This is the bar area at the Lodge as it sits today. Of all the areas in the Lodge—the kitchen, the bedrooms, the bathrooms—-this has elicited the most “ho-hum” reaction from me, probably because…well…I think it’s a little ho-hum.
Now, don’t get me wrong. The bar is fine. It’s functional, handy, and serves a purpose. But it just doesn’t have that somethin’-somethin. It’s missing somethin’. And I’m not sure what it is.
(And is it missin’ somethin’? Gosh, when you start dropping g’s from your vocabulary things really start to go downhill.)
As I said, the bar is functional. The wine fridge holds wine and beer behind the glass door and pop cans and water bottles in the drawers underneath. There’s a sink and an icemaker and a diswasher. Oh! And a faucet! A faucet comes in handy. There’s a piece of cabinetry missing from below the fridge; that doesn’t bother me for the time being. There’ve been bigger fish to fry.
I think what bothers me is the bareness—that vast space between the countertop and the first shelf. The countertop itself is large; right now I have a dark woven tray holding bar tools and red wine. But it looks a little bit like an afterthought. I used galvanized steel for the countertops, just to be frugal and different; did it fall a little flat?
And the paint color, while nice and neutral in the rest of the house, looks blah and lifeless here—probably because the dark wood color of the cabinets is right up against it.
I don’t want to make any structural or major changes, obviously, but what ideas do you have for giving this space some oomph? Would it be strange to paint the wall, just in this specific area, a completely different color than the rest of the house? If not, what color would I possibly use? Dark? Bright? Vivid? Neutral?
What about the tall sliver of a wall to the left of the cabinetry/shelves? It’s a strange space.
I know there are some things that can be done to bring the bar out of the doldrums. I just haven’t figured out what it is yet.
But the good news is, I don’t have to figure it out! I’ve got you, haven’t I?
Ree Drummond is the founder of The Pioneer Woman and a lover of butter, basset hounds and life on the ranch! Ree started her blog in 2006, and now millions visit ThePioneerWoman.com every month for her trusted recipes and fun family stories. Here’s what she has been up to since it all began:
New York Times Bestselling Author
Ree has written two memoirs (Black Heels to Tractor Wheels, and Frontier Follies) plus nine bestselling cookbooks:
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl (2009)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Food from My Frontier (2012)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays (2013)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinnertime (2015)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Come and Get It! (2017)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: The New Frontier (2019)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Super Easy (2021)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinner’s Ready! (2023)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: The Essential Recipes (2025)
Food Network Host
Since 2011, Ree has been sharing simple, family-friendly recipes—and the occasional kitchen prank!—on her award-winning show The Pioneer Woman, filmed right on Drummond Ranch. Ree is also a regular judge on Food Network competitions, including Christmas Cookie Challenge.
Founder, The Pioneer Woman Collection
Ree has been creating and selling kitchen and home products at Walmart since 2015 and she’s involved in designing every piece and pattern. The line now includes best-selling appliances (you have to see the floral blender!), plus hundreds of pieces of cookware, tableware, and more. Ree doesn’t like to play favorites but the Agatha print has a special place in her heart.
Restaurant and Hotel Owner
Together with her husband Ladd, Ree has opened several bustling businesses in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, including The Pioneer Woman Mercantile—a bakery, restaurant, and general store that draws visitors from across the country (many come for the biscuits alone!), P-Town Pizza, Charlie’s Ice Cream Shop, and The Boarding House, a charming hotel with eight different rooms decorated by Ree and Ladd.
Media Personality
Ree appears regularly on national TV shows like Today, Good Morning America and more—all while managing to keep flour off her shirt.
Wife, Mom and…Grandma!
Ree’s kids (daughters Alex and Paige and sons Bryce and Todd) are all grown up, and as of December 2024, Ree is the proud grandma of the cutest baby ever, Sofia Scott, born to Alex and her husband Mauricio. Ree still cooks for Ladd (and the kids when they’re home), and she also looks after a few mischievous ranch dogs.
