May 24

BAR ESSENTIAL: DECANTERS

2012

In this week’s bar essential post, we’ve got our eyes on decanters. Both functional and decorative, they add a special touch to a home bar. We love mixing vintage and modern decanters in with liquor bottles.

Image via Ethanollie

Domino Magazine

Embrace your inner Mad Men and place a few decanters filled with your favorite liquors on a tray for a stylish set-up. Check out Etsy and eBay for vintage options. Here are a few of our favorite decanters…

1. Looking Glass Decanters, Anthropologie 2. Midas Collection, Design Within Reach, 3. Capuchine decanter, Jonathan Adler 4. Blue skyscraper Blenko decanters, 1st Dibs 5. Owen Decanter, Crate & Barrel 6. Gaffer Decanter, Anthropologie,

May 08

Bar Essential: Bar Tools

2012

Truth be told, any proper home bar requires a series of tools to craft the perfect cocktail. The classics include the Hawthorne strainer, the long stirring spoon, the cocktail shaker, the jigger, the muddler and the bar key. To this list, we’ve added a few additions that are must-haves in our book: a microplane for grating fresh nutmeg and cinnamon, a citrus reamer for freshly squeezed juice in a pinch, a peeler for peels and garnishes and 2″ square ice-cube tray, well just because the cubes look cool (and take a slower time to melt).

If you want to get a little more crafty with your cocktails, we suggest adding a fine strainer for straining pulp, a hand citrus juicer (and a heavy duty one) if you plan on making lots of greyhounds (or Dalmatians), a blender for those frozen concoctions you love, a duel-purpose Boston Shaker and a Japanese Yarai mixing glass well because you’re ready to take your mixology to the next level.

If there’s anything you think we’re missing, please drop us a line…

Apr 10

Bar Essential: Trays

2012

Now that you’ve found your perfect bar cart, before you even think of stocking your bar, pick up some trays in different shapes and sizes. Trust us, these workhorses will keep your bar looking stylish and organized long before any guests arrive.

Via Lonny | The Selby

Large and modern or small and vintage, trays can be used to corral liquor and glassware. In a pinch they can be used to serve drinks.

via Lonny | Sunset Magazine

Trays keep everything pulled together and help create an area for “the bar” in small spaces.

via Lonny | Simply Seleta

We love to use smaller trays to organize bar utensils and glasses.

Octavia & Brown- photo: Daniel Krieger; Styling: Emily Butler

With so many options out there, here are a few of our favorite trays to help style the bar.

1. Dalhia Platter, HJohn Derian 2. Beautiful Tray, John Derian 3. Samba Round Tray, Crate & Barrel 4. Two’s Company Python Tray 5. Spotted Porcelain Tray in Orange, Furbish Studio 6. Rectangular Tray, West Elm 7. Carnaby Scale Tray, Johnathan Adler 8. Vintage Mirror Tray, Etsy 9. Ikat Butler’s Tray, Decorative Things

Apr 06

Bar Cart Love

2012

Time for cocktails? We’re delighted to see that the home bar, once relegated to back cabinets and shelves has gotten new life recently in the form of bar carts and drink trolleys. We feel strongly that liquor bottles with fantastic packaging, fun vintage glasses and 60s barware should always be out on display.

via That Bow | Emily Henderson