No Bar
We have been told by several people: You Can't Sell A House In Southeast Louisiana If It Doesn't Have A Bar. We had a pretty lame bar in our den/family room. A sink, and a black countertop, and mirror tiles with gold swirls and gold metal shelf brackets holding glass shelves. A cabinet face on the front. We piled stuff on in and put junk in the cupboards.
We have talked several times about getting rid of the bar, but were always told You Can't Sell A House In Southeast Louisiana If It Doesn't Have A Bar. When we returned, we decided: tough. We are getting new carpet. We are painting. We may get the sunken floor raised to make better use of the breakfast room. With all these other changes we're making, it's stupid to keep the bar because people tell us we have to have one. We are practicing Mormons, fer cryin' out loud. We don't need a stupid bar! Especially an ugly one!
On the other side of the bar was a too-small closet in a spare bedroom that we are going to use as our home office. That closet is now a spacious walk-in with space to hang clothes and room for 24 medium-sized moving boxes without using the space in front of the shelves. And we've recovered about 18 sf of floor space in the den/family room that was in front of the bar that we never used, because it was in front of the bar.
So, we now have a bigger closet AND more room in our living area, because we took out a wet bar that we never used.
We rearranged the furniture and now we have quite a bit of room to work with. I'm not sure how we'll use the extra space. We've thought of moving a little desk into the room for Little Boy's computer. With the new furniture placement, the sitting area is a nicer setup. The focal point for the room is our fireplace, and the conversation space is more intimate, but without feeling cramped. Before, we really didn't have a focal point. It's also somewhat off-balance now. I'm trying to overcome my obsession with symmetry.
I guess we'll find out if all those people were right if we try to sell the house.
We have talked several times about getting rid of the bar, but were always told You Can't Sell A House In Southeast Louisiana If It Doesn't Have A Bar. When we returned, we decided: tough. We are getting new carpet. We are painting. We may get the sunken floor raised to make better use of the breakfast room. With all these other changes we're making, it's stupid to keep the bar because people tell us we have to have one. We are practicing Mormons, fer cryin' out loud. We don't need a stupid bar! Especially an ugly one!
On the other side of the bar was a too-small closet in a spare bedroom that we are going to use as our home office. That closet is now a spacious walk-in with space to hang clothes and room for 24 medium-sized moving boxes without using the space in front of the shelves. And we've recovered about 18 sf of floor space in the den/family room that was in front of the bar that we never used, because it was in front of the bar.
So, we now have a bigger closet AND more room in our living area, because we took out a wet bar that we never used.
We rearranged the furniture and now we have quite a bit of room to work with. I'm not sure how we'll use the extra space. We've thought of moving a little desk into the room for Little Boy's computer. With the new furniture placement, the sitting area is a nicer setup. The focal point for the room is our fireplace, and the conversation space is more intimate, but without feeling cramped. Before, we really didn't have a focal point. It's also somewhat off-balance now. I'm trying to overcome my obsession with symmetry.
I guess we'll find out if all those people were right if we try to sell the house.
6 Comments:
Well, I guess you'll just have to stay in Louisiana FOREVER.
Every house in our development, built circa '84, had a bar. Anybody in our neighborhood who has remodeled, as remodeled the bars out of their space. I think they're a grotesque reminder of the swingin' 70s -- sort of like framing black velvet Elvis art in your livingroom.
I think if people have a stock of hard liquor or wine, it's tacky to have a shrine like a bar in your main living space. Liquor should be stored discretely and tastefully out of the way.
I say, good on ya, mate.
And that's my House Diva advice for a whole year.
I am curious, Ann. How is the symmetry off? I am wondering if there isn't a decorating solution that might restore the sense of symmetry.
It's hard to describe. I may have to draw a picture. The fireplace in the room is in a corner, and it cut's that corner off. The TV is in the corner adjacent to the fireplace. The sofa faces the fireplace and the loveseat faces the TV. There is a large empty space at one end of the room.
All of the furniture is on the diagonal.
I actually like the asymmetry. I am usually a very symmetrical sort of person; I'm trying to get over that and learn to love the off-kilter.
Ah, Just Me, you are talking about a REAL bar - with places to sit! Our bar had no such thing. Just a sink and cabinets. It sat against the wall in the corner.
"I actually like the asymmetry."
You can't cut down a symm tree.
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