When hosting friends and family in your home, there are a few non-negotiables – comfortable seating and somewhere to set food and drinks rank near the top of the list. But if you're really looking to upgrade your gathering game, a stylish home bar is a must-have investment. Whether you create a small nook within your kitchen or opt for a bespoke built-in, a home bar is the ultimate hosting hub.
In Studio McGee's latest project reveal, a Park City mountainside retreat, a bold, impactful home bar takes center stage in the living room. While the space itself is a gorgeous meld of eclectic style and classic Shea McGee charm, the color-blocking-inspired home bar is a stunning source of design inspiration.
Luckily, Shea recently took to YouTube to share an in-depth look into the space, revealing the design decisions that went into the final reveal. Here's what Shea had to say about the living room and eye-catching home bar.
Inside the Summit Estate living room
Shea shares that her clients had a vision for this Park City vacation home – though they love Studio McGee's style, it had to be unlike anything the firm had designed before. And in the final reveal, their characterful, eclectic style blends beautifully with Shea's signature modern rustic look. The living room is perhaps the best example of this transitional (yet slightly whimsical) blend done right, aided by show-stopping outdoor views beyond every floor-to-ceiling window.
'In the living room, the first thing you see is the view,' Shea says in the video. 'It's just gorgeous everywhere you turn. So it was important when we were developing a seating arrangement to allow the seating to not only cozy up by this double-sided fireplace, but also so everyone could appreciate the views and then hang out together.'
A floating, double-sided fireplace clad in natural stone brings warmth and nature-inspired charm, contrasting with the home's modern, black-framed windows. And the seating area, grounded by a vintage area rug (as seen in the home's entryway), allows the whole family to gather in one central location.
With loads of seating options, from a comfort-forward couch to two matching ottomans, it's a welcoming, homey living room that still feels elegant and chic. Much of the living room design process, says Shea, was creating walkways around the furniture and to and from the folding glass doors leading outside.
'We worked through quite a few different arrangements, and the way it landed, it feels like it was always meant to be this way – but it took us a few iterations on the drawings to get the plans to just feel natural,' says Shea. ' I think that part of the decision-making process was incorporating selections that had curve to them so that everything didn't feel so blocky – especially with all of these huge, rectangular door systems and windows that we have throughout.'
The centerpiece of the room is a wavy, organic-shaped coffee table, styled in true Shea McGee fashion. The combination of its trendy shape and natural wood finish make it a timely yet timeless addition to the space.
Every finish in this space was intentional, meant to connect each of the sprawling home's rooms to a centralized design scheme while also making reference to the great outdoors. In the living room, a wood-stained ceiling and directional overhead lighting does the job.
In the corner of the living room, the home bar (complete with a bistro-style seating arrangement) steals the show. Statement brick backsplash is painted with a glossy coat of Barista by Benjamin Moore, a 'sumptuous dark brown with a touch of violet.' Meanwhile, the surrounding cabinetry and an accent wall are painted in Stonecutter by Benjamin Moore, a cooler, serene blue. The combination makes a striking statement, and provides the perfect hangout space within the larger living room.
'Believe it or not, this is not the only bar in the home,' says Shea. 'This is bar number one, and it opens up to the living room for the ultimate entertaining, hang out space for our clients. We were inspired by a color-blocking effect. And then one of my favorite parts is these English taps and then a copper sink.'
'There was some debate over whether or not to do a bar here, and we felt like, "Wow, that's a lot of counter stools between the living room and then the kitchen right behind us,"' continues Shea. 'So we opted to do a bistro table and swivel chairs, and then just have this be a bar counter.'
Get the look
This mountainside home has a wide array of outstanding design moments, and this moody home bar is one of the best. Nestled inside a warm and welcoming living room (complete with awe-inspiring views), it's the perfect everyday getaway.
