Bottom lighting for dog house (liquor cabinet)
Anyone built a doghouse for a bar and have specifics on the type of lights used to light the liquor bottles from the bottom? I see some that look/work better than others but it’s hard to talk anyone working in a bar into removing enough bottles to get to the lights to see for myself!
Also, any idea what specific types of translucent material works best under the bottles? Is that glass or acrylic?
I haven’t checked into Breaktime in a long time and it’s great to see some familiar faces!
Replies
You want some sort of lens or grid that focuses the light straight up. The molded plastic "ice cube tray" covers on some fluorescent fixtures have this property.
Pop machines have a fluorescent light under the display bottle shelf, with square holes under the bottles to light them up. I don't know what you have, but a solid shelf with holes under the bottle may work.
You can do some very nice things........
with "fibreoptics"...................
at least I think that's what it's called.
Friend of mine lit up a water wall with pinpts of light.
You could run the light "tubes" to spots under the bottles, or in a row of small drilled pinholes around or below the row.
I have found some interesting LED lights that can change color and are in easy to install strips, but again cost is much more than simple florecents.
Don
This idea had one light source, then thin tubes that carried the light to the location needed.
The ones I have seen are not really that exotic. They are just a tempered glass shelf with a translucent plastic sheet under it and a flourescent light under that.
doghouse bars
Sorry, but I have to ask, since both of mu dogs are T-totallers, what does a doghouse bar look like?
I attached a picture of what I made for a friend.
Two important considerations.
First, all bottles drip. The ones that are not supposed to, will be worst (Murphy's parents were not marreied, and not of mutual species). Always but always plan for where the drips will go.
Second, all lamps will eventually fail. Make sure you can get to the lamping to replace it. Note that the first and this second rather dovetail together.
What I have done for actual retail bars might be worth sharing. Simple plywood boxes (since they get painted flat black most of the time) then whatever 'egggrate' is cheapest & most in theme with the bar (1/4" light fixture grid is just fine). Perforated steel sheet can be used, too; but the effect is not as dramatic. Then, a run of plain AL unfinished "K" guttering. Then, mash rope lighting in the lip of the guttering. If the bars wants "chasing colors" install that. Or use plain. The plain AL gutter will "bounce" the light about, and collects drips, and can be washed if something gets tipped over. The lip will hold rope lighting, and up out of any fluids; it's friction fit is reasonably easy to replicate later, too.
Next best choice is a simple, cheap, no-frills fluorescent fixture. Just test that you can get the lamps in and out of the installed fixture.
It's an excellent lighting feature, though--the glass in the bottles will "glow" when done right. Mirror behind improves the effect, too (tip the top of the mirror out at least its own thickness, if you can). Really spiffy to use steps for each "rank" of bottles.