How to Build a Moving Kitchen Bar

Constructing the Base

• When building a custom kitchen bar, you have the freedom to design and construct the base however you choose. You may build it using a basic cabinet design with shelves and doors, or you may leave it open in the style of a kitchen island cart. To make the process of building your own kitchen bar easier, consider repurposing an old cabinet. Simply select a cabinet of the ideal size and shape for your bar and add a bar top.

Adding the Wheels

• Before you add the bar top, attach the wheels that will turn your kitchen bar into a moving bar. Select four cabinet casters in a size appropriate for your cabinet. To attach the wheels, flip the cabinet over and install one caster to the underside of the cabinet in each of the four corners. To attach the casters, predrill holes using a power drill and insert the screws provided with the casters into the holes through the caster and tighten them by hand. If your cabinet has legs, attach the casters directly to the bottom of the legs.

Choosing a Bar Top

• Use a level to check that the top of the cabinet is flat. If the surface is uneven, you may need to use a plane to level it out. Select a material to use for your bar top and have it cut to the desired size at your local home improvement store. Materials that work well for bar tops include hardwood, butcher block, glass and granite. The bar top should overlap the cabinet edges.

Finishing

• Attach the bar top. Lock the wheels, if possible, to keep the cabinet from moving and then lay the bar top directly on top of the cabinet. Check to be sure the bar top is centered over the cabinet by using a measuring tape to check the overhang on all four sides. Once the bar top is in the correct position, drive wood screws through the inside of the cabinet and into the underside of the hardwood or butcher block bar top. You will need to open the cabinet door to accomplish this. If you are using a glass or granite bar top, you will need to use a power drill with a masonry bit to predrill the holes in the underside of the bar top and then drive masonry screws through the inside of the cabinet.

Using the Bar

• Use the cabinet space to store liquor bottles, drink mixes and extra glasses. You may choose to use the bar top as a surface to mix and serve drinks. Or, if you prefer to let your guests serve themselves, you may simply arrange the available drink options on the bar top for easy access. After the party, simply store the items in the cabinet and wheel the bar into a corner or closet, where it will be out of the way.