Plans to Build Basement Bar

[Sliver]

A pimped out garage hang out area is better than a bar inside your house IMO. Garages are less formal - leave your shoes on and do a quick hit and run before going out. No need to wander into someone's house and interact with their wife and/or kids. Just have fun kind of outside. I think a converted shed with a little space heater is cool, too. My friends and I have stopped going into each other's houses over the past few years for whatever reason, but garages are fair game. Home bars kind of seem like what baby boomers thought were cool when they were in their 30s/40s. I don't see it working as well nowadays, at least for my group.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by Sliver

A pimped out garage hang out area is better than a bar inside your house IMO. Garages are less formal - leave your shoes on and do a quick hit and run before going out. No need to wander into someone's house and interact with their wife and/or kids. Just have fun kind of outside. I think a converted shed with a little space heater is cool, too. My friends and I have stopped going into each other's houses over the past few years for whatever reason, but garages are fair game. Home bars kind of seem like what baby boomers thought were cool when they were in their 30s/40s. I don't see it working as well nowadays, at least for my group.

Conceptually, I don't understand the concept of doing a hit and run in a garage before an event. I could maybe understand it if you're often in the garage working doing shop class or automotive activities on a regular basis though. But a quick beer in a garage to avoid saying hello to the kids and the wife... That's odd to me.

I pre-game in my kitchen with friends all the time and I maintain a basic bar in my kitchen. The nice stuff I keep elsewhere. If I had a big ass backyard I use regularly though and I could keep a conveniently bar on the far side of the yard for top ups, that's sometime I think I could play along with. But I almost feel like I'd rather just build a secret bar into a deck or Gazebo, preferably within arms reach of the BBQ(just small bar fridges for drinks and condiments and some cups/straws etc.).

I agree with your comment about the traditional bar though. It's almost mirrored to the comment I constantly hear about hot tubs, "Seems like a great idea to have a bar/hot tub, until you have one. Then it sucks to have a hot tub."

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

Conceptually, I don't understand the concept of doing a hit and run in a garage before an event. I could maybe understand it if you're often in the garage working doing shop class or automotive activities on a regular basis though. But a quick beer in a garage to avoid saying hello to the kids and the wife... That's odd to me.

I pre-game in my kitchen with friends all the time and I maintain a basic bar in my kitchen. The nice stuff I keep elsewhere. If I had a big ass backyard I use regularly though and I could keep a conveniently bar on the far side of the yard for top ups, that's sometime I think I could play along with. But I almost feel like I'd rather just build a secret bar into a deck or Gazebo, preferably within arms reach of the BBQ(just small bar fridges for drinks and condiments and some cups/straws etc.).

I agree with your comment about the traditional bar though. It's almost mirrored to the comment I constantly hear about hot tubs, "Seems like a great idea to have a bar/hot tub, until you have one. Then it sucks to have a hot tub."

Yeah, these things are always so dependent on many factors, but for my group, most of us live in the same neighbourhood and meet up at my garage for a couple drinks before we head out. There are some cannabis guys, too, so that's less appropriate in a house with a family, which is definitely a factor.

I think it's better because you don't have to take off your shoes and stuff. I have a stereo in there, seats, bar fridge, ceiling fan to expel smoke...it's way better than going in and moderating your language/conversation to accommodate kids. It also doesn't feel like I'm hosting anything whereas in the house I want to host. I'd rather just hang out since we get together weekly versus ensuring everyone is comfortable and having a good time when you're in host mode. All my friends have the code to my garage and just wander in when it's time to get together.

[fundmark19]

Your wife doesn’t yell at you when you come home after flames games and hang in the garage until 4am since you didn’t wake her up. There are many pros to bar set up in garages.

[Canadianman]

Originally Posted by Weitz

The only people I know who see value from having a tap installed in their basement are those who brew their own beer. Otherwise, how many times a year do you use it?

This is smart. I have a 4 tap keezer, but it's because I made beer, cider and ginger beer.

