Updating the Bar Area
We have this great area in our home between the dining room and kitchen that is perfect for entertaining- equipped with a sink and wine fridge. It’s where Jimmy makes his famous margaritas!! It’s also where our china, wine and champagne glasses are stored, along with serving platters/trays, table cloths, placemats, napkins, napkin rings, various vases, vase fillers, and candles. When we designed our home, I knew we needed extra storage in a central location for those types of things that were previously stored in various places around our townhouse. I’m so thankful for this space! Makes an organization nut like me very happy! 
(we’re still working on our wine collection- pitiful empty wine rack!) So, although the space is very functional, I wanted to liven it up a little, and figured a mirrored backsplash would be perfect. I tried looking around for a mirror or two that I could purchase but the space is just too long and skinny. I called a couple local hardware stores, but they didn’t cut mirrors. Then I remembered the awesome company that I ordered all the custom mirrors for the house from before we moved in, Cut Rite Glass, a husband and wife owned and operated company in Houston. I called Cheryl and explained what I wanted and she sent they guys out to measure the space to get a perfect measurement. About a week later, they came back and installed the mirror:) 
To make a long, boring story short, we moved the far left outlet up under the cabinet (cost $45 for the electrician to come out and do that) and had a hole cut for the far right outlet and a mirrored plate added. (I had the hole cut in the mirror before I knew that outlets could be moved fairly easily and cheaply- otherwise I would have moved both!) 
The cost of the mirror and installation (with the outlet cut and mirrored plate) was $216. It would’ve been about $170 if they didn’t have to make the cut for the outlet and provide the plate. Also, a beveled mirror would’ve been about twice as expensive. 
I love how the mirror reflects the curved staircase from this angle! 
Then we played dress-up . . . 
When the guys were over measuring the area, they admired my mirrored tray ($40 at Target) and couldn’t believe how inexpensive it was- they said for them to custom make it would cost about $400 (because of all the small, beveled pieces)! 
And what I’ve learned over the last two weeks is that outlets and thermostats can be moved people! We’re still waiting for the replacement wireless thermostat, but I can’t wait to get it off of my art wall:) 
********* I’m sharing this post with Sarah 
What a great idea! Love how the mirror reflects now.
I can't believe how great the mirrored looks. I love your dark cabinets and counters.
We have a bar in our home with the EXACT same mirrored tray on it!! I actually bought two, and the other is in our bedroom on the nightstand. I was also shocked by the price, so cheap but great quality!! LOVE how yours looks!!
It looks great!! Especially all dressed up! And your tray is fab!
I've been eyeing that tray! Love your bar.
Eshebystephanie.blogspot.com
I love the look of the mirror as a backsplash and it's perfect for a bar area. Adds just the right amount of sparkle.
You have such swoon-worthy spaces! The mirrored backsplash looks fabulous, Megan. 🙂
I stand corrected, but I believe this kind of area would be known as a "Butlers Pantry". So now go all posh on everyone 😉
I love bars in homes. It's so retro and lends itself for fun parties. WE need our husbands to have a margarita throwdown b/c our recipe from Mexico is FANTASTIC.
Looks great Megan! And that mirrored tray is to rocking it!
It looks so great Megan!! Loving all the mirrored accents!
I love the mirror. It really adds the right touch to the space.
By the way I blogged about your gorgeous jewelry storage solutions! Thanks for all the endless inspiration!
Jenny
http://roadtobliss.blogspot.com
Looks great, Megan! Good luck filling up that wine rack… It's ginormous!
Looks great! We have a similar area that needs some help…this is good inspiration!!
Oooooo! I spy Chevron straws! I would love to get my hands on those! 🙂 Looks great, girl!!
Emily Hewett
A Well Dressed Home
awelldressedhome.com/blog
that target tray is awesome! and yeah, our wine rack is kinda pitiful too :((
Such a great idea! x
This is great! A fabulous place to entertain!
oooo, that looks fabulous and so glamorous!!! so perfect for a bar area! I wanted to back my kitchen glass cabinets that face the window with mirror…but I never thought to have a piece cut?!?! I was trying to mosaic mirror tiles together. Fail. That's how i ended up with fabric back there! I can handle spray adhesive! 🙂
Love your mirror tray (have it) and blue stripey straws (have those too) 🙂
The mirrored is such an added bonus.
