Designer Jennifer Bunsa aims for each project to be distinct. “I like for the personality of my clients to shine through—it should really be all about them,” she explains. When the time came to renovate a residence in Weston, Connecticut, for homeowners in the food and wine industry, devoting a separate area in the house to a beautiful bar was agreed upon from the outset.
Where is the bar located in the house? The renovated room you see here is actually a connector between two historic structures that date back to 1790. It’s really the first thing you see when you walk in the front door. I wanted the shiplap to echo the exterior of the old farmhouse while the reclaimed beams nod to original wooden posts unearthed during building.
How is this spot used? Because of the homeowners’ line of work, we wanted to craft a special space for pouring beautiful wine and stirring cocktails—this is important to them. The wife also makes coffee here each morning, sits down and has a moment to herself after the children go to school. I like to think this nook provides a calming influence at any time of the day.
Talk to us about the materials. The idea was to create contrast within the room but to keep it elevated with warmer tones and textures like the charred pine cabinetry, striking marble surfaces and unlacquered brass hardware, which is used throughout the home. I worked closely with Amuneal on the design and they completely understood the vision!
Bunsa incorporated a Vola faucet, Miele coffee maker and Sub-Zero wine refrigerator into the bar space she designed with Amuneal, which features charred pine cabinetry and brass detailing. Benjamin Moore’s Simply White decorates the walls; the leather chairs are by Bassam Fellows.
A DIVE INTO THE DETAILS
Master fabricators Amuneal do it all—from creating doors and stairways to designing sleek kitchens and closets—but the brand’s sophisticated bar configurations are truly top of the line. CEO Adam Kamens discusses what goes into creating these polished vignettes.
Make the bar specific to the space. It’s common to see these areas against a wall but Jennifer Bunsa took a look at every angle in her project and created a beautiful combination with mounted, see-through shelving that incorporates the rest of the home.
Consider the finishes. Texture is very important and can actually create depth and warmth within a space. Shou sugi ban was used here, and we actually take the wood and char it, creating a very tactile effect.
Fabricate a focal point. Concealed bars used to be very popular but now people are really embracing these elegant schemes and making them an anchor of the room.
Mix up shelving. Amuneal offers open and closed storage, as shown here. Sometimes you want to hide the mess. Doors can create a nice weight, while open shelving adds airiness.
