I recently took on a garage makeover as a gift to my father. He’s a Harley-Davidson enthusiast and loves to ride motorcycles. One thing he also enjoys is to have a little area to hang out in the garage after a long ride. That being said, I decided to build a freestanding dry bar to go along with this garage transformation. The main goals here were to be able to build it quickly and relatively inexpensively but also have it look good and seat 6 people comfortably. We ended up building it in about 2 days of off and on building and spent about $750 on it. It could be done for less or a lot more depending on the materials that you choose.
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Tools
Materials
- 30” Base Cabinet
- 24” Base Cabinet
- Drawer Pulls
- Trash Can
- (2) 3/4” x 4’ x 8’ Plywood Sheets
- (8) 2 x 4 x 8’ Studs
- 1 x 2 x 8’ Board (Trim)
- (5) 1 x 3 x 8’ Board (Trim)
- 1 x 4 x 8’ Board (Toe Kick)
- 1 x 6 x 8’ Board (Trim)
- (10) 1 x 6 x 8’ Boards (Cladding)
- I used shiplap here
- 8’ of Outside Corner Molding
- 16’ of Window Casing (Rounded)
- 32 ft2 Laminate or Vinyl Flooring
- Flooring Adhesive
- 3” Wood Screws
- 1-1/4” Cabinet Screws
- 1-1/2” Brad Nails or Pin Nails
- Wood Glue
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Dimensions
Time needed: 2 days
The step by step guide below will outline how to construct a freestanding dry bar.
- Layout the Cabinets
- Assemble and Attach Walls
- Install Counter and Bar Top Base
- Additional Layer to Bar Top
- Miter Corners
- Clad the Base
- Install Finished Countertop
- Install Trim on Base
- Install Trim on Counter
- Install Bar Rail
- Finishing
All the natural wood on the cabinets, trim and such were stained with ebony wood stain and clear coated with lacquer throughout the building process.
We love the way it turned out and there really isn’t anything I would do differently. If you want to learn more about the total garage makeover go check out this article. And if you want to get the specifics on the epoxy floor check that out here.
