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    Month: September 2021

    The Wonderful Wet Bar

    Posted on by normandy

    Wet bar and beverage center in the basement under the stairs

    Sometimes the smaller spaces in your home can have a larger than expected impact on flow and usability. Adding a wet bar is an excellent example of this. A wet bar includes a sink. Having a sink with running water differentiates it from a dry bar. That sink makes entertaining easier and opens up an array of possibilities.  

    Plan to place your wet bar in close proximity to your entertaining area. This might be just off your dining room or family room. Sometimes it is right in the family room.  

    Think about if you’ll just be serving beverages from your wet bar while entertaining or if it might be more multi-purpose for your family.  Your wet bar can double as a butler’s pantry or coffee station. Because a wet bar has a sink, it’s a really convenient place to prepare coffee or tea.  

    Some people choose to tuck in a beverage fridge too, which will make your wet bar a great place to divert people away from the kitchen while you’re working in there. If you situate the wet bar off to the side, it stops people from coming in because they can grab a bottle of water or cream for their coffee. 

    Wet bar in living room that coordinates with kitchen

    The wet bar is an area of your home designed for enjoyment, and it makes perfect sense to have a bit of fun when designing it. Glass cabinets, sometimes with antique mirror backing will show off your glassware. You can use wallpaper because you don’t have to worry too much about the backsplash. The wet bar is a perfect place for a really pretty faucet or the hammered copper sink you love but that isn’t practical for a higher use area. Think of it like a powder room. You can have a little bit more fun.

    If you’re thinking of remodeling your kitchen or family room and possibly adding a wet bar, you can set up a time to talk to with one of our Normandy Designers about your needs. The Normandy Remodeling photo galleries are a good place to start if you are looking for ideas. We share our favorite projects, plus behind the scenes tips and tricks on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest. You are always invited to follow along with our feeds.

    Rustic bar

    Hidden Mudroom Cabinets

    Posted on by normandy

    The paradox of building storage and organization into your project is that if you do it right, no one will notice. This is especially true in the mudroom where concealing the clutter means everything has its place, but no one needs to see every last backpack and cleat.

    That’s the beauty of the hidden mudroom, which can take shape a couple of different ways. Normandy Designer Leslie Lee tucked a mudroom under the stairwell for a La Grange family as a part of their kitchen remodel. mudroom cubbies along stairs to the basement“It seemed like they didn’t have room for a mudroom, but we figured a way. We took out a wall between the entrance to the garage and the kitchen,” says Leslie.

    Bags and keys stay organized and unless you know it’s there, you’d never realize that there’s a small mudroom in this formerly unused space.

    “Making the most of difficult areas is an excellent way to get the organizational space that everyone wants these days,” says Leslie.

    Hidden mudroom storage in the laundry room

    When you can’t carve out space, you can still create a mudroom that will keep you discreetly organized. You’ll need a bit of space in the kitchen, garage or hallway for cabinets that keep gear ready to go and out of sight. You and your designer can determine if it’s possible to convert existing cabinets by adding hooks and partitions. It’s more likely that your new cabinet order will include specialty storage with built-in separation, shelves and even drawers for organizing.

    Mudroom cabinets near the back door in the kitchen

    “As we spend more time at home, families are exploring more ways to keep day to day necessities out of the eye line. Hiding things in a concealed cabinet creates a sense of calm,” says Leslie.

    If you are thinking of remodeling your kitchen and maybe even creating a hidden mudroom of your own, set up a time to talk to Leslie about all your storage needs. The Normandy Remodeling photo galleries are filled with inspiration. You can always follow along with us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.

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