because it’s such an important part of the remodeled kitchen, she wanted to make it pop. “Tile is one of my favorite materials to make a space unique,” she says.
She knew the clients didn’t fear the bold, so she chose this handmade pattern that meshed well with the old-feel tone of the rest of the house. They had considered using more of the tile, but in the end, limiting the tile usage saved money and made the minibar stand out.
Pro tip: This tile is not for someone in a rush, because each piece is made by hand, Nepacena says. The tile took six weeks to be made and a couple of days to be installed. “It takes a lot of trial and error to make these tiles fit seamlessly,” she says, because each piece is unique. But if it works with your timeline and you like it, it may be worth the effort.
Tile: Kasbah Trellis, Fireclay Tile; cabinet hardware: Bowman, Rejuvenation
See how to make a freestanding beverage bar
She knew the clients didn’t fear the bold, so she chose this handmade pattern that meshed well with the old-feel tone of the rest of the house. They had considered using more of the tile, but in the end, limiting the tile usage saved money and made the minibar stand out.
Pro tip: This tile is not for someone in a rush, because each piece is made by hand, Nepacena says. The tile took six weeks to be made and a couple of days to be installed. “It takes a lot of trial and error to make these tiles fit seamlessly,” she says, because each piece is unique. But if it works with your timeline and you like it, it may be worth the effort.
Tile: Kasbah Trellis, Fireclay Tile; cabinet hardware: Bowman, Rejuvenation
See how to make a freestanding beverage bar
After. A sleek minibar, complete with a 24-inch-high wine fridge and a sink, allows the couple to easily make drinks for guests — or let them mix their own.
Its placement over to the far side of the room also ensures that no one is in the way of the cook when preparing a cocktail before dinner.
Pro tip: Before ordering cabinets, Nepacena measured the couple’s liquor bottles to make sure they would fit inside the new cabinetry.
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Its placement over to the far side of the room also ensures that no one is in the way of the cook when preparing a cocktail before dinner.
Pro tip: Before ordering cabinets, Nepacena measured the couple’s liquor bottles to make sure they would fit inside the new cabinetry.
Browse wine fridges
Backsplash. To keep the focus on the fun tile over in the minibar area, Nepacena chose a plain white tile to use for the rest of the kitchen’s backsplash.
Island. Zooming out from the minibar, you can see the large island with barstool seating on one side. By knocking down the walls and making the space open, the couple could install this large island and move the range over to it. To accomplish that, the design team had to run new gas lines and venting. But all the changes were worth it because they allow the couple to be in the center of the kitchen during events, and others can help with meal prep if they want.
Pro tip: If you think a hood coming out of the middle of the ceiling obstructs the view or is visually unappealing, Nepacena wouldn’t suggest a stove on the island.
Cabinets. To add airiness to the kitchen, Nepacena put translucent glass fronts on a few upper cabinets. The material allows you to somewhat hide what’s behind the doors while still visually breaking up all the cabinetry. The rest of the cabinets are made of walnut.
Pro tip: The cabinets don’t reach all the way to the ceiling to give a little breathing room and add a sense of height.
Cabinets: Semihandmade
Island. Zooming out from the minibar, you can see the large island with barstool seating on one side. By knocking down the walls and making the space open, the couple could install this large island and move the range over to it. To accomplish that, the design team had to run new gas lines and venting. But all the changes were worth it because they allow the couple to be in the center of the kitchen during events, and others can help with meal prep if they want.
Pro tip: If you think a hood coming out of the middle of the ceiling obstructs the view or is visually unappealing, Nepacena wouldn’t suggest a stove on the island.
Cabinets. To add airiness to the kitchen, Nepacena put translucent glass fronts on a few upper cabinets. The material allows you to somewhat hide what’s behind the doors while still visually breaking up all the cabinetry. The rest of the cabinets are made of walnut.
Pro tip: The cabinets don’t reach all the way to the ceiling to give a little breathing room and add a sense of height.
