Basement bar in a Des Plaines house
In a basement, the location of the main stack and floor drain usually decides where a wet bar can go.
Serving Des Plaines & nearby Mount Prospect, Park Ridge
Home Bars & Coffee Stations in Des Plaines, IL
Built-in wet bars, dry bars and coffee stations for Des Plaines kitchens, dining rooms and basements.
- Local crews working in Des Plaines ZIP 60016, 60018
- Design, permits and every trade on one schedule
- A written, itemized estimate before any work
Home bar and coffee station problems we solve in Des Plaines
A home bar or coffee station is a small project with a lot packed in: cabinets, a counter, sometimes a sink, a beverage fridge or an ice maker, each with its own power, water and clearance needs. We build them in Des Plaines kitchens, dining rooms and basements, with plumbing done by a licensed plumber when there is a sink.
Not enough outlets or breakers tripping
Running a coffee machine and a kettle on one outlet often trips the breaker. A properly planned circuit fixes that.
Plumbed espresso machine and filtered water
Coffee tastes better with filtered water, and a plumbed machine never runs dry. We plan the line and filter location.
Ice maker that needs a drain
We check the ice maker's requirements for water, drain and power early, since they set where it can sit.
Glassware and bottles with no home
We plan storage around what you actually keep: stemware, bottles, mixers, mugs or tea.
Dark corner with no lighting
Lighting is planned with the electrical work so wiring is hidden inside the cabinets and walls.
Unused dining room or hallway wall
Even a small wall can become a useful bar or coffee spot with the right depth and storage.
Wet bar or dry bar?
The difference is the sink. If plumbing is close, a wet bar is often practical; if not, a dry bar with a beverage fridge covers most needs.
Everything in a home bar or coffee station
- Visit and planningWe look at the location, measure and check where water, drain and power are.
- Design and appliance selectionWe lay out cabinets, counter, sink and appliances using each appliance's installation specs.
- Permits where requiredPlumbing and electrical work may need permits; we handle them.
- Plumbing rough-inFor a wet bar, a licensed plumber runs supply lines and the drain with proper venting.
- Countertop and sinkWe install the top and the sink, then make the final connections.
- Appliances and finishingAppliances go in last, followed by trim, hardware and lights.
- Test and handoverEvery connection is checked before we show you around.
Materials and options
Quartz, stone and wood topsHard-wearing stone or quartz tops, or a sealed wood top where water use is light.
Under-counter ice makersBuilt-in ice makers with water and drain connections.
Cabinet styles to matchWe match the cabinet look to the room, from modern slab to traditional paneled.
Beverage fridges and wine coolersBuilt-in rated under-counter units with front ventilation for cabinet installs.
Bar sinks and faucetsCompact stainless or composite bar sinks with a faucet sized to the basin.
Kitchens like yours in Des Plaines: before and after
Before
AfterA Des Plaines 1950s ranch: before and after
The site: a 1950s ranch in Des Plaines. The reason for the call: nowhere to keep glassware and drinks. Finished kitchen: a built-in wet bar with base cabinets, a beverage fridge, open shelves and a small bar sink. On site this meant visit and planning, design and appliance selection, plus permits where required.
Before
AfterA Mount Prospect postwar Cape Cod: before and after
A postwar Cape Cod in Mount Prospect, a typical kitchen for Mount Prospect. The reason for the call: coffee gear crowding the kitchen counter. After: a built-in wet bar with base cabinets, a beverage fridge, open shelves and a small bar sink. The job covered visit and planning, permits where required, plus test and handover.
Home Bars & Coffee Stations in Mount Prospect →
Before
AfterA Park Ridge postwar Cape Cod: before and after
This one is a postwar Cape Cod in Park Ridge. What bothered the owners most: wanting a place to entertain downstairs. Finished kitchen: a built-in wet bar with base cabinets, a beverage fridge, open shelves and a small bar sink. On site this meant plumbing rough-in, appliances and finishing, plus test and handover.
Home Bars & Coffee Stations in Park Ridge →
Before
AfterA Des Plaines 1960s ranch: before and after
Finished: cabinets in light butter yellow with satin brass pulls, creamy quartzite-look quartz counters, a green zellige-look tile backsplash, warm oak luxury vinyl plank flooring and a flush drum fixture and under-cabinet lights.
Kitchen Remodeling in Des Plaines →
Before
AfterKitchen Cabinet Painting in a postwar bi-level, Des Plaines
What changed: the same doors sprayed in pale sage, new polished nickel pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Des Plaines →How your home bar or coffee station goes
- Tell us what you wantA few pictures and your must-haves help us plan the visit.
- Visit and designOn site we confirm what fits and where water and power come from.
- Written estimateWe put everything in writing before work starts.
- Build and connectRough-ins, cabinets, top and appliances, with inspections where required.
Home Bars & Coffee Stations questions from Des Plaines homeowners
Do I need a permit for a wet bar?
Adding plumbing or new circuits usually requires a permit. We check the Des Plaines rules and handle them.
Does an ice maker need a drain?
Many under-counter ice makers do, and some need a drain pump. We check the model's requirements first.
Does a beverage fridge need ventilation?
We follow the installation specs for clearance so the fridge runs properly.
How long does it take to build a home bar?
Simple builds go quickly; adding plumbing, permits and stone tops adds time.
How much does a home bar cost?
We price after seeing the space, since a coffee nook and a full basement wet bar are very different jobs.
What does Des Plaines ask for on electrical work?
Electricians need a City contractor license and fees plus an Electrical Test Certificate. New circuits and wiring are done by licensed electricians.
Des Plaines building permit for home bar or coffee station: where do I apply?
Permits go through Community and Economic Development Department - Building Division, phone 847-391-5380. When your scope needs one, we prepare the application and schedule the inspections.
Does Des Plaines require a licensed plumber for home bar or coffee station?
Plumbers need a State of Illinois license; no City fees. Our plumbing connections are made by licensed plumbers.
Do I need a Des Plaines-registered contractor for home bar or coffee station?
Contractors must register with the City (via the online portal); registrations expire Dec 31. We take care of that before work starts.
Do I need a permit for home bar or coffee station in Des Plaines?
It depends on the scope. Des Plaines's rule in short: A building permit is required for any residential kitchen remodel; non-structural work uses the Kitchen/Bath Non-Structural permit ($150 fee, rough and final inspections). We handle the permit when one is needed with Community and Economic Development Department - Building Division.
Do you work in my part of Des Plaines?
Yes. Our crews work across Des Plaines — ZIP 60016, 60018 — and nearby Mount Prospect, Park Ridge, Elk Grove Village.
Working in Des Plaines
- A lot of Des Plaines kitchens date from the 1960s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Des Plaines homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- We know how Community and Economic Development Department - Building Division handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60016ZIP 60018
Home Bars & Coffee Stations nearby
Other kitchen services in Des Plaines
Kitchen RemodelingFull kitchen remodels, from layout to last cabinet pull.
Kitchen Cabinet PaintingFactory-smooth painted cabinets without replacing them.
Cabinet RefacingNew doors and fronts on your existing cabinet boxes.
Countertop Fabrication & InstallationQuartz, granite and butcher block, templated and installed.
Kitchen Backsplash InstallationTile backsplashes with clean lines and flush outlets.