
The dog days of summer will be the perfect time to indulge in deliciously cool cocktails. Of course, half of the pleasure of cocktail hour would be your production and drama surrounding the mixing of the beverage. By creating your own Mad Men–worthy lair to creative updates for a classic bar cart and more, there is guaranteed to be something in those 16 fresh suggestions to liven up your summertime bar that will fit your style and inspire your next party. Cheers!
Laidlaw Schultz architects
Create an authentic look for your Mad Men–inspired bar with classic glassware. Resources such as eBay, Craigslist, thrift shops and yard sales can all turn up amazing examples of midcentury modern glassware and bar tools, often for less than brand new bits would cost.
JayJeffers
Play a midcentury texture with loungeworthy furniture. If you truly want to have that Mad Men seem, do not stop with the pub. Finish the room with a swooping chaise longue or a sleek sofa, Danish teak chairs and a very low credenza.
Jennifer Grey Color Specialist & Interiors Design
Add a creative touch with chalkboard paint. With a swipe of chalkboard paint (in classic black or any color you fancy), you are able to draw attention to your pub tray. For a party, you could even compose the night’s signature beverage recipe directly on the wall.
Kate Jackson Design
Choose rattan for a fresh, summery look. Wicker, rattan and other natural substances call to mind tropical beverages and relaxing summer days. Play the mood with plenty of green plants and fresh veggies — perfect for adding to your beloved summery drinks.
Thom Filicia Inc..
Anchor your pub with large-scale accessories. Sometimes glasses and bottles can seem a little dinky all on their own, and tiny accessories may get lost in a sea of same-size products. Instead, focus on adding only a few big, bold pieces which draw the eye. Try an oversize lamp, tall shots, an intriguing vase or a stack of significant art books.
Janelle Steinberg Interior Design
Gussy up your bar area with a portrait. Didn’t get that family heirloom painting of Uncle Ernest? No issue. It’s fun (and a wonderful conversation starter) to hang a classic portrait of an unidentified individual.
Use any surface to house a pop-up pub. If you don’t want a permanent bar set up, it’s still possible to create your own pop-up pub only for celebrations. Make it fun with the addition of unique accessories like a galvanized pail as an ice bucket, burlap wine bottle covers, and coupe-style champagne glasses for an old-fashioned look.
General Assembly
Incorporate the pub into the kitchen. Do your guests constantly wind up in the kitchen? If so, take the hint and put your pub where your guests can be appropriate in the heart of things. Use open shelving or set a bar tray on the counter.
Dabito
Scour vintage shops for an enjoyable bargain find. Just because your budget is tight does not mean you should deny yourself the joys of getting your own pub cart. Keep an eye out at yard sales, estate sales and thrift shops for classic carts, and maintain an open mind as well — a bag rack using a tray at the top, a tea cart or a rolling hospital cart can make a fantastic pub.
Monica Ewing
Treat your thrift shop find to an simple DIY upgrade. If that thrifted pub cart requires a little additional TLC, do not despair. Give it a coat of fresh paint and cover damaged areas with patterned wallpaper, oilcloth or even pretty wrapping paper.
gogo gulgun selcuk
Cover the wall using pattern. If your pub cart has been tucked into a deserted corner or a tiny nook, call attention to the spot with a patterned wallpaper, textured grass fabric or beautiful cloth suspended in the ceiling.
Kate
No room for a full cart? Place a pub tray onto a credenza or tuck it among the piles in your bookcase for a speakeasy feel.
Sandy Koepke
Take it outside. Produce a fast outdoor pub by mounting a thick shelf on mounts and pulling up a couple of stools. Finish the region with potted plants, an outside lantern and art that can resist the elements.
Synthesis Design Inc..
Create your own pass-through window. If your kitchen window opens on a deck or patio, why don’t you turn it in your own private bar? A counter and stools tucked right up to the window make it simple to pass drinks and snacks right from the kitchen.
Lands End Development – Designers & Builders
Create a destination pub without leaving home. Have a gardening shed or other outbuilding? Deck it out with a place to perch, stock it with your favorite drink-making provides and invite a few friends over, and you will soon forget it was you who blended that cocktail!
Lizette Marie Interior Design
Already thinking of collapse? Park your pub cart from your library, and you’ll be ready for comfy sips when the first leaves return.
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Rustic Home Bars: Get Your Swizzle On