For several years, I have been wanting a bar cart or some cool place to set up a proper bar in our home. I was inspired by photos like this cart attributed to Deborah Needleman, founder of Domino Magazine:
Also, I have pored over (no pun intended) HGTV’s article “How to Style a Bar Cart” and this amazing re-styled cart done by Elsie Larson over at A Beautiful Mess.
I looked around for potential carts, but never really found what I was looking for. Then, this past December, my Dad showed me an old ice box (early 1900s) that he rescued from someone who was going to throw it away. It was in rough shape and needed lots of love, but right away, I knew what I would use it for…our bar!
Amazing, right?
I wish I had taken before photos. Maybe my Dad has some. If so, I will add them later. I know it needed a lot of clean up. The brass fixtures were black and the tin on the inside of the top compartment was beyond repair. The original top was rotten, too. My Dad made a new top and lined the top compartment with cedar.
He made glass racks to fit inside, too.
That crystal was my Great Aunt Dot’s. I love the etched stars.
The brass latches are original.
We added a brass bottle opener.
It looks like we are almost out of vodka and tequila. Must remember to replace those soon.
The top compartment is where we keep glassware, straws for stirring and cocktail napkins.
The bottom compartment has two shelves. One for bottles and mixers and the other for wine and other festive equipment.
I’m a firm believer that you can turn most any piece of furniture into a bar. I have seen night stands, kitchen islands and even just large trays atop a kitchen counter turned into entertaining spaces that would satisfy most cocktail consumers. It feels really grown up to have a place dedicated to adult beverages.
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