William Shatner, best known for his Captain Kirk Star Trek character and most recently as Priceline’s “Negotiator” dies in a firebus crash this coming weekend after saving all passengers aboard a charter bus. Shatner’s final words to the grateful passengers – “Save yourself! …some money!”

Of course we know better, Captain Kirk never dies, and he’ll probably just reprogram the commercial and live. After all, he never loses the Kobayashi Maru “no-win” scenario.

Where’s the snow? That’s the question we keep hearing this year. It’s now January 4th 2012, yet here in Northeastern Wisconsin, we have nothing but a light dusting that today is melting quickly.  It’s about noon and my personal weather station indicates a balmy 34 degrees with mid 40′s forecast in the next few days. If you’re curious as to where snow may fall in the next three days, checkout this snow forecast site.

where is the snow? take advantage of the mild weather and build your home bar now!

Last year we experienced the third snowiest winter on record , but 2011 and 2012 already look to be the least snowy year on record. Good thing I didn’t buy that snowmobile this year! However, I did buy a SnowSport HD snow plow for my Ford F-150, maybe that’s the reason we have no snow! Seriously though, many businesses that reply on income from snowmobiler’s, winter sports or snow removal service are suffering and there is no snow in the extended forecast.

So where is the snow? Well it’s up there somewhere and it’s just a matter of time before we get that first big snowstorm. The nice part of all this delayed snow is that if you’re interested in starting a building or remodeling project, now is the time to take advantage of the dry roads, easy driving and mild temperatures.

A little more interesting information regarding the Sun and a possible future forecast for the planet…
Space.com has reported that the current La Nina pattern may be the result of the nearing solar maximum period where sunspot activity is at a peak level, creating higher than normal solar heat output. The unusually long solar minimum that started in 2004 and it’s associated cooler temperatures is predicted to be followed by and even lower period of sunspot activity that could extend into 2021 or beyond.  This low level of sunspot activity could rival the 75 year long Maunder Minimum that created abnormally cold summers back in 1645 to 1715 and was called the Little Ice Age. So, enjoy these warm spells while you can! Build that home bar now so you can enjoy the coming years of cold in the comfort of your own home. Cheers!

Happy Holidays 2011 from Barplan.com!
As we enter our 12th year in business, we’d like to wish all our customers and fellow bar builder’s a happy & joyous Holiday Season! 2012 will bring many new improvements to the membership site including several new plans for your home bar.  We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and remind you to please be safe & don’t drink and drive…that’s why you have a home bar!

Cheers from everyone at Barplan.com!

BTW – the bar shown with the Charlie Brown tree is courtesy of a good friend of mine, Doc James.  His amazing bar top is custom made of exotic laminate woods from around the world. The bar is located in the lower level of his home. Pretty nice place to kick back & relax. You can have a bar similar to this is your own home when you join the Easy Home Bar Plans website.

Be sure to check out our new Bar Supply Store with over 5,000 hard to find items for the home bar enthusiast.

Once you’ve tackled the construction of your home bar project, you will certainly need to finish off with a set of bar stools…plus bar equipment and cool gizmos for the complete bartender.

Visit our new barstool & bar accessory store!

We’ve put together a great selection of affordable classic, yet non pretentious style stools, all at affordable pricing.
Our new store section includes our Classic Bar Stools, a selection of Fun Bar Stools emblazoned with cool graphics and finally for the jazzy style bar, we offer a selection of Modern Bar Stools.

We also offer complete Portable Home Bar Setups  and our unique line of metal and glass Bistro / Dinette Tables and chairs. We even have Outdoor Deck Chairs to complete your outdoor bar entertainment area.

That’s not all, we also offer over 5000 hard to find home bar and man cave products and bar supplies, everything from Stir Sticks to Commercial Grade Beer Cooler systems.

We have literally everything your need to complete your home bar! Start Shopping Now!

We accept all major credit cards and payment through Pay Pal.

