An Indoor-Outdoor Serving Bar Opens the Possibilities

If you love outdoor entertaining (and who doesn’t when you have the space?), you know that having an easy transition from kitchen to patio or deck is ideal. But sometimes there just isn’t room to add an extra door or window — at least not without losing valuable kitchen cabinets and counters. If you’re facing this dilemma and are lucky enough to have a window looking over your outdoor entertaining area, why not add a counter/serving bar on the patio side of that window? It becomes the perfect spot to pass out drinks and serving platters, seat little ones for a snack and (most importantly) help speed cleanup when it’s time to bring everything back inside.

A granite counter that extends seamlessly from kitchen to patio results in a serving bar that invites you to move outside for a meal or snack. Here, the gentle earth tones of the slab are a perfect match for the warm wood tones found on the kitchen trim and the patio overhang.

Though the space feels generous, the window opening is small enough that a simple bi-fold window is all that’s needed. To secure the window, the architect and builder drilled discreet holes in the granite and added barrel bolts to fasten the window securely when it’s closed. A combination of sweeps helps insulate the space.



This simple and practical bar, set just below the window track and even with the indoor counter, is the perfect match for a 1950s ranch house. The equally simple stools that are paired with the counter are sturdy and practical, yet small enough to tuck underneath.


At this beach house, the weathered tones of the outdoor bar blend nicely with the siding on the house as well as the concrete counters inside. Matching brackets under the eaves and the bar help tie the look together. Even the trim on the accordion-fold window matches the trim on the kitchen windows inside.

Both indoor and outdoor counters were designed to sit flush. The track for the accordion-fold window is recessed to sit below the plane of the counters and not interfere with the flow.


With a wraparound patio and wide swaths of windows, you have plenty of options for bar placement. In this case, the window sits to the side of the sink wall rather than along it, allowing a look into the kitchen without an immediate view of dirty dishes. By locating the counter on the side, it also allows diners to sit out of a main traffic area.


You don’t need a lot of space to get a serving-counter effect. This small bar extension makes it easy to pass the chips, salsa and beverages to the deck after a long day of surfing. It may be small, but it’s still ideal for relaxing — and keeping swimmers from tracking sand inside.

While most of the counters shown are matched with bi-fold or accordion-fold windows, in this case there isn’t enough room. A standard double-hung window works equally well. An advantage with both double-hung windows and the two windows shown below is that you don’t have to worry about someone walking into them when they’re open.


Another option for smaller window openings is a standard casement window. Choose one that opens up completely to lie flat against the house wall for safety’s sake.


For something completely different, there’s always a garage-door-style window. It opens up the window space entirely, tucks overhead and out of the way, and is always a conversation piece. It also fits well in wider openings where casement or double-hung windows wouldn’t be practical. Here, the rounded design of the counter adds a bit more serving space, and softer edges can minimize the impact of hitting a corner.

Although this appears to be a single slab, it’s actually two pieces. A thin joint of silicone between the two prevents any cold absorbed by the outdoor piece from transferring to the indoor counter.


Of course, if you have the space and appropriate design to start with, why not open up an entire wall? By combining accordion-style windows and doors (or pocket doors if you have the adjoining space), even a modest-size house will give the impression of having a grand entertaining space.

More: Find the Right Glass Door for Your Patio

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