The Gatehouse Bar

In medieval castles, the gatehouse was the first point of arrival, the place where travellers were received before entering. Rydhima took that idea outdoors. Inspired by the drama and grandeur of medieval fantasy, the Gatehouse Bar reimagines outdoor entertaining as an arrival: a structure that frames the moment guests step up for a drink.

The bar is crafted in wood and defined by its signature lattice work, giving it both presence and openness. The lattice filters light and garden views, so the structure feels architectural without closing off the landscape around it: part fortress, part garden pavilion.

The concept and design of the Gatehouse Bar are Rydhima Brar’s. To bring it to life, she collaborated with Ryan Bone of The Bones Studio, whose specialty in lattice work gave the piece its defining character. His craftsmanship translated Rydhima’s vision into a built structure, where every crossing of wood contributes to its architectural presence.

The Gatehouse Bar anchored R/terior Studio’s Garden Room and Terrace at the 2023 Pasadena Showcase House of Design, held at the Stewart House, an 11,000-square-foot colonial estate reimagined by more than 32 design firms. Since 1948, Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts has supported local music and arts programs.

Rydhima envisioned the Garden Room and Terrace as a place to host and gather surrounded by nature all year round: a morning retreat for coffee and a book, and an evening destination for a glass of wine or a pint of beer at the bar.

For the bar’s appliances, R/terior Studio partnered with Zephyr, featuring the brand’s Presrv® Outdoor Beverage Cooler alongside its new Presrv® Outdoor Kegerator & Beverage Cooler. The pairing brought the best of both worlds to outdoor entertaining: a beverage cooler on one side for white wine, spirits and sparkling water, and a kegerator on the other for cold beer on tap.

The Presrv Outdoor Kegerator & Beverage Cooler accommodates multiple keg configurations with single, double or triple tap options, and converts to a beverage cooler when no keg is installed, making it as practical for everyday use as it is for a summer party. Sleek stainless steel finishes gave the bar a modern edge against the warmth of Ryan Bone’s lattice work.

See the Garden Room and Terrace in Zephyr’s Design Inspiration Gallery.

R/terior Studio designs custom outdoor bars, entertaining pavilions and one-of-a-kind collectible pieces for private residences and hospitality spaces. To commission an outdoor bar or discuss a bespoke piece for your garden, get in touch with the studio.

Photography: Jess Issac