If designing a bar area conjures images of polished wood and brass fittings, think again. Manufacturers including Walker Zanger and Wilsonart noted a trend toward menswear-inspired patterns and styles during the 2015 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show. We took the hint and rounded up six products for a well-tailored bar area that just begs you to loosen that necktie.
Cool Coal
As part of its Live Your Moment collection designed to inspire and empower, Dutch Boy named Coal Blue its 2015 Color of the Year for its confident intensity. We think it makes the perfect steely backdrop to this clean-cut back bar. dutchboy.com.
Metallic Touch
Add KitchenCraft's new aluminum-framed doors to dark wood cabinets for a sleek look. From thin to wide, a range of profiles are available to pair with clear, frosted, patterned, or painted glass inserts. kitchencraft.com.
Vintage Electric
Progress Lighting's Swing collection includes a five-light chandelier and a three-light close-to-ceiling fixture, but this six-light linear frame design lends a mechanical feel to our menswear roundup. Brass accents and steel cables evoke crafted strength, and the long, narrow design fits perfectly over an island or bar. progresslighting.com.
On the Rocks
What would a bar be without the right appliances? True introduces its 15-inch Clear Ice Machine, which can store 28 pounds of ice at a time, and produce and impressive 70 pounds of ice per day for heavy entertaining. All this while using less water and energy than other clear ice machines, thanks to its Energy Star certification. true-residential.com.
Hello, Gentlemen
Wood-patterned porcelain tile with marble accents in gray, white, and black tones comprise the dapper designs of Walker Zanger's Sterling Row collection. Inspired by suit fabrics and other menswear staples, geometric patterns in the collection include Tuxedo (shown), Houndstooth, Argyle, Wingtip, and more. The tiles are suitable for all surfaces. walkerzanger.com.
Quartz Quartet
Known for maximizing imaging technology in laminates, Wilsonart is adding stone surfaces to its product line. Twenty-one Wilsonart Quartz patterns are currently available, with another 29 forthcoming. The 50-pattern collection will break down into four categories based on texture and structure of the material: Fine & Small Scale, Medium Scale, Large Scale, and Veining & Movement. wilsonart.com.