Cabinets: Semihandmade
After. During the remodel, Nepacena moved the sink out of the corner and reduced the amount of upper cabinetry by the sink.
Lighting. The couple loved all the natural light in their new open kitchen. Because of that, Nepacena decided against installing window treatments, allowing the light to flood in. They added recessed lighting overhead to brighten the room at night.
Windows. They replaced the windows for energy efficency and added new trim with more detail. Outside the window, the couple is working on a landscaping project. When complete, they will be able to watch their child play outside from the kitchen.
Sink. To tackle big party messes, the couple requested a large farmhouse sink with a tall faucet.
Countertops: black soapstone
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Windows. They replaced the windows for energy efficency and added new trim with more detail. Outside the window, the couple is working on a landscaping project. When complete, they will be able to watch their child play outside from the kitchen.
Sink. To tackle big party messes, the couple requested a large farmhouse sink with a tall faucet.
Countertops: black soapstone
Browse farmhouse sinks
Rug. Under the sink, Nepacena added a small rug, which increases the comfort level for those standing at the sink doing dishes. It’s durable and washable, she says, for the inevitable spills in this area of the house.
Laundry. Behind the two doors painted with gray chalkboard paint, you’ll find the family’s laundry machines. The client thought of the idea to paint the doors with chalkboard paint, Nepacena says. That detail makes use of the space and will give their child a place to play in the future when the parents are in the kitchen.
Rug: West Elm
Laundry. Behind the two doors painted with gray chalkboard paint, you’ll find the family’s laundry machines. The client thought of the idea to paint the doors with chalkboard paint, Nepacena says. That detail makes use of the space and will give their child a place to play in the future when the parents are in the kitchen.
Rug: West Elm
Flooring. The two different flooring materials help visually divide the kitchen from the living room.
The small hexagon tiles are found in lots of San Francisco hotel lobbies, and Nepacena felt it was the perfect addition to the space.
The small hexagon tiles are found in lots of San Francisco hotel lobbies, and Nepacena felt it was the perfect addition to the space.
The small white tiles run into the living room’s cork flooring, which they picked because it’s durable and soft underfoot.
The design team spent a lot of time making small cuts in the cork with a saw to create this organic-looking edge. “I love how it’s the same height and includes no trim or seam,” Nepacena says.
Tile: Metro hex in matte white, Merola Tile
The design team spent a lot of time making small cuts in the cork with a saw to create this organic-looking edge. “I love how it’s the same height and includes no trim or seam,” Nepacena says.
Tile: Metro hex in matte white, Merola Tile
After. The open room makes the dining area a bright, inviting space. To let in more light, the couple opted for no window treatments on this large window.
Kitchen table. The client, who is also an engineer, designed and crafted this table himself.
Chairs: Eames molded plastic dowel-leg side chair, Design Within Reach; light fixture: Alto Compass, Cedar & Moss
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Kitchen table. The client, who is also an engineer, designed and crafted this table himself.
Chairs: Eames molded plastic dowel-leg side chair, Design Within Reach; light fixture: Alto Compass, Cedar & Moss
More
Read more kitchen stories
Hire a kitchen professional
Find kitchen and dining products
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A young couple who recently had their first baby
Location: San Leandro, California
Size: 300 square feet (27.8 square meters)
Designer: Karen Nepacena of Destination Eichler
After the recent arrival of their first child, this fun-loving couple bought a 1940s ranch-style house. They wasted no time making it their own by starting a renovation of the whole house.
Kitchen goals. The couple loves to host cooking contests and game nights with friends, so it made sense to tear down a few walls to create an open space. They also wanted to build in hosting features such as a minibar and island seating.
The home had been updated within the last 10 years but was dark and closed off, with individual small spaces for laundry, living and cooking. They opened up the wall that was between the kitchen, seen here, and the dining room. It took five months for them to complete the remodel.