Happy Hour

Once confined to small dark rooms filled with masculine memorabilia, cocktail bars are now the focus of entertaining areas with decor that complements the rest of the house

- Candice Botha, Jo Trappitt And Natalie Boruvka

NATURAL CHIC

This striking bar, in Yzerfontein in the Cape, was inspired by one that the owners had seen on a trip to the Maldives. As a traditional bulkhead fitted with down lights would have overpowered the low Caesarstone counter, decorator Salomé Knijnenburg of Salomé Interiors designed one with wooden slats from which a group of pendant lights from Weylandts were suspended. To complete the contemporary look, the wall at the back was clad with mirror framed by grey ducoed panelling, and they chose low wooden stools, also from Weylandts.

MEETING POINT

“As the bar is situated between our kitchen and entertaining area, it’s a natural gathering place where guests can be in the middle of the action,” say Ashley and Hagop Jaghlassian, who often entertain a crowd. To fit in with the modern look of their Centurion home, the bar was clad in glossy black subway tiles from Lime Green Sourcing Solutions and combined with comfortable bar stools from The Grand Living. The pendant lights can be dimmed to create an intimate atmosphere in the evening.

COUNTER OFFER

Situated at one end of the veranda of a colonial home in Durban, this bar was updated with a coat of white paint and a new Caesarstone countertop. To highlight its new, crisp character, decorator Marian Nazar clad the wall with timber panelling and backed the shelving with mirror.