After a recent trip to New York City I came home inspired to improve our BAR set up. This was our current set up.
Pure depression. In my defense, this is a rather weak representation, our Bar wouldn't normally look this way but the Dining room has been a mess for a couple months (painting) so I've put zero effort into this room and the bar has suffered greatly. But you get the picture. We have the Modular Bar Buffet from Pottery Barn which is a great piece, can't complain. BUT. I just felt the need for something more sophisticated, in both the decorative and liquor realm.
A great thanks to our friends Nam & Brooke who not only hosted us to the perfect day in NYC but also inspired us to improve our brown palette (brown meaning whiskey). For anyone that knows us, you're probably thinking that Rick doesn't can't drink whiskey. This is true. Regardless, Nam & Brooke have an impressive mix of brown in their Upper West side apt and I left feeling like ours was childs-play.
But the inspiration didn't stop there. We ended a long day of juicing at the Little Branch
Doesn't look like much, does it? Don't be fooled. Somewhere between the metal straws (which they sell & I bought 6 of) and the fist size ice cubes, I fell in love with a different style of drink, best summed up by this quote on their menu:
Certain gentleman of other days, who made of drinking one of the pleasures of life - not one of it's evils; and who, whatever they drank, proved able to carry it, keep their heads and remain gentleman even in their cups. Their example is commended to their posterity.
I also grabbed a copy of the "Rules of this Bar", I couldn't help but share this one rule:
Do not bring anyone here unless you would leave that person alone in your home. You are responsible for the behaviour of your guests.
Hilarious considering I'm sure we all have that one friend we wouldn't leave alone in our house with alcohol.
The bar was sophisticated and had a true appreciation for ingredients, that, combined with our good company (Nam & Brooke) it was a perfect storm of inspiration!
So back to the post at hand - Bar Cart! I had remembered seeing a bar cart at Restoration Hardware awhile back but after checking their site, it was no longer available. I spent an evening googling bar carts and I found a lot I liked but they were all in the $1000 range. I had pretty much given up until....
We had to go out to RH for rug samples and while checking out, I asked the lady if they had plans to bring back their bar carts (other than the current wood one they offer). She said no but if I left my number, she would check to see if there were any left in the stock room. An hour later, we got a call that they had ONE left. So of course we zipped over there and when they pulled it out the price tag read Gable Bar Cart $599 - yikes! Let's just say, I loved it but not $600 in love. So I asked what they could do on the price and after a few agonizing minutes, she came back and said $199!!!! Sold! I just couldn't pass it up.
So here is a pic of our new Bar cart from online. I have a long list of to do's before I can share the real-life version. Stay tuned! Until then, cheers!
