A bar.

Building a bar in your basement can be as simple or as complex as you want. I have gone with fairly simple. Basically building a freestanding counter top.

The plan is to attach it to the blackjack table on one end to create the “L”-shape. I had to add the “cut out” on one end of the bar to allow plenty of room to stand behind the blackjack table and deal without having to reach over the bar counter. It cuts out some countertop workspace, but I can live with it.

Here are the plans I drew up:

Dimensions:
42″ tall (not including padded rail)
3″ padded rail
6′ long
24″ deep counter
24″ deep bar top centered on edge of counter
12″ overhang on bar top for legroom underneath
36″ tall countertop

phase 1: build the base frame

add the countertop

added a shelf and the first layer of the bar top:

The bar top:

It is stained with a blue tinted stain, Island Waters I think is the official Minwax name of the tint.

Just to ensure that it is fitting right, I laid the bar top on the base. Also added a few more shelves, and set in the new mini fridge I got from Sears to see how it fit. It fits nice.

Since the top was on the bar, I thought I would push it together with the blackjack table and get an idea of how the whole thing fit together.

Next step was to take the entire thing apart. Fun, Fun. It was a good practice run for when I have to take the bartop off to carry the thing downstairs to the basement anyways. Got it all taken apart and painted the inside black. Then I reassembled and put the bar top back on.

I padded a 3 inch rail (pictured above) with 1″ green foam from joann fabrics and whisper vinyl. Again, that process is documented in my poker table building post, and if you need even more help, read the padded rail maker’s bible

After I got it all put together, i layed it on it’s side and upholstered the front identical to the blackjack table.

After the bar was all put together and upholstered, I made myself a Brandy Manhattan, straight up, hold the water, and toss the cherry. Tasted even better from behind my own bar.

The only thing left is a few strips of trim to be nailed on around the edge of the bar top. After that, it’s down to the basement.

[update: check out how the bar and blackjack table look now that they are moved down into the basement k2 lounge]

A blackjack table.

This layout was used in the Hard Rock Casino in Las Vegas, and for being used in casino play, it is in really good shape. A couple tiny cigarette burns in the outer edge, but that’s it. No stains, no rips.

You can see what the original light blue was like where it was folded under the chip tray, so I am going to take it into a dry cleaners and see if they can do anything with it… even if they can’t, I’m happy with it the way it is.

I’ve got plenty of ideas of what I want to do with this, including putting it as the end of a bar in the basement to have a sort of bar/blackjack combo thing, but, this will all have to wait till I finish my craps table. And after I build a toy chest/shelf for my little girl, at the request of my wife, who has been most supportive and encouraging of me in my latest obsession to create a casino in my basement.