No Tropical Drink is Complete with a Paper Parasol Umbrella

Summer may be over, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy tropical drinks throughout the entire year!
Crushed ice, rum and a can of frozen daiquiri or rum runner may be the required ingredients for a tasty drink, but if you’re missing that that little paper parasol umbrella, then it’s just no fun. Order enough of these handy umbrellas to last an entire year or more. You get a whopping 144 umbrellas in four popular colors. The best part is the low, low price of only $3.54 per box of 144. That’s only two cents apiece! Don’t forget to add more party extra to your order! ORDER NOW

Also, don’t forget to stock up on plastic drink cups and shot glasses at rock bottom prices.

Since 1997 we’ve seen the whole gamut of basement bar projects from your basic crate in an unfinished basement to extravagant theme bars with all the bells and whistles (Mr. Marks Dungeon Bar comes to mind). Most of what we see has one or two areas that remain unfinished; perhaps the ceiling or maybe a wall missing here or there or a space where a cupboard or fridge could be placed in the future. Occasionally we see a project like this complete classic home bar that seems  to have everything tied together and complete.

Classic Modern Home Bar

Looking closely, you’ll find all the elements of a classic modern home bar:
1. Fridge w/ ice maker.
2. Stove w/ overhead vent.
3. Completed drywall floor to ceiling.
4. Completed wood laminate  floor.
5. Beautiful bar with raised panel front, hardwood arm rest molding and brass rail foot rest.
6. Full liquor stash.
7. Full set of matching bar stools.
8. Bar style lighting and wall decor.

All in all a well rounded home bar setup!
This attention to detail really makes the difference in completing any home bar project.
See over 4,500 more photos of member built home bars when you join the
Easy Home Bar Plans website.

BTW – the only thing I see missing is a draft beer system. ;^)

Buying good looking bar stools to top off your project just might be the most expensive part of the entire  man cave construction experience. The good news is that we always keep an eye out for the best buys in bar stools to help you save money.

handsome Boraam Plametto barstool model

Today we come across a great value from residential bar stool manufacturer Boraam Industries Inc. Their Augusta, Palmetto and Cathedral models are currently all on sale for only $99.50 each. The best part is that the are crafted from solid hardwood, include comfortable faux leather and foam seat with steel ball bearing swivel and back rest. These are all the features we look for in a suitable home barstool.

For a limited time, you can save an additional 15% on your total order when you buy $349 or more. So, a set of four of these beautiful barstools would be $398 minus 15% which saves you $59.70 for a total of only $338.30 for four nice quality barstools.

To take advantage of this offer,  just use Promo Code : BARSTOOL15 at checkout.

Theses stools also include FREE SHIPPING!

Both the Augusta and Palmetto line come in a variety of wood finishes, from Light Cherry, Walnut, Black, Brandy, Cappuccino and Fruitwood.

If you’ve been in the market for home bar stools, then you already know that they range in price from $100 to $500 each! This is a great opportunity to add that finishing touch to your home bar project and save a bunch of money.

Hurry, because this sale won’t last long.

Some models may be temporarily out of stock, but just register your email as a rain check to be notified when they become available again.

Save 15% on orders of $349 or more!

More Product Information:

The Augusta model has a solid padded back as  shown at left.

The Palmetto model is a solid wood back as shown above.

The Cathedral model is a woven wood back – shown here.

To view all models click here and view the selection below the product detail.

For even more barstool savings, check out the selection of CLEARANCE priced barstools.

New to the site? Be sure you check out Barplan.com for our full selection of easy to build do-it-yourself  home bar plans.

Summer is just around the corner and after a long dreary winter, your thoughts will no doubt be focused on getting out of the house. But when summer heat finally takes it’s toll, on goes the air conditioner as you retreat from the heat. But what if you had a cool basement bar retreat in which to escape from steamy temperatures and even that dreaded summer danger, tornadoes (or other scary world events)?

one cool basement bar

This cool basement bar is not only great looking, but can serve as a sort of  basement bunker.  The bar area includes all the conveniences, serving as a secondary safe zone in the event of public emergency.

We have installed running water, toilet, TV, electricity and food stores if needed. We stock our bar back room with plenty of canned goods, bottled R.O. water, first aid and a general survival kit.

The bar area even  includes a camera system for monitoring outdoor conditions and a jukebox with internet connectivity.
It never hurts to be prepared.

Think of it as a modern day fallout shelter.
We’re working on a a canopy bar concept that will serve as both a bar and a bunker.

