raising the bar- every home needs a bar cart

"every home needs a bar cart."  I always say this.  it's a party on wheels!

here's ours.  we turned an old mid century gardening cart into a bar cart.  I love the patinaed brass detailing on it and the fact that it has wheels makes it mobile so we can move it around to suit our entertaining needs...and it's contents/display are ever-evolving.

here are some "moody" bar carts.  what I love about the first one: the bandana, the lamp, and the portrait/framed art.  you'll notice that a lot of bar carts in this post have a lamp on them- so cozy!

what I love: the colors, the blue glass, displaying the crystal glasses, the flowers, {the lamp}, the art, and flowers- you'll notice that a lot of these bar carts have flowers on them; this one is via domino mag

I also love a bar tray, especially a freestanding one, which I believe is also called a butler's tray.  this one is by Badgley Mischka via elle decor.  note the lovely candlestick:

this is my favorite bar tray of the post, because of it's campaign styling:

and here I just love the painting hanging above it:

another lamp...

you'll notice that some of these are brass bamboo, a very popular style for bar carts {which I love}.  here are some more... this one shows another great {and functional} styling idea- swizzle sticks!

on this one I LOVE the greek key detail!!:

the books are a great idea!!

a variation of style...

honestly, just had to include the next two b'c of the pink:

truthfully, I'm not digging the curved lines...

*loving* the preppy style of these:

check out this sunny yellow chinoiserie one styled by Scot Meacham Wood

prefer blue?

a snapshot of more preppy/lilly styling with fun, bright accessories via a southern state of mind

topiary idea...

an overflow tray...

celebrating or decompressing with a bath?  good thing most bar carts tend to be mobile; it could also be used to stock extra towels, etc.:

a little nautica on the bar cart for the coastal homes!

had to include this one b'c of the wallpaper, truthfully, but candlesticks are another good idea:

short on space?  how about turning something like this slender gardening cart into your bar cart?  would love to see something like this in the corner of a room- especially a kitchen or bathroom!!  via dot & bo

and, speaking of other uses, how about rolling one into the guest room when you have visitors for any items you'd like to provide to them for their comfort?

how about the classical use of a tea cart?

how about setting up a coffee station on it?

have kids?  stock it with healthy drinks and snacks that they can help themselves to especially during summer vacation or when they have friends over?

whatever the use, bar carts serve as self-service stations freeing you up to do other things, entertain, be present!

the end.

xoxo

congratulations to nate and jeremiah - why this means so much

nate & jeremiah - nate berkus is now engaged to jeremiah brent and their love is really beautiful {see photos below!}.  jeremiah previously worked for rachel zoe finally giving her, her family, and her wardrobe the backdrop they deserved.  so, in a way, this is a merger of my design icon and my fashion icon {in a little roundabout way!}!  
this also means a lot to me because they are both starring in banana republic ads - on billboards and bus stops - all across NYC in which their love is prominently displayed...  that breaks barriers and, as nate said, a little girl saw the ad and said to her daddy "that's just like you and daddy."
hearing that brought tears to my eyes.
would love to hear more of their story...  
i know that nate loves so passionately, as any good designer would, and i love to see them both so happy...  mazal tov, nate ♥