Bar Cart Styling Essentials

One of my favorite aspects of a stylish home is the bar cart! Maybe it's my Irish roots or the fact that I graduated from WVU, but I love a good drink. Who doesn't? A bar cart can be the perfect way to incorporate more of your own personal style into a space. Here are some of my styling essentials to make your portable party on wheels both glamorous and functional:

• The Bar Cart, Finding the right piece that suits your own taste is crucial. If the classic, vintage brass look isn't to your liking, there are endless possibilities. Using stationary furniture like steamer trunks, end tables or a hutch are wonderful options. Keep in mind that if you find a cart at a thrift store that needs a bit of TLC, a coat of metallic paint can easily bring it back to life.
• Art, A large piece hanging above the bar cart can make a big statement. A gallery wall with smaller prints with fun sayings (Press for Champagne!) and designs is also very stylish. I plan to frame my vintage Hermes Zodiac Scarf and place it above my cart. 
• Alcohol, What would a bar cart be without the booze? Stocking your station with standard liquors and mixers is the proper thing to do but focus on what you and your regular guests truly enjoy. I prefer to always have my favorites on hand: Disaronno Amaretto, Bottles of both Red & White Wine, Champs, Crystal Head Vodka, Rum (Light & Dark), Gin, Whisky, Absinthe, Limoncello, etc... It's worthwhile to keep stronger spirits on hand for shots at the ready. For mixers and garnishes, with the exception of a few prettier items, I prefer to use basics that I tend to keep in the kitchen or stocked out of sight in nearby cabinets. 
• Coasters, I have a thing for coasters. I love "collecting" them from bars and pubs while I travel and also enjoy having them custom made. Ask my sister. I have given her literally thousands of coasters since she moved into her house over 6 years ago. Geode coasters (my fav!) are a fantastic way to add an interesting pop of color and texture to your home. 
• Straws, Paper straws add such a fun decorative touch. I am currently loving my new MacKenzie-Childs Courtly Check straws. When my Rewined Champagne Candle was finished burning, I repurposed it as a holder for my straws. I love that it is a recycled wine bottle-turned candle-turned container.
• Accessories, One of my favorite DIY projects that I ever discovered on Pinterest was transforming old trophies into bottle stoppers. Finally a use for those nostalgic pieces we have collecting dust in the attic. A tray is also terrific for sectioning off the cart and keeping objects from looking cluttered. I also love displaying decorative matches for nearby candles. I prefer not to light candles near my alcohol (obviously not a wise move) but I do have them all over the house. I find matchbooks to be synonymous with old world drinking establishments. Very Casablanca. 
• Tools, Must-haves include a stainless steel shaker, ice bucket, tongs, stirrers, flask, cocktail napkins and bottle openers.
• Glassware, I love collecting vintage pieces and having the proper glass for every drink imaginable. I like to only display a few tumbler glasses or champagne flutes on the bar cart at a time with the bulk of my collection being kept elsewhere. This is a nice way to seasonally rotate. If you're a fan of this sort of thing, it's a lot of fun to gradually collect a full set of drinking glasses. Just a few glasses to consider having: Red Wine, White Wine, Champagne, Margarita, Martini, Shot, Highball, Hurricane, Tumbler, Goblet, Snifter, Moscow Mule, Pint (there's so many beer glass varieties), and Absinthe. It's also nice to have a beautiful crystal decanter, if only for the style factor. 
• Books, Of course I have to include a few books. Coffee Table books with the topic of drinks or fashion are optimal for adding height and a bit of variety to the bar cart. Recipe books also come in handy when looking to concoct something new. 
• Lighting, I'm a big fan of the ambiance