TIP: If you’re fortunate to have a basement, then you know how nice and cool that space can be in the summer. The problem is, many home basements are cold and damp.
Damp basements are usually easy to remedy.  If your walls and floor don’t leak, then you are in good condition. The next step is to condition the air. A simple room dehumidifier can remove much of the stagnant moisture in the air and in surrounding materials. A ozone type air cleaner can then remove any musty smell.

More money in the tank means less for the local bar.

Crude oil again touched the $100 per barrel mark today signaling a return to high gas prices. Unfortunately, the more money we have to dump into our fuel tanks, the less money we have for spending at the local bar. With recent smoking bans, the local bar owners are hurting enough already, but with rising tensions in the mid east and summer price hikes just around the corner, the cost of entertainment is definitely heading higher.

A recent trip to a local bar was proof that more people are staying at home, which was immediately evident by the complete lack of bar patrons. It’s clear these local bar owners are hurting.

A mug of stale beer was $3.25 and a nasty burger & fries was $5.75. The two of us had the special and a couple beers which totaled $24.50! A little high for a good case of heartburn. These days frugality is in order, I could buy a case of beer and a couple of sliders for less.

Now I’m not saying you should stop pumping money into your local economy and having an occasional night out, but at the same time don’t let yourself sit at home, alone and bored, build a Home Bar!

Once your home bar is completed, you’ll save loads of money while entertaining your friends in the safety of your own man cave. It’s all the fun without the hassle and half the expense.

The Easy Home Bar Plans website gives you all the plans and design ideas you need to brighten up your social life and bring fun back into your otherwise ho-hum home life.

May 2008: Just a few short years ago, it was nothing to dump ten bucks in the gas tank and drive five hours for a two night vacation in the north woods. Today that trip, financially speaking, is no longer a great idea. The trip burns about 20 gallons of gas (30 in my truck) for the round trip and today that will run over $78.20 (and rising) leaving much less cash for food and entertainment.
Unless you have a large stash of disposable income, vacationing away from home is fast becoming less practical for many families. So what’s the solution?
Take a Staycation! “Staycatioing” is fast becoming the “green” way to save green while investing your money into home improvements. Stay at home and invest the money you’d normally spend on a vacation into an unused space in your home; like a basement home theater or for summer months your backyard. Sure many people feel trapped by their daily grind and just have to get away for a vacation, but what if everything you ran 100 miles away to enjoy was right in your own backyard?
Taking a staycation has many advantages:

• No long “are we there yet?” drive.
• No speeding tickets.
• No traffic hassles.
• Clean facilities nearby.
• No crowds.
• Quick escape when weather turns ugly.

Taking just one staycation per year can not only save money, but also helps the overall gas problem. With the number of people out there today, we all need to start doing our part.

Once we got to our vacation destination, the things we enjoyed the most were simply sitting under the tent and next to the fire, so rather than spend hundreds of dollars each year on the long trek to increasingly congested campgrounds and resorts, we decide to bring the best of the resorts to our back yard. Now we have our own relaxing gazebo, jacuzzi and fire pit right in our backyard.

Money spent on a vacation is gone the day your vacation ends, but money spent on items you can continue to use keeps providing fun and enjoyment year after year.
We decided a few years ago to start using the money we normally put aside for vacationing for improving our back yard. We first erected a fence, which for our rather large back yard was equal to a winter Mexico vacation we had planned to take. The next year we again stayed home and installed a Jacuzzi hot tub. Now we can feel like we’re in Mexico every day of the year!

This year we are continuing our staycation tradition adding more trees and a 12′x24′ garden garage with an attached 10′x12′ greenhouse. The greenhouse will help us offset the rising price of fruits & vegetables, allowing us to become less dependent of store bought produce.

This year, try taking a staycation, you’ll find it more relaxing than an expensive trip!
Tell us about your staycation experiences.

Update 2011: We’ve take the whole staycation idea to a new level. The images above are from early 2008. Since then we have added another gardening shed, a 10′x12′ greenhouse and a 15′ x 30 three season room to our “staycation” resort. The indoor hot tub now makes for a resort like atmosphere year round, even in the dead of our Wisconsin winter.