Even if you’re not much of a drinker, it’s worth taking the time to set up a home bar.
Why; “It shows you care about people having a good time,” Jessica Schuster, 38, said. Decorator based in New York. “I’m not much of a drinker myself, but I like having a bar at home because I like to have fun.”
For clients with large homes, Ms. Schuster often designs glamorous built-in bars. But you don’t need a fancy dedicated space: It’s easy to set up a decent bar on almost any flat surface.
“You can always create a bar at home, whether you use your kitchen island, a larger round table or something else,” Ms. Schuster said. “You just get creative with it.”
To show how she does it, Ms. Schuster recently created a bar on a vintage Jacques Adnet buffet in the dining room of her SoHo loft.
Prepare the Surface
Choose the spot: Any console table, credenza, or cabinet located in the room where you plan to entertain can work. “It could even be on part of your table,” Ms. Schuster said.
Clean the surface by removing all clutter and dust to create a blank slate. Then add disks. “That just dresses it up,” said Ms. Schuster, who used a vintage Hermès wicker tray and Christian Dior silver tray for her bar.
Depending on how much will fit, you can use one tray to hold bottles, another for glassware, and a third as a work surface.
Curate your bottles
It’s not necessary to show off every bottle you own—especially if some are fancy or hold the last few ounces of liquor purchased decades ago.
For an attractive look, pick and choose. Try to include a selection that covers a variety of tastes, such as gin, vodka, tequila, whiskey and a non-alcoholic option, Ms. Schuster said, “but choose the nicest specialty bottles.”
Some of her favorite packs are from Solento tequila. “Their bottles remind me of vintage perfume bottles,” he said. “It’s always a hit when I’m having fun.”
Select Interesting Glasses
Put in a few styles of glasses for different types of drinks. And don’t use your everyday glasses and juice glasses – this is an opportunity to share interesting pieces with guests, including vintage glasses in unusual shapes, colors and patterns.
“You don’t always have to have a complete set,” said Ms. Schuster, who likes to collect subtle glassware. “You can mix and match.”
Give the Tools
Bottles and glasses are of little use if you don’t provide the proper tools and any additives needed to mix drinks without having to run to the kitchen.
What should be on your bucket list? At the very least, a cocktail shaker or mixing glass with a bar spoon, an ice bucket filled with ice, a jigger, and a corkscrew.
It’s worth looking for antique items or those that have a story behind them. “I like to incorporate vintage pieces into the bar,” Ms. Schuster said, noting that she found her glass and ice bucket at a flea market in Paris, which is a conversation starter.
She also likes to bring out bowls full of citrus wedges. “I have sliced oranges, limes, lemons, because they add color and texture to the bar,” he said. “I make them in wedges, because that way you can really put the juice in your drink, as opposed to slices.”
Style It
The final touch: decorative items that add visual appeal to your bar.
“Style it,” said Ms. Schuster, who added a twisted taper beeswax with a bronze candlestick from Il Buco Vita, along with solid sculptural plates.
And most importantly: “I always have fresh flowers,” she said.
She likes to display them in vintage Scandinavian vases. This time, she kept the arrangements simple, dividing the flowers into types, placing poppies in one vase and tulips in another.
Flowers may not make cocktails taste better, but they do add a sense of occasion.
“Your bar needs to be functional, but also have a thoughtful display,” he explained. “It’s the moment of wow.”
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