Basement bar in a Skokie house
In a basement, the location of the main stack and floor drain usually decides where a wet bar can go.
Serving Skokie & nearby Evanston, Park Ridge
Home Bars & Coffee Stations in Skokie, IL
Built-in wet bars, dry bars and coffee stations for Skokie kitchens, dining rooms and basements.
- Local crews working in Skokie ZIP 60076, 60077, 60203
- Design, permits and every trade on one schedule
- A written, itemized estimate before any work
Home bar and coffee station problems we solve in Skokie
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 Skokie kitchens, dining rooms and basements, with plumbing done by a licensed plumber when there is a sink.
Wet bar or dry bar?
A dry bar is cabinets, a counter and storage with no sink, which makes it simpler and easier to place. A wet bar adds a sink, which needs a water supply and a drain.
Unused dining room or hallway wall
Even a small wall can become a useful bar or coffee spot with the right depth and storage.
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.
Glassware and bottles with no home
Open shelves show off glassware, and drawers and doors hide the rest.
Adding a sink where there is no plumbing
If the nearest drain is far away, we explain the options: a different location, a drain pump or a dry bar.
Ice maker that needs a drain
An ice maker is plumbing as well as an appliance. We confirm the drain type it needs and where it will go.
Beverage fridge overheating or failing
Under-counter fridges need the ventilation their maker specifies. Front-venting models are designed to be built in; others need air space around them.
Everything in a home bar or coffee station
- Visit and planningA site visit confirms the space and the nearest utility lines.
- 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.
- Electrical rough-inOutlets, dedicated circuits and lighting are wired as the appliances require.
- Countertop and sinkWe install the top and the sink, then make the final connections.
- Test and handoverEvery connection is checked before we show you around.
Materials and options
Quartz, stone and wood topsQuartz and granite resist spills; butcher block adds warmth on a dry bar or coffee station.
Water filters for coffeeAn under-sink or inline filter for a plumbed espresso machine or coffee station faucet.
Beverage fridges and wine coolersUnder-counter fridges and coolers chosen to fit and vent correctly.
Under-counter ice makersNeed a water line and usually a drain or pump, planned before the cabinets.
Glass-front doors and open shelvingGlass doors, open shelves and wine racks for display.
Home Bars & Coffee Stations before and after — Skokie homes
Before
AfterA Skokie postwar bi-level: before and after
The site: a postwar bi-level in Skokie. What bothered the owners most: coffee gear crowding the kitchen counter. The result: a built-in wet bar with base cabinets, a beverage fridge, open shelves and a small bar sink. The job covered permits where required, plumbing rough-in, plus electrical rough-in.
Before
AfterBefore and after: a prewar brick bungalow in Evanston
The site: a prewar brick bungalow in Evanston. What bothered the owners most: 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. Work included visit and planning, design and appliance selection, plus electrical rough-in.
Home Bars & Coffee Stations in Evanston →
Before
AfterHome Bars & Coffee Stations in a postwar bi-level, Glenview
A postwar bi-level near The Park, a typical kitchen for Glenview. 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. The job covered design and appliance selection, plumbing rough-in, plus test and handover.
Home Bars & Coffee Stations in Glenview →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1960s ranch in Skokie
Cabinets in light butter yellow with polished nickel pulls, black honed granite counters, a gray beveled subway tile backsplash, light oak hardwood flooring and two glass pendants and recessed lights.
Kitchen Remodeling in Skokie →
Before
AfterKitchen Cabinet Painting in a 1950s ranch, Skokie
What changed: the same doors sprayed in powder blue, new satin brass pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Skokie →The project, step by step
- Tell us what you wantSend photos of the spot and tell us whether you want a sink, fridge, ice maker or coffee machine.
- Visit and designWe measure, check utilities and present a layout and materials.
- 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 Skokie homeowners
How long does it take to build a home bar?
It depends on plumbing, the counter and cabinet lead times. We give you a schedule with the estimate.
Can I add a wet bar to my basement?
Most basements can take a wet bar, but the drain route sets the location. We check it on the first visit.
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.
Can you plumb in my espresso machine?
Yes, if the machine is designed for it. We run a water line, often with a filter, and a drain if it needs one.
Does a built-in bar add value?
It can make a finished basement or dining room more usable and appealing, but value depends on the market. We focus on building it well and to match the house.
Skokie building permit for home bar or coffee station: where do I apply?
Permits go through Community Development Department - Building & Inspection Services Division (www.skokiepermits.com), phone (847) 933-8223. When your scope needs one, we prepare the application and schedule the inspections.
Skokie contractor registration: do kitchen contractors need it?
Many contractors must be registered and insured with the Village each year; permits are not issued unless all listed contractors are registered and insured. We take care of that before work starts.
Do I need a permit for home bar or coffee station in Skokie?
It depends on the scope. Skokie's rule in short: Electrical work and plumbing or electrical system changes need a permit. We handle the permit when one is needed with Community Development Department - Building & Inspection Services Division.
Do you work in my part of Skokie?
Yes. Our crews work across Skokie — ZIP 60076, 60077, 60203 — and nearby Evanston, Park Ridge, Glenview.
Working in Skokie
- A lot of Skokie kitchens date from the 1950s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Skokie homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- We know how Community Development Department - Building & Inspection Services Division handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60076ZIP 60077ZIP 60203
Home Bars & Coffee Stations nearby
Other kitchen services in Skokie
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.