Do you want to join mixology? Do you like to host Soir? Do you have a small corner in your kitchen? The home driver may just not have known you didn’t need it. More than just an elevated bar cart, the driver can also serve as a personal shelter or gathering spot for your next party. Whether you’re considering adding a driver to your home in Scranton, PA or remodeling your Albany home, this article is equipped with the best answers for the home aesthetics and some home driver ideas.
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What is a driver?
Home drivers are dedicated locations in the home for preparing, making and serving drinks. Dry bars are usually inside or near the kitchen, and what makes them “dry” is the lack of running water or running water. Drivers usually include shelves and cabinets, countertops, liquids (alcohol and non-alcoholic spirits, mixers, etc.), tools, glassware, and sometimes minifridges or wine racks.
Driver design ideas
If you’re thinking about adding drivers to your home, check out these ideas before you start building.
1. Choose the correct height
First, you need to determine the height of the driver. Measuring the space and thinking about using the driver will help you determine the perfect height for you.
“Whether you’re building a bar or installing pre-built options, having the right bar height, counter height and stool height will allow you to mix your drinks with both confidence and comfort. You also feel like your guests are in a real bar. Getting the height accurately is “the easiest way to make your guests (and themselves) feel comfortable and enjoy the experience, as it can make you feel anxious when it’s off,” continues Brian.
2. Have fun with patterned tiles
“Designing a dry bar is a great opportunity to be bold,” says Josh Turgut, designer at My Kitchen and Bath, “I like to treat it like a small jewel box.” His suggestion? Pattern tiles. “Introducing patterned tiles is a great way to add style and boost your driver. Whether you choose a geometric look or Morocco-inspired one, don’t be embarrassed to add talent with fun backsplashes and floors.
3. Store and display on a floating shelf
One of the best driver ideas is to add a floating shelf. Are you supposed to store all your bottles and glassware? Tanuj Shroff, managing director of Sink Boutique, suggests “incorporating a floating shelf with subtle lighting to display your favorite spirit and barware.”
It’s more than just an accessible storage solution, allowing it to have a clean, modern look while providing space for decoration “together with finishes that complement the existing style of the home for a seamless and luxurious feel.”
4. Continue to organize with hidden storage
Open shelving is aesthetically pleasing, but may not be enough for all items. “Equally important is to add hidden storage under the bar to keep things organized. If you’re feeling something flashy, it’s great for storing extra glasses, tools, or built-in ice,” suggests Ben Goodwin, blogger at Rusty Bartender.
5. Add a wine fridge
Derrick Radford, owner of Indianapolis-based custom table making and accent wall business Radford Woodworks, said: The driver does not have a sink (for ice) so a wine fridge can add the convenience you need for both personal enjoyment and hosting purposes, not to mention a touch of luxury.
6. Choose a vintage
Whether you’re designing your driver from scratch or not, consider taking inspiration from the past. For example, “There are a lot of “unboxed” ideas of such sophisticated forms of drivers from the Art Deco era and modern mid-century designs,” says Andrew Silla, owner of Fine Antique Store Silla. “It can not only provide a lot of personality along with functional and clever designs, but it can also be a strike point and a conversation piece in the room,” adds Andrew.
7. Rely on AI
If vintage isn’t your style, another great driver idea is to bring your stuff to the 21st century with robots. “We will focus on both functionality and personality, implement audio activation technology like Barbot to bring the bar to life and impress guests with custom cocktails.
8. Mixed materials and natural elements
Regardless of your home’s aesthetic, choose to “introduce natural elements such as plants to add vibrant freshness to your dry bars.” Also consider “adding warm materials such as wood or brass to create a sophisticated and cozy atmosphere.” This combination of textures brings much-needed lifestyle and style to the bar space, and helps to enhance the aesthetics of both rustic and modern designs in particular.
9. Add a personalized touch to your driver
One of our favorite driver ideas is to add your own personal talent. Whether it’s in the form of monogram glasses, a framed cocktail recipe, a travel souvenir, or Smithky, the decoration options are truly endless. If you want something bigger that you can see from afar, choose a novelty string light or a larger art print. Both are highly customizable. Adding a personal touch, whether small or large, it really creates it by tying all the driver elements together.
Driver stocking ideas
Now that we’ve designed the driver for our dreams, let’s stock it now. See below for top 3 stocking tips.
10. Use the required driver tools
“The foundation for any great home bar is the right toolset. Quality makes all the difference,” says Jackie Mallory, senior manager at Drinkware Brand Viski. If you don’t have the tools, we recommend starting with the essentials: a “shaker, double-sided jigger, a Hawthorn strainer, and a mixing glass for a stirring cocktail.” For additional tools, I suggest “mudlers for fresh herbs, bar spoons for layers, and fully crushed ice Lewis ice bags.” Even if you’re just starting out, “putting the right tools on your fingertips and even a small driver will be a high-speed destination for home mixology,” Jackie says.
Photo courtesy of Visky
11. Choose unique glass products
“Don’t underestimate the power of beautiful glassware and set the tone,” recalls Emma Ros, marketing manager at Orrefors. Beyond functionality, aesthetic glassware can help you set the tone of your driver by adding color, texture and personality. For example, “You can display your glasses on an open shelf with integrated lights to emphasize the crystal’s glow and turn the bar into an outstanding design feature that is always ready to enjoy,” says Emma.
12. I’ll get some alcohol
With the right tools and ships in hand, it’s time to get the materials. If you are drinking alcohol, get a variety of spirits, such as vodka, gin, rum, and tequila along with liqueurs such as triple sections, amaretto, and bitterness.
Stock mixers for both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, including tonics, soda, ginger beer, fresh juices and more. Finally, don’t forget to decorate herbs like citrus, olives, mint and basil. Whether you’re craving a classic cocktail or try a new recipe for a non-alcoholic friend, no matter what the opportunity, you’ll definitely have all the ingredients you need.
Is a driver suitable for your home?
Unfortunately, we cannot answer that question for you, but we recommend thinking about your space. If you enjoy a lot, have an extra room and want to increase the value of your home, adding a dry bar might be an addition for you.
Kaitlyn Parness from Collect, like Kaitlyn, has a corner in her dining room, and is the perfect place for a driver, and asked for it. “Our home was a few years old too, so we were able to work with the builders to easily source cabinets and countertops to suit our kitchen,” she adds.
What is the difference between a wet bar and a driver?
The key difference is that wet bars contain running water sinks that require plumbing equipment that can add cost and complexity. Woodnluxury, an Italian furniture store based in Charlotte, says that wet bars may be impossible or unavailable in every home and every home, “an accessory-like ice bin, stuffed sink, or portable sink may still hold ice, make your beer cold, or have empty, unused drinks.”
How much does it cost to add a driver?
“A driver can be placed in almost every area of the home without breaking the bank, without the need for expensive plumbing hookups and without many major modifications,” which is a great way to expand the interesting space of your home without breaking the bank.” Adding a driver is relatively inexpensive, depending on the choice of cabinets, countertops and backsplashes. Costs vary depending on whether you choose DIY a bar, hire a contractor, or choose a high-end one, but you can expect prices in the $1,500-$4,000 range.
