It's cocktail season, people (well, at Livingetc, it's always cocktail season, tbh), so if you're ever going to bring the vibe of your favorite bar into your own home, now's the time.
And the best place to host your own domestic cocktail party? Around your kitchen island, assuming, of course, that you don't have a home bar in your living room. Hey, you can have both. Who are we to judge?
Where to start? Cast your mind's eye to your favorite speakeasy. What do you love? Is it the lighting? The elaborate drinks? The bar stools? The music? Whatever, you can recreate it at home fairly effortlessly, says Regan Baker, founder and principal of Regan Baker Design: 'Creating a cocktail bar is easy with a kitchen island because you can serve from one side and have guests sit on the other. It also becomes easier to make drinks because you have close access to the full kitchen with the sink, fridge, and other drink-making necessities only steps away!'
I've spoke to more designers to find out how they transform their kitchen islands for some high-end cocktail hosting.
1. Get the mood lighting right
Lighting in cocktail bars tends to be dim, sultry and moody. Recreate this with similar kitchen island lighting to create a glamorous glow to give it that coveted cocktail bar feel.
This doesn't mean you have to go plunging your kitchen into darkness, but turning down the lights, thinking about the kelvin measurement of lighting, and creating carefully considered pools of light.
'A bar should be a little edgy,' says Kate Marker, principal designer and owner of Kate Marker Interiors. 'Sophisticated lighting that leans more sculptural adds atmosphere…perhaps a handful of smaller pendants instead of two or three pendants, or even a statement chandelier to add presence would be a great choice for a bar!'
'For the bar experience, I would think about kitchen lighting,' says stylist Kerrie-Anne Jones. 'You want to set the scene with ambient lighting so consider turning any overhead down lights off or dim to a low light. Preferably only having on any feature kitchen pendant lighting above the kitchen counter and lamps if you have an open plan living, dining and kitchen space.'
'Lighting Is crucial,' agrees architect Paul Archer. 'Warm lighting can encourage closeness. Kitchen islands are an ideal location to add a feature light or accent colours to a scheme. We use 2500k - 2700k - basically warm white,' says Paul.
2. Curate a bar feel with perfect seating
A great way to make your kitchen island feel like a cocktail bar is to have comfortable kitchen island seating, whether bar stools or built-in benches, so your guests can settle in easily while sipping. 'There is nothing worse than a bar stool that isn't the correct height or is not comfortable to sit on, so this is a must,' says Kerrie-Ann Jones, who designed the above island space.
If you are designing your island from scratch and wanting to instigate the type of set-up where you're often at the island counter, factor this into the island design and raise the bar to make it comfortable for guests. There is nothing more discouraging than when your seats mean your legs are sat awkwardly and you can't put them under the bar. So how do you make sitting at a kitchen island more comfortable? 'I designed the island bench to be deep enough for comfortable leg space underneath and to allow enough space for eating and service area on the bench top,' says Kerrie Anne.
Don't be mean when it comes to space. 'Having plenty of surround space for people to sit at the island whilst someone prepares dinner encourages closeness,' agrees Paul. 'Have plenty of room for knees, a recess usually helps and choose the correct height of stool.' As a rule of thumb, 12” of knee space is comfortable for countertop or bar height seating
Finally, think about the color of your seat's upholstery and how it works for the wider kitchen. 'Think glamorous, moody, and decadent with luxurious velvet and jacquard upholstery and deep green to set the cocktail chic mood at home,' says award-winning interior designer, Matthew Williamson.
3. Think about the countertop
This isn't an easy step and is a bit more of commitment, but if you're dedicated to recreating the bar experience at home and are thinking more long-term, you need to think about the kitchen countertop.
'A good way to accomplish that bar feeling is to be intentional about the material used for your countertop(s) and maintain consistency with your other kitchen finishes,' says Regan Baker, principal of of Regan Baker Design. 'Any opportunity to introduce mirrors, brass, glass, and wood elements will really lend well to creating that bar vibe.'
'To transform your kitchen island into a bar-like experience, consider incorporating some key elements,' says interior design Kelly Hoppen CBE. 'Marble is currently on-trend and using a single slab or block of marble can instantly create a bold and sophisticated look.'
Another material to keep an eye out for is quartzite. Different to quartz, it can bring a really aesthetically beautiful look and really make your kitchen look more expensive. Where quartz is an engineered stone made out of stone chips, resins and pigments, quartzite is a metamorphic rock that was once sandstone. In this kitchen, the green toned island countertop really stands out. Custom designed by Matt McKay, it's made from emerald quartzite from BAS Stone for serious wow-factor in the kitchen.
Elsewhere, I love the look of curves in the kitchen, and a statement curved countertop will soften the weight and sturdiness of the countertop, making the space feel welcoming and hospitable, where pointed edges can feel harsh.
4. Draw attention with a dramatic centerpiece
Think about how you can bring decor and accessories to the space and interest to your kitchen island top with a bit of decor. Because kitchens are such busy places of high traffic, our kitchen islands so often become dumping grounds.
Keep the space controlled and clear, and for the ultimate bar transformation, add a kitchen island centerpiece. A jug of fresh flowers or a mix of single stem bud vases, a sculptural vase, or a fruit bowl you'll use to host your limes and lemons for your cocktails will elevate your island to that next step.
5. Bring glitz and glamor with a mini bar tray
Finally, buy and style a mini bar tray, placing it in the center of your kitchen island that you can add and take away come evening time. 'Set up a tray on the counter with a cocktail mixing set and liquor so guests can be part of the mixing experience, or have fun mixing it themselves,' says Kerrie-Anne.
'Kitchen accessories are a great way to then build on those key elements and add a visual pop and some personality,' says Regan Baker. 'Adding unique glassware, a brass or antique mirrored bottom tray, or an integrated/built-in cutting board for your island are easy ways to introduce elements that can complement your drink mixing tools and accessories.'
Approach your mini bar tray as you would bar cart styling. Add an array of colored or glass bottles, play with height and scale, and let ingredients like fresh lemons, limes, rosemary, cinnamon sticks and pomegranates be your decor.
'Additionally, stylish glassware can elevate the ambiance and make your guests feel like they are in a trendy bar,' says Kelly. Think delicate glasses with golden lips, a display of pretty shot glasses, and that all-important cocktail shaker.
Of course, some of these are low-lift, some of them are more investment-heavy, but if you've got hours to create your own cocktail corner, you could do worse than dim the lights, get out a stylish selection of martini glasses, light some candles that smell like cocktail hour (yup, they're a thing), and get the sounds on. A few nibbles and a bucket of ice a given, we guarantee no one will complain.