[Shin Pad]

Originally Posted by Sliver

A pimped out garage hang out area is better than a bar inside your house IMO. Garages are less formal - leave your shoes on and do a quick hit and run before going out. No need to wander into someone's house and interact with their wife and/or kids. Just have fun kind of outside. I think a converted shed with a little space heater is cool, too. My friends and I have stopped going into each other's houses over the past few years for whatever reason, but garages are fair game. Home bars kind of seem like what baby boomers thought were cool when they were in their 30s/40s. I don't see it working as well nowadays, at least for my group.

I agree with the garage hang out, as that is now what I have. The basement bar was great and we used it fairly often - it seemed to be the place where we would all gather around. Now, I have a huge garage with a stereo, fridge, etc., so it's great for entertaining. I have a large fire pit area outside, and I'm going to build an outdoor bar near the fire pit. My plan is to build it like an old saloon (it may not work in the City, but I'm out in a rural area, so it's appropriate), and make it an outdoor entertainment area. It'll be next year when I get to building it as I have a few more projects I have to get done before the snow flies.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

For those of you with bars, be it in their basement, or garage, backyard, where ever; what does behind the bar look like?

Storage? Fridge? Sink? Dishwasher? I'm curious how that is set up.

[stang]

Originally Posted by Shin Pad

I agree with the garage hang out, as that is now what I have. The basement bar was great and we used it fairly often - it seemed to be the place where we would all gather around. Now, I have a huge garage with a stereo, fridge, etc., so it's great for entertaining. I have a large fire pit area outside, and I'm going to build an outdoor bar near the fire pit. My plan is to build it like an old saloon (it may not work in the City, but I'm out in a rural area, so it's appropriate), and make it an outdoor entertainment area. It'll be next year when I get to building it as I have a few more projects I have to get done before the snow flies.

I am very interested in your idea on this.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Sliver

A pimped out garage hang out area is better than a bar inside your house IMO. Garages are less formal - leave your shoes on and do a quick hit and run before going out. No need to wander into someone's house and interact with their wife and/or kids. ...

Originally Posted by Sliver

I think it's better because you don't have to take off your shoes and stuff. I have a stereo in there, seats, bar fridge, ceiling fan to expel smoke...it's way better than going in and moderating your language/conversation to accommodate kids. It also doesn't feel like I'm hosting anything whereas in the house I want to host. I'd rather just hang out since we get together weekly versus ensuring everyone is comfortable and having a good time when you're in host mode. All my friends have the code to my garage and just wander in when it's time to get together.

Am I right to suspect this is the situation ?

Originally Posted by Sliver’s kid

My father wears his sneakers in the pool

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Yeah, these things are always so dependent on many factors, but for my group, most of us live in the same neighbourhood and meet up at my garage for a couple drinks before we head out. There are some cannabis guys, too, so that's less appropriate in a house with a family, which is definitely a factor.

I think it's better because you don't have to take off your shoes and stuff. I have a stereo in there, seats, bar fridge, ceiling fan to expel smoke...it's way better than going in and moderating your language/conversation to accommodate kids. It also doesn't feel like I'm hosting anything whereas in the house I want to host. I'd rather just hang out since we get together weekly versus ensuring everyone is comfortable and having a good time when you're in host mode. All my friends have the code to my garage and just wander in when it's time to get together.

I think this posts answers the biggest reason why this bar is so popular. It has a smoking section. No, seriously, this makes a ton of sense and IMO even answers the wife and kids question.

"Daddy, why is your friend so stupid?"
"Well... there's this thing called Cannibis..."

I think I'm starting to get it. It's somewhere in between standing on the corner of your house having a smoke and a deck/balcony (but justifiably heated). That's pretty decent (assuming garage isn't attached to house).

[Shin Pad]

Originally Posted by stang

I am very interested in your idea on this.

Still in the process of designing it - I have a few different ideas, but basically it'll be a western theme. I'm probably not going to build it until next summer. I'll post some pictures when I get it done.

[stang]

Originally Posted by Shin Pad

Still in the process of designing it - I have a few different ideas, but basically it'll be a western theme. I'm probably not going to build it until next summer. I'll post some pictures when I get it done.

Pmed

[Shin Pad]

Originally Posted by stang

Pmed

The images I sent were just conceptual. When I get the bar designed, I'll send you what I'm actually going to build.