A great bar counter is high on my wishlist for my “someday” kitchen – I love the informal comfort of perching on a stool and having breakfast or a snack in the kitchen itself (I grew up in a home with a galley kitchen and separate breakfast room, and now my kitchen’s too small for an eating area). But what I really love is that while it’s part of your kitchen, the bar area is so much more fun to set up and decorate – you don’t need to focus as much on the functionality and can find beautiful and decorative pieces rather than practical ones!

Sinks, for example. Your kitchen sink needs to be sensible and efficient, with your habits and routines heavily influencing your choice. A bar sink, on the other hand, acts as more of an ornamental piece, so you can play with materials, textures, shapes, and sizes, like these unusual beauties:

(Because what could be better for a bar than a martini sink?!)

Bar faucets are fun too – you get to pick a style and finish that you love without having to think about dishwashing capabilities.

I love pendant lights, and they really enhance the look (and the function!) of a bar counter.

Pendants should hang between 40″ and 43″ above the countertop.

And I can’t even get into bar stools now – there are too many to list! (I’ll save it for another time.)

Some of our loyal Quality Bath customers have sent us pictures of their gorgeous bar areas.