- There is no shortage of luxury real estate in Nantucket, Massachusetts. Now, homeowners are further customizing their homes for added enjoyment, going as far as building wet bars to enjoy after the 10 p.m. noise ordinance kicks in and the local bars close.
- In a recent Wall Street Journal story, several homeowners discussed their pricey bar renovations featuring professional kegerators and luxurious Hermès inspired design.
- Unbelievable in-home wet bars are just one of the many ways in which the wealthy have been known to deck out their homes to meet their personal wants and needs.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
Last call is no problem in Nantucket, Massachusetts, where the newest trend is building an in-home bar to skirt the island's 10 p.m. noise ordinance.
According to Amy Gamerman at the Wall Street Journal, homeowners are going as far as spending thousands of dollars to create the perfect personal cocktail space in their homes, ensuring that "much of the summer's high-octane socializing, networking and fundraising takes place in private homes," and undoubtedly, lasts past 10 p.m.
Nantucket is an island 30 miles off the coast of Massachusetts, where the well-to-do notoriously spend their summers: The island is 45 square miles of beach playground for those with a high net worth. In fact, NPR found that the median sale price on Nantucket this year is $1.6 million.
One Nantucket couple Gamerman spoke to, Melanie and Bob Sabelhaus, said they are hoping to sell their home (featuring a spectacular custom bar) for $6.275 million. Ms. Sabelhaus wanted the bar, which is the centerpiece of her home, to look like her favorite Hermès scarf. It features bright orange lacquered cabinets, Baccarat crystal, a SubZero wine fridge, and mahogany counters - and it cost $80,000 to build.
"When I look at my bar it's like looking at a piece of jewelry," Ms. Sabelhaus told the Wall Street Journal. "It sparkles."
The ultra-wealthy are no strangers to tailoring their homes to their every want and need
Sparkling professional-grade, in-home bars aren't the only renovations the wealthy are making to their luxurious homes to best suit their wants and needs.
Business Insider's Katie Warren previously reported that some are shelling out half a million dollars to install comfortable, luxe panic rooms that include flat-screen TVs, high-end décor, and yes, bars. Warren also reported that luxury developers are building expansive and extravagant underground spaces for multimillion-dollar homes that feature sports facilities, wine cellars, and in one case, even a ballroom.
The custom wet bars on Nantucket are the most recent iteration of the lavish home-modification trend, but as Business Insider's Lina Batarags previously reported, that trend has hidden dangers. The luxury real-estate market is hitting a point where homes are so over-customized that they are difficult to sell.
According to the Journal, the Sabelhauses' Nantucket home was listed at $6.775 million in April. As of September 9, its price has, according to Sotheby's, who has the listing, been dropped to $6.275 million.