More Hollywood, Please!
Gone are the days of Grace Kelly, High Society, tuxes and pearls. Sipping a Manhattan at the loft apartment bar may not be our everyday gig because lifestyles have changed. There's more fun to be had, more work to be done and we want to do it all more comfortably. Have we lost something along the way? When company comes over, are we rummaging through the refrigerator leftovers looking for the beer or muttering under our breath that the cork screw really was in this drawer the other day? Maybe we are missing out on the one thing the bar cart could bring to our lives: simple organization. Looking put together as you decide what the concoction of the evening will be and having all the parts needed to assemble it, is pretty awesome.
Adding a beverage station to any space is easy and practical. It designates the area where the necessary tools are stored along with the glassware and set-ups. It's likely you have most of the supplies, so when Saturday night is here, it would be nice to have them together in an organized space.
Now to find the right spot. It doesn't matter if this space is designated by a bar cart or a full-on pub style bar, complete with a kegerator and wine-by-the-glass dispenser (the likes of which would make any bartender jealous). This space does not need refrigeration or running water. It does need a place for bottles, glassware, basic supplies, and an ice bucket. Also consider including a drink dispenser for non-alcoholic beverages when entertaining or just for encouraging your family to drink more water on the weekends. Then add limes, or cucumbers, or strawberries. If there's room, bring coffee into the mix. When this area is assembled, you don't even need decorations. With the pretty glasses, bottles and containers, beverage stations look great on their own merit, saying to friends, "Come in and stay a while".
Appropriately sizing the bar within the space is important. Tiny apartments beg for the good old-fashioned bar cart or a small hutch piece. Oftentimes a fireplace has space on each side. Turn one side into the bar. The dining room is also a good choice. Taking your beverage center to another area of the home helps remove some of the kitchen congregation that inevitably happens during get-togethers. In an open floor plan, tuck a cabinet into any corner. Kitchen bars are great too, as long as they are kept outside the main work triangle. A full bar in the basement is a big bonus. The larger the available space is, the more amenities you can add. Although, if you don't live in the basement, it's still worth considering a beverage center on the main level of your home in a more convenient location.
Who knows, by bringing in a bit of organization, we just may find that a little of yesteryear's glam comes with it.
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