Well, settlement is nearly here and am compiling a long list of projects that will require doing upon moving in, but near the top of the list is the building of a home bar in the 'family room' (a name that still makes me laugh).

Actually, the plan is for home cinema at one end, and a bar at the other - anyone have any thoughts, or done this kind of thing themselves? The room in question is about 24' feet by 15' (although it narrows down to 10' at one end, which will be the cinema screen end').

Am reasonably handy, but never taken on something like this, so looking forward to the challenge!

The only thing I can recommend is that you purchase all the power tools you need and not try to do something without them. Renting them seldom pays off.

Also if you are only going to be working on the project on weekends, evaluate how long it's going to take and then double that to determine if you'll really end up finishing it before you drive everyone in the family crazy.

If you are going to do this, we definitely need pictures!!!!

I am going to try and document it!

You might want to gander at this.

AVS Forum

Excellent site.

(Funnily enough we designed a home theater room into our new house, 30'x20', but ended up just hanging out reading most nights, listening to music in the 'family' room.)

+1 for that. These days I tend to work it out in cost per hour that I would otherwise earn on my day job, and it usually works out that getting a decent tool would save a lot of time, thus money, thus the tool is not as expensive as it first looks.

And always a good excuse to buy new toys, err..tools.

Harbor Freight Tools – Quality Tools at Discount Prices Since 1977

I can second AVS Forums....been on their for years, built a home cinema in the house in the UK and am currently doing a new home theatre which I'm documenting slowly.
Feel free to Pm if you have any questions on building it....

They any good? Look suspiciously cheap!!

They're good for one use!

(Actually, the things like hammers and wrenches are not too bad but you need to be careful. I wouldn't buy any power tools for example.)

I never understood the desire or need for a home bar, except by young men who like the idea of being James Bond-y. Unless you are going to have a very high frequency of parties and a very high volume of drinkers (in which case only a big and fully functioning wet bar, with wash station/sink and freezer/refrigerator would do) I feel they are pointless. And even pretentious.
The kitchen is more than enough.

Sorry, I know this was not what you were asking. But I couldn't resist

Good luck on the project though. The home theatre will surely be good!

My ideal setup would be a combo wet bar and grill station outside, maybe with an optional smoker attachment if possible. Lockable fridge and cupboards underneath. But I'm not sure the 100F heat and the fridge would co-exist in a harmonious and financially viable manner.

The previous owner of this house left her fridge, and we brought our own, so that serves as a beer fridge in the garage

You need an excuse? Who wears the trousers in your house?

[Checks avatar, .... we can see who! ]

It's an interesting place to browse, also Northern Tools, but I would recommend extreme caution in both cases. I've bought one or two bits and pieces, but wouldn't buy anything pricey at either. I bought a Chinese-made bench drill press, which has served well, but has got horribly rusty despite just sitting on a shelf in the garage, and I wish I'd stumped up the extra for a DeWalt, PorterCable or whatever.