MARK CUTLER STYLE GUIDE: Bar Cabinets

The bar area . . . I don't know whether it's the stress of my life or if it's just that I am getting to that age. But I find myself at the end of a long day, looking forward to a nice quiet moment with the day’s newspaper and a long cocktail. My cocktail of choice at the moment has no particular name but for anyone who wants to try it here is the recipe:

No Name Cocktail
1 part Vodka (I am a Grey Goose fan)
1 part Pineapple Juice
2 parts 7-up a splash of dark rum all this poured over some crushed ice, and you have yourself a perfect moment.

Although I do enjoy a cocktail, one thing I cannot abide, is a pile of bottles put into some sort of display, in the name of having a "bar". I prefer my vices tastefully tucked away in a cabinet, for display during use only. Recently I decided that my cabinet needed a bit of an upgrade, so here are some of the pieces that I really liked.

And go with my cocktail, here are few of my favorite bar cabinet picks:

Campaign Bar (Above)- Williams Sonoma Home
I think that this piece (above)i s just terrific, and very well thought out, from the mirrored interior to the marble top for making drinks, it is an effortless design. The polished rosewood and stainless steel trim really pushes it into a very glamorous feeling that is too grand for me, but for many captures the "romance" vote. If you have an interior that verges on the art deco, or even Hollywood Regency it would fit right in. A perfect addition to the quintessential bachelor pad.

Steamer Bar Cabinet-Crate & Barrel 
I have used this particular piece several times , I think that it blends in perfectly with most types of decor, and it is perfectly set up to hold your whole liquor collection as well as a good set of glasses and bar paraphernalia. A word of warning though, the top is also wood, so mixing right on top of the cabinet is probably not the smartest idea, but that just presents an opportunity to get the perfect tray!

Dynastie Chest- Elitis
This is a really tremendous design I think. It has a real old world feel, but executed in a modern way. The front of the cabinet is done in a black resin, based on an old carved cabinet. The level of detail is inspiring, and adds a lot to the design. Inside the fit out, is a little less complex than some of the other choices, but that may suit someone who is just starting to set up a home bar. What I really like is that this one does not really read as a bar, the others, although pretty pieces in their own right, still look like bar cabinets. Once again, I would get a tray for the top, but in this case store the tray somewhere else and only bring it out when cocktail hour is set to begin.

Faubourg Two Door Chest- McGuire Furniture 
While strictly speaking, this is not a bar, it sure would make a good one. Built in beautifully finished crushed bamboo it has a great "resort style" look to it. The perfect piece for those Mai Tai drinkers among you, it wouldn't take a lot to fit out for bar storage. In this case, because there are no pull out shelves, I think I would get some shelves to put my bottles on, and another for glasses, so they could be pulled out easily. It's a fairly expensive choice too, but it is on sale at the moment, so I think it's worth a second look.

Anyway I hope that these pieces inspire you....Bottoms Up!

Mark Cutler
Interior Designer,
MarkCutlerDesign.com