A Bold Home Bar Designed by Don Ricardo Massenburg

Don Ricardo Massenburg is a multi-faceted interior and furniture designer that’s become an influential part of the design world. He’s the visionary behind Design Inkredible and both an artist and an educator at heart. Massenburg is known for creating bold and luxurious interiors through an expert use of lush, layered textiles, rich colors and incredible upholstery. His client list includes professional athletes, notable business owners and national celebrities.

In addition to being a sought-after designer, Massenburg remains active within the design community, holding a board position with the Alliance of Interior Designers and High Point by Design. He is also a valued member of the Black Interior Designers Network. His goal has always been to fully immerse himself in a career he cares about, and his experiences has made his dream become a blissful reality. You can view more of his work on Instagram @designinkredible or on his website at www.designinkredible.com.

The Project 

For this project, Don Ricardo Massenburg was tasked with transforming a bland space into a sophisticated, fully equipped bar. The space needed to offer the perfect blend of refined elegance and full functionality.  

The Problem 

The original space was pretty much a blank slate but that didn’t mean it didn’t present common challenges when working with a space. It was completely devoid of plumbing, offered limited storage solutions and didn’t have a defined style. Before this project was started, the homeowners experienced the inconvenience of having to go to another level of the home to retrieve ice and cold beverages.

The Goal/The Solution 

Massenburg explains that “the initial inspiration for this project was the need to transform the space from a single countertop with a few stools into a functional and well thought out custom bar and entertainment area.” To do this, he needed to focus on creating a “cohesive and stylish environment that integrated essential features like storage solutions, plumbing, beverage coolers and an ice maker, all while maintaining a sleek and swanky aesthetic.”

The Process: Create a CGI Rendering

Once he identifies the problems and goals of the space, Massenburg begins the design process. He understands that not everyone can look at a variety of products and visualize a finishes space. That’s why he finds CGI to be a helpful tool in the design process. Not only does it help his clients see his vision for the design, but, Massenburg says, “CGI is helpful when selecting finishes and space planning, allowing for a more precise and informed decision-making process.”

The Appliances 

Massenburg focuses on choosing appliances that are sleek and modern so they complement the design without overpowering the space. “Each piece was chosen for its compact and slim design, which allows it to fit seamlessly into the space without dominating it,” explains Massenburg. The black stainless-steel finish of these appliances was the ideal complement to the color scheme and provided a modern edge.

Avallon 15-Inch Wide 23-Bottle Built-In Wine Cooler

This built-in refrigerator makes it easy to keep up to 23 bottles of your favorite wine stored and ready to serve at the ideal temperature. The black stainless-steel finish and clean style lines make it a modern addition to the space. Two integrated cooling zones allow you to keep reds and whites stored at different temperatures.

Avallon 15-Inch Wide 83 Can Undercounter Beverage Cooler

This beverage cooler rounds-out the bar area, making it equipped to store all types of beverages outside of wine. This cooler is the same width as the built-in wine cooler, allowing for a symmetrical look throughout the space. It holds up to 83 cans and offers an illuminated interior.

Edgestar 15-Inch Wide Undercounter Ice Maker

This undercounter ice maker is the ideal solution for any home bar, producing up to 25 pounds of ice daily. The freestanding design can stand alone or nestle in with surrounding cabinetry. Three color variations are available.

Additional Products

A sink, faucet and cabinet hardware are among the additional products Massenburg chose from Ferguson to round-out his design. The faucet was chosen as a statement piece for the space, with Massenburg drawn to the “elegance and boldness” of the design.

Signature Hardware Derin 18-Inch Fireclay Drop-In Prep Sink

Cleaning glasses and returning them to their spot is easy with this drop-in prep sink in place. The fireclay design provides a modern, clean aesthetic that works perfectly in the space.

Signature Hardware Greyfield Pull-Down Bar Faucet

The brushed gold finish of this bar faucet makes it the perfect accent to the white sink, and cohesive with the wallpaper design chosen for this home bar area.

Signature Hardware Workspace Drain Board Rolling Mat

Sometimes, the genius of design is in the small details, including this drain board rolling mat. Place this mat directly over the sink and all your glassware has a place to dry without creating a mess on your countertops.

Kovacs Saber Single Light Bathroom Sconce

Adding mood lighting to this bar area was essential, and this bathroom wall sconce was the ideal solution. The finish is reminiscent of the other finishes used throughout the space and the linear style lines enhance the modern look.

Amerock Urbanite Bar Cabinet Pull

Cabinetry isn’t complete without proper hardware, and this cabinet pull “was selected for its oversized, two-tone design, which made a bold statement and added a masculine touch with a modern flair,” explains Massenburg. The brushed gold and matte black tones help tie together other finishes already used throughout the space.

The Outcome 

Massenburg’s designs “lean toward a classic, modern, luxurious look that is very layered and textural.” His designs start with a neutral foundation and then introduce bold colors and textures with accessories. In this space, his inspiration was that of a swanky cigar lounge. The finished CGI rendering features bold, dark tiles that travel the full height of the wall to elongate the space.

Chunky wood shelving provided substantial exposed storage space and introduced rich wood tones and a feeling of warmth to the design. This became the ideal place to display glasses, bottles and a few extra pieces of decor.

The dark veins of the countertop provided a moody contrast to the tile, enhancing the upscale look of the space. That same level of sophistication continued to the brushed gold finishes of the faucet and hardware, maintaining consistency within the design theme.

The same wood tone of the open shelving is repeated in the surrounding cabinetry, which housed plenty of concealed storage as well as three essential appliances.

Working with Build with Ferguson 

Massenburg is an actual Ferguson client and pro account holder, who has always found working with Ferguson’s customer service and sales team to be a positive experience. To start, he finds that the website’s ease of navigation streamlines the process of finding the right products for each job. Massenburg also says, “I receive frequent check-in emails and calls from my sales representative, who ensures that my projects are progressing smoothly and offers assistance in sourcing items as needed.” Ferguson’s proactive approach “contributes to a seamless experience,” according to Massenburg.

Design Your Ultimate Home Bar

If this project has inspired you, consider making the look your own. Any blank wall in your space can become a home bar fit for entertaining, and we’ve made it easier than ever to purchase the exact same products used by Don Ricardo Massenburg to create this space. Shop these products and more on our Shop by Look page.