A Hidden Bar Reveals Itself

Behind glass doors is a hidden bar and tasting room Photography by Dan Piassick
February 12th, 2026

Behind a glass partition, something extraordinary waits. The Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove Dallas Showroom has transformed a dated space into a concealed speakeasy-style destination. This Grand Bar and Tasting Room proves that the most memorable design often hides in plain sight. 

At just 230 square feet, this project packs tremendous impact into a compact footprint. Every detail serves a dual purpose here. Function disappears behind artistry, and craftsmanship becomes the quiet hero of the space. 

Senior Designer Steve Karp, LEED AP, Bentwood Special Projects led the design vision for the showroom. A location you may forget is a showroom, which makes you want to stay indefinitely. 

The designers faced a dual challenge. They needed to integrate 13 luxury appliances into the space while maintaining an elegant, curated atmosphere. Success meant creating a showcase that felt like a sophisticated living area rather than an appliance gallery.

Bentwood Luxury Kitchens cabinetry proved essential to achieving this seamless integration throughout the space. 

The Grand Bar Welcomes Discovery  

Hidden pivot doors open to the Grand Bar
Photography by Dan Piassick

The Oak Bolle finish on the 24-inch hidden pivot doors, creates a charred, Shou-Sugi-Ban-inspired texture that evokes depth without actual burning. When closed, these massive doors blend seamlessly into the surrounding cabinetry. Visitors walking past would never suspect the treasures concealed within. 

sub zero fridges hidden behind cabinet doors
Photography by Dan Piassick

Hidden to either side of the speakeasy doors are column refrigeration and freezer units, covered in the same Oak Bolle. These luxury appliances disappear into the space while providing functionality.   

To the right of the doors is an intimate bar prep station with a Sub-Zero 15-inch under counter beverage center covered with the same Oak Bolle finish and a wine keeper with a exposed glass panel.

The bar prep area with hidden refrigeration and wine storage
Photography by Dan Piassick
Tall wine refrigeration
Photography by Dan Piassick

Opposite the bar stand two wine column storage units. Such details demonstrate how thoughtful design transforms functional elements into visual features. Nothing in this space exists merely to serve a basic purpose.

A Tasting Room with Good Taste  

The hidden speakeasy tasting room
Photography by Dan Piassick

Inside the Private Tasting Room, smoked oak Stratura material emphasizes texture and depth at every turn. The rich wood tones create an atmosphere of warmth perfectly suited to intimate conversation.  

Custom marble mosaic of Sub Zero logo
Photography by Dan Piassick

A custom mosaic floor inlay marks the threshold between the Grand Bar and the Private Tasting Room. This black-and-white marble installation draws inspiration from Sub-Zero’s 1950s logo. It welcomes visitors into the invitation-only space. The transition feels ceremonial, marking passage from one extraordinary area to another.

Bentwood and Sub-Zero, two luxury brands, working seamlessly together, to create a surprise, sophisticated atmosphere. Refrigerators and freezers disappear completely when closed, maintaining the room’s seamless aesthetic. Only when opened do they reveal their true purpose.

Leathered natural stone tops and splash provide an unexpected visual and tactile interest, compared to a highly polished stone. 

Custom leathered stone covers the countertop
Photography by Dan Piassick

Hardware That Tells a Story  

Cabinet hardware pulls
Photography by Dan Piassick

The hardware throughout this space tells its own story of dedication to detail. Katonah Hardware features mixed metals throughout. Overscale proportions give each handle and pull commanding presence. Standard hardware simply could not achieve the impact this design demanded. 

Antiqued mirror above the bar area
Photography by Dan Piassick

The antique mirror panel creates balance to the visual composition. This deliberate approach to pattern creates rhythm rather than chaos throughout the room.  

Space for Every Need  

Jewelry box cabinets for spirits
Photography by Dan Piassick

Jewelry-box liquor storage takes center stage, commanding attention from the moment visitors enter. Pin-lighting inspired by luxury retail displays illuminates each bottle from above with precision. 

The effect recalls Tiffany and Cartier showcases, elevating bottles to precious objects worthy of admiration. This approach transforms the simple act of selecting a spirit into something memorable.  

Pull out cabinets on either end of of the bar
Photography by Dan Piassick

Custom pull-out cabinets bookend the bar space with purpose. One cabinet stores napkins, bar tools, and spirits, while another holds glassware. Every essential sits within arm’s reach. Entertaining feels effortless because the cabinetry did the thinking. 

Innovation in Metal and Light   

Metal curtains
Photography by Dan Piassick

Narrow floor to ceiling geometries flank the liquor display storage. Natural light filters into this intimate space through an unexpected medium. Metal fabric designed like drapery covers these openings with sculptural elegance. Folded stainless fabric set into custom frames creates the appearance of frozen curtains. The fabricator noted they had never built anything quite like these panels before. 

Close up of metal curtain detail
Photography by Dan Piassick

Precision That Defines Excellence    

Custom dovetailed joinery for wine glass storage
Photography by Dan Piassick

A flush alignment philosophy guides every detail throughout this remarkable space without exception. Doors, drawers, and panels align precisely across appliances and cabinetry at every junction. This level of coordination demands extraordinary precision from both designer and craftsman alike.  

Custom dovetailed glass storage demonstrates how function becomes artistry in skilled hands. The joinery visible through glass celebrates technique openly. Wine glasses rest in compartments sized precisely for their stems with care. Organization becomes display, and utility becomes beauty throughout this thoughtful space. 

The hidden tasting room
Photography by Dan Piassick

This project at the Dallas showroom proves that commercial spaces can inspire as powerfully as residences. Hidden function meets material innovation in every corner throughout the Grand Bar and Tasting Room. Craftsmanship elevates ordinary moments into memorable experiences worth sharing with others. Bentwood delivers exactly this: cabinetry that transforms spaces into true destinations. 

Find Inspiration Near You

Inspired to update your own space?  Click here to find your closest authorized Bentwood dealer. We’ll connect you with a designer in your area and get started with your vision right away! 

Not quite ready to begin a project? Look through our gallery to find inspiration and discover the beauty of Bentwood. 

Summary
Article Name
Transforming Woodwork Into Art
Description
This Grand Bar and Tasting Room proves that the most memorable design often hides in plain sight.
Author
Cabinetry Design, Dealer Feature, Design Inspiration, Exclusively Bentwood, WET BAR
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