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We’ve always believed that the best homes don’t just look beautiful, they feel beautiful too. They’re the spaces that draw you in, where you want to linger a little longer. This recent project, a bespoke home bar and media wall, captures that feeling perfectly. The space is designed for slow evenings and good company, somewhere to pour a drink, put on a TV show, and unwind. With its rich tones and layered textures, it has that moody, speakeasy atmosphere that feels indulgent yet completely at home.
With more homeowners seeking to entertain family and friends at home, bespoke bar areas and multifunctional media spaces have become key features of the modern interior.
As Creative Design Director, Tom Howley, explains, “Entertaining at home has become a true art form. Our clients want spaces that feel welcoming and luxurious, places where conversation flows easily, and design plays as much of a role as function.”
This project captures that balance. Combining a chic bar area with a beautifully integrated media wall and bespoke seating area, the result is a space designed for everything from informal drinks to business presentations, all within a setting that feels warm, moody, and undeniably sophisticated.
The centrepiece of this design is a bi-fold home bar. Crafted from our Kavanagh collection and finished in Hazelwood, a deep chocolate-brown hue, it exudes richness and depth. The cabinetry’s Dusted Oak interior and Burnished Brass Wire Scroll handles add tactile warmth, while the Caesarstone Vanilla Noir worktop, a dark surface laced with delicate vanilla veining, creates a bold yet timeless contrast.
Behind elegant bi-folding doors lies a fully functional serving area, complete with a Quooker tap, Franke sink, Sub-Zero wine fridge, and tailored storage for bottles, glassware, and bar tools. Glass shelving set against antiqued bronze mirrors lends a touch of understated decadence, echoing the ambience of a private Soho speakeasy.
“State-of-the-art appliances with integrated technology make hosting a breeze,” notes Tom. “A dedicated wine cooler, for example, is an entertainer’s essential, it keeps your favourite bottles perfectly chilled while freeing space elsewhere.”
Each element has been designed to elevate the act of entertaining, transforming the bar into both a showpiece and a social hub.
Spanning the back of the room, the bespoke media wall anchors the space. Finished once again in Hazelwood, it incorporates tactile reeded backboards, integrated LED lighting, and a combination of open and closed cabinetry.
Open shelving provides display space for sculptural ceramics, glassware, and curated décor, while concealed storage keeps entertainment essentials neatly tucked away. The TV integration ensures a seamless aesthetic, turning the media wall into both a visual focal point and a functional entertainment zone.
At the heart of the room, a solid circular dining table and built-in seating bring people together, a space equally suited for relaxed family breakfasts or evening cocktails with friends. The fluid, cohesive layout ensures every detail contributes to the overall sense of purpose and comfort.
This project celebrates the quiet drama of a moodier palette, embracing the enveloping warmth that comes with darker, tone-on-tone interiors. By colour-drenching the walls and cabinetry in Hazelwood, the space takes on a sumptuous depth, elegant, intimate, and gently atmospheric. It channels the refined glamour of a Soho speakeasy or a tucked-away hotel bar, where texture, tone, and lighting work together to create an irresistible sense of escape.
Brown, though often overlooked, has a remarkable ability to ground a space. As Tom explains, “We wanted this room to feel indulgent but not intimidating, like a warm embrace. The deep brown tones, combined with textural elements, create a space that feels timeless yet fresh.”
Texture really takes centre stage in this space, from the tactile ceramics and softly etched glassware to the burnished metal details that echo the warm brass hardware. Woven wallpaper and linen cushions add another layer of softness and depth, bringing balance and warmth to the moody palette.
The lighting, from integrated LEDs to an angular, Cubist-inspired ceiling light in polished chrome, adds to the speakeasy mood, casting a soft glow that enhances the luxurious finishes throughout.
One of the standout features of this space is the striking material pairing. Caesarstone 5100 Vanilla Noir, with its deep black base and subtle vanilla veining, sits beautifully against the warmth of Hazelwood cabinetry.
Layering in brushed brass details and ambient lighting enhances the contrast, creating a tactile, immersive experience that feels unmistakably Tom Howley.
Discover the magic in person at our Chelsea showroom, 72 Fulham Road, Chelsea, SW3 6HH London, and experience how Tom Howley is redefining the art of contemporary entertaining.