I did exactly what I think you are talking about. I can post some pics tonight hopefully. basically, I built an L-shape wall at bar height and covered the front with drywall and then unfinished paneling. I actually installed wall cabinets inside the "L" on a stud frame just high enough to allow toe access. A base cabinet would have been too deep and too high for a bartender's working surface behind a bar. I then had countertop made for the lower and upper areas, added a chrome elbow rail, finished the cabinets and paneling. You should be able to do the same even going a little higher end than I did with materials. I have also seen it done where just the portion of the L-wall between the lower working surface and the bar surface was glass block. Don't forget to have electrical outlets. My sink is actually behind the bar on a wall instead of in the bar unit itself but I had some very challenging space and plumbing limits to deal with that dictated that.

I would like to see your pictures logicalone!

Logicalone,

I would love to see pictures.

Mark

took these too fast but you get the idea.
[IMG]http://www.photopile.com/photos/logical/garage/240360.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.photopile.com/photos/logical/garage/240359.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.photopile.com/photos/logical/garage/240358.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.photopile.com/photos/logical/garage/240357.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.photopile.com/photos/logical/garage/240356.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.photopile.com/photos/logical/garage/240361.jpg[/IMG]

I didn't do that right...lets try again

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That looks great! I hope mine turns out that good. My problem is I am not very imaginative. I have a heard time picturing how the finished progect will turn out.

Mark

Just wondering what size cabinets you used as a base? Or what the height was from floor to first counter top?counteI was goig to use standard base cabinets for my wet bar but did not think that the they would probly be to tall.

Mark

They are 24" wall cabinets set about 6" off the floor, so the lower counter is about 31" high. The bar itself is a standard bar height of 42". The trick is to work outside-in....decide on the size of the bar top, that determines the stud wall dimensions and the cabinets are set flush with the end of the short wall.

Very nice and great explaination. I assume (excluding the top counter) the overall depth is about 28.5" obtained as follows: 3.5" stud wall + 2*0.5" dry wall + 24" cabinet. With the top counter I guessing ther is a 6" over hang for the seats so the entire depth with top counter is about 34.5".
Close?

Not exactly imazman. The lower cabinets are 24 high and just a standard 12 deep. They are not set all the way against the stud wall...maybe 4 inches gap, so the lower counter is about 17 deep (w/1 inch overhang).

The upper bar top overhangs the wall about 9 inches on the seating side (plus the chrome rail) and about 4 inches on the bartenders's side, so it's about 18 inches deep. The short leg of the top is about 31 inches (17 - 4 + 18).

top view showing where wall is under bar top, thinner line is lower counter.

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How long is the bar? I would like to fit 4 chairs like yours. I am trying to figure out where the flooring should shift from the laminate under the bar to the carpet but i have to figure out how big the bar can be with my space. Thanks for the info.