The area under our bar has been untouched since we moved in a little less than a year ago. We decided that we wanted to invest ingenuity and hard work into illuminating that space rather than investing cash.
We devised another one of our "modest modern" designs as a way to add LED lighting under the bar.
We cut down two sheets of medium-density fiberboard to divide the space under the bar. We then drilled a series of holes of varying sizes in a random pattern into the fiberboard.
After painting the panels a high-gloss white, we mounted a length of LED rope light to the back of the panels before mounting them to the wall, using ¾-inch spacers. We cut the panels a tad short of the overall height, so they float about ¾ of an inch above the floor, creating a reverse toe-kick.
The effect is a random pattern of light streaming through the holes and a line of light running along the floor the length of the bar. Later we added another section of LED rope light to optimize the effect. The subtle nature of the pattern gives the room a sense of dimension and has garnered the attention of the neighbor kids and friends.
To learn more about Jason Hammond's new house and to see photos and previous blog posts, go to www.startribune.com/newhouse. Or e-mail him at hammond@mojosolo.com.
