Coffee station or bar in a condo
Adding a coffee station in a condo is often a cabinet and electrical job, which keeps approvals simple.
Serving Evanston & nearby Skokie, Glenview
Home Bars & Coffee Stations in Evanston, IL
Built-in wet bars, dry bars and coffee stations for Evanston kitchens, dining rooms and basements.
- Local crews working in Evanston ZIP 60201, 60202, 60208
- Design, permits and every trade on one schedule
- A written, itemized estimate before any work
Home bar and coffee station problems we solve in Evanston
We design and build coffee stations and home bars in Evanston: cabinetry, countertops, open shelves and lighting, plus the plumbing and electrical that a sink, plumbed espresso machine or ice maker requires. You get one crew managing the whole build.
Ice maker that needs a drain
Many under-counter ice makers need a water line and a drain, sometimes a drain pump. We plan both before the cabinets go in.
Bar that doesn't match the house
From a sleek coffee nook to a classic paneled bar, we match the style of your kitchen or basement.
Plumbed espresso machine and filtered water
A plumbed-in espresso machine needs a water line, often with a filter, and sometimes a drain. We run the line and leave access to the shutoff and filter.
Not enough outlets or breakers tripping
We check the appliance requirements and have the right circuits and GFCI-protected outlets installed near the counter and sink.
Bar seating and counter height
A bar with seating needs room behind the stools to walk. We check clearances before building.
Glassware and bottles with no home
Open shelves show off glassware, and drawers and doors hide the rest.
Beverage fridge overheating or failing
We size the cabinet opening to the fridge's installation instructions so it can breathe.
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 selectionYou choose the style and appliances, and we plan cut-outs and clearances.
- Permits where requiredPlumbing and electrical work may need permits; we handle them.
- Plumbing rough-inWater and drain lines go in before the cabinets, done by a licensed plumber.
- Cabinet installationWe set the cabinets, with openings sized for the fridge or ice maker.
- Countertop and sinkThe counter is templated and installed, with the bar sink and faucet set.
- Appliances and finishingAppliances go in last, followed by trim, hardware and lights.
Choices you'll make
Bar sinks and faucetsCompact stainless or composite bar sinks with a faucet sized to the basin.
Under-counter ice makersBuilt-in ice makers with water and drain connections.
Cabinet styles to matchShaker, flat-panel or raised-panel doors in paint or stain to match the house.
Glass-front doors and open shelvingGlass doors, open shelves and wine racks for display.
Beverage fridges and wine coolersBuilt-in rated under-counter units with front ventilation for cabinet installs.
Before and after: kitchens near Evanston
Before
AfterAn Evanston prewar brick bungalow: before and after
This one is a prewar brick bungalow in Evanston. The main complaint was nowhere to keep glassware and drinks. After: 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 countertop and sink.
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1960s ranch in Skokie
This one is a 1960s ranch in Skokie. The main complaint was wanting a place to entertain downstairs. After: 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, cabinet installation, plus countertop and sink.
Home Bars & Coffee Stations in Skokie →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a postwar bi-level in Glenview
This one is a postwar bi-level near The Grove. The reason for the call: wanting a place to entertain downstairs. The result: a built-in wet bar with base cabinets, a beverage fridge, open shelves and a small bar sink. Work included visit and planning, design and appliance selection, plus countertop and sink.
Home Bars & Coffee Stations in Glenview →
Before
AfterAn Evanston 1920s bungalow: before and after
Finished: soft sage-green inset-style cabinets with unlacquered brass hardware, honed white marble-look quartz counters, a white handmade-look square tile backsplash, restored oak strip floor and schoolhouse pendant lights.
Kitchen Remodeling in Evanston →
Before
AfterKitchen Cabinet Painting in a brick bungalow from the 1920s, Evanston
What changed: the same doors sprayed in soft white, new matte black pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Evanston →From first visit to final walk-through
- 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 Evanston homeowners
What is the difference between a wet bar and a dry bar?
A wet bar has a sink with running water and a drain. A dry bar has no sink; it is cabinets, counter and storage, sometimes with a fridge.
Does a built-in bar add value?
Buyers tend to like well-built, built-in features more than freestanding furniture. We can't promise resale value.
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.
Can I add a wet bar to my basement?
Often yes. We look at drain options first; if they are limited, a pump or a dry bar may be the answer.
Does a beverage fridge need ventilation?
We follow the installation specs for clearance so the fridge runs properly.
Do I need a Evanston-registered contractor for home bar or coffee station?
All contractors working in city limits must register with the City; annual fee General Contractor $150, Trade Contractor $125. We take care of that before work starts.
What does Evanston ask for on electrical work?
Electrical contractors must register and submit a copy of an electrical license from a testing municipality (or state license if state-regulated). Electrician must be on site for electrical rough inspections. New circuits and wiring are done by licensed electricians.
Evanston plumbing code: who can do the plumbing for home bar or coffee station?
No separate plumbing license listing on the registration page; hired plumbing contractors must provide proof of licensure and attend inspections. Our plumbing connections are made by licensed plumbers.
Do Evanston condo associations need to approve home bar or coffee station?
Associations usually set rules for work hours, elevators, deliveries and insurance, and many require approval for plumbing, electrical or structural changes. We provide the certificate of insurance and follow the building's rules.
Evanston building permit for home bar or coffee station: where do I apply?
Permits go through Community Development Department, Building & Development Services (Building & Inspection Services), phone (847) 448-4311. When your scope needs one, we prepare the application and schedule the inspections.
Do I need a permit for home bar or coffee station in Evanston?
It depends on the scope. Evanston's rule in short: Residential permit applications go through the Citizen Portal; City worksheets signed by the contractors are required for any electrical, plumbing or HVAC work. We handle the permit when one is needed with Community Development Department, Building & Development Services (Building & Inspection Services).
Do you work in my part of Evanston?
Yes. Our crews work across Evanston — ZIP 60201, 60202, 60208 — and nearby Skokie, Glenview, Park Ridge.
Working in Evanston
- Most Evanston homes are prewar. We work around plaster walls, radiators and out-of-square rooms every week.
- Condo or townhome? We follow association rules on work hours and elevators and bring the insurance certificate your board asks for.
- Live in a historic district? Interior kitchen work is usually not reviewed. We check before anything touches the exterior.
ZIP 60201ZIP 60202ZIP 60208
Home Bars & Coffee Stations nearby
Other kitchen services in Evanston
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.