Mr. Goodwill Hunting
Love the straws, tray, mirror & cabinets…they are gorgeous! And now I'm craving some yummy margaritas 😉
I love your wine storage!! I want to do something like this in my storage area under the stairs!
The mirror really added a nice touch in your bar area. It's beautiful and the reflection of your curved staircase is fun. Love that staircase! Pretty mirrored tray, too!
What an awesome space! the mirror adds so much to it. And loving the hydrangeas (:
Great space update! Really glamourizes the bar area. Love that mirrored tray. Ever since I first saw your wine rack..wall.. I said I would have one of those made for our bar/butler's pantry area. It looks lovely.
This looks amazing Megan! I love the mirrored backsplash and the accessories:) So pretty!
I love it! We tiled the backsplash under what we were originally going to use as the bar area in our kitchen, but that is now where the coffee bar is, but I love the mirrored look. Love how it reflects the staircase. And, I cannot wait to see how it looks during the holidays!! That tray is awesome. Might have to find one of those.
Your new backsplash looks fantastic! Your beveled mirror tray is perfect in your liquor vignette.
I love functional spaces that are also pretty to look at! I like the addition of the mirror, and am totally digging the wine rack. As for filling it – I seem to drink the wine as fast as I buy it… 😉
This looks amazing and has encouraged me to move some of my outlets too!
Wow what a difference! I love this. It's looks great.
I love your bar area. The mirrored backsplash really makes it pop.
Your bar area looks awesome!! I never would have thought that a mirrored back splash would do that much to a space! Love it!
Looks awesome! I love the idea of mirrors as a blacksplash. A tidy bar area makes me very happy.
I had no idea that mirrored outlet covers existed! What a great solution to an unsightly problem. The new back splash makes all your accessories look amazing!
Oh my goodness that turned out gorgeous!
Paula
Great idea & i love how it turned out. Karen
wow! it looks fantastic!
Love the update, really makes a difference!! Those little straws are cute too 🙂 Ok tell Jimmy to get ready, I'm coming over for margaritas!!
Gorgeous space…..I will be right over, have my glass ready!! ; ))
Really looks great! In my Dallas neighborhood all of our electrical runs through conduits b/c of fire code. This has scared me off getting a quote to move an outlet in my sons' room (it is bad they did built ins and just cut an outlet cover that was in the way) but perhaps I should try and maybe it won't be as big of a deal as I am thinking!
Love Love Love this space!!! I so wish I had something like this in our house. Thanks for the outlet tip. I had no idea it was inexpensive & easy.
Love the mirror! But what I am most thrilled to learn is that there exist mirrored outlet covers. I have a mirrored wall in my gym with two electrical outlets with white plates that bother me whenever I look at them. Thank you for the solution. 🙂
This looks gorgeous! Adds just the right amount of glam and sparkle to make that space look elegant!
That is JUST what that space needed! It really dresses it up and gives a little bling to the area! By the way, no wonder you haven't filled up that wine rack, holy cow that thing is huge! lol
Beautiful. Great idea to add some glam. I LOVE the wine storage wall. Amazing. What time should I drop in for a glass? 😉
So beautiful! The mirror makes such a difference.
It looks gorgeous! Love that idea. And that mirrored tray is fabulous! I totally need your wine storage too! Everything looks awesome!
Lovely! I would love to do something like this in our bar area in our house!
Looks lovely! I love that mirrored tray!
xx
I'm dying over this project. It looks so amazing!
Our new house has an outlet in the middle of the entryway wall. Why do they do this? An electrician is the first task on my list! 🙂
xo,
abby
I'm loving the mirrored finish. And for the wine storage, perhaps you can keep bottles from special occasions to display on part of them. Perhaps using small manila tags to have guests sign to show who you shared the bottle with.
Love the mirror backsplash! It really makes the bar! Very fun! Loving the straws too!
Megan this Amazing!! I have to follow your steps to build my diy with bar area. I just done an article written about hanging custom made mirror.
Here is my ideas: http://dansons.tumblr.com/post/110168868898/how-to-hang-a-custom-made-mirror
Thanks
i love the design of your home! on top of that you have decorated it so beautifully! do you know who the builder was? i am trying to plan our build out and i love this bar area and your staircase area!
Hello, Can you tell me what design you used to build the Wine Rack Cross System? I am looking to duplicate it for a book library for my home.
Hi Michele, it’s a built in unit in our home that the builders created so I’m not sure how they did it.