Even if you're not a big drinker, it's worth taking the time to set up a bar at home.
Because? “It shows that you care about people having a good time,” said Jessica Schuster, 38, a interior designer based in New York City. “I'm not a big drinker, but I love having a bar at home because I love to entertain.”
For clients with large homes, Schuster often designs glamorous built-in bars. But you don't need a dedicated, fancy 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 side table, or anything else,” Schuster said. “You just get creative with it.”
To demonstrate how she does it, Schuster recently created a bar on an antique Jacques Adnet sideboard in the dining room of her SoHo loft.
Prepare the surface
Choose the location: Any console table, credenza or cabinet that is in the room where you plan to entertain can work. “It could even be on part of the dining room table,” Schuster said.
Clean the surface by removing all clutter and dust to create a blank slate. Then add trays. “You just saw that,” said Schuster, who used a vintage Hermès wicker tray and a silver Christian Dior tray for his bar.
Depending on how many can reasonably fit, you can use one tray to store bottles, another for glassware, and a third as a work surface.
Cure your bottles
It's not necessary to display every single bottle you own, especially if some are flashy or contain the last ounces of liquor purchased decades ago.
For an attractive display, pick and choose. Try to include a selection that meets a variety of preferences, including gin, vodka, tequila, whiskey and a non-alcoholic option, Schuster said, “but choose the nicest specialty bottles.”
Some of his favorite containers are Solento tequila. “Their bottles remind me of old perfume bottles,” she said. “They are always a big hit when I entertain.”
Choose interesting glasses
Place 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 with unusual shapes, colors and designs.
“You don't always have to have a complete set,” said Schuster, who likes to collect distinctive glassware. “You can mix and match.”
Provide the tools
Bottles and glasses are of little use if you don't have the right tools and extras necessary to mix drinks without having to run to the kitchen.
What should be on your list? At a minimum, a cocktail shaker or mixing glass with a bar spoon, an ice bucket full of ice, a jigger, and a corkscrew.
It is worth looking for old objects or those that have a story behind them. “I love incorporating vintage pieces into the bar,” Schuster said, noting that he found his cocktail shaker and ice bucket at a flea market in Paris, which serves as a conversation starter.
He also likes to set out bowls filled with citrus slices. “I have cut oranges, limes and lemons because they add color and texture to the bar,” she said. “I make them in wedges, because that way you can really incorporate the juice into your drink, instead of sliced.”
Give it style
The final touch: decorative objects that add visual appeal to your bar.
“Style it,” said Schuster, who added a twisted beeswax candle with a brass candlestick from Il Buco Vita, along with compact sculptural plates.
And most importantly: “I always have fresh flowers,” she said.
She likes to display them in antique Scandinavian vases. This time, she kept the arrangements simple by separating the flowers into types, placing poppies in one vase and tulips in another.
Flowers may not make cocktails taste better, but they add a sense of occasion.
“Your bar should be functional, but also have a thoughtful display,” he explained. “It's the surprise moment.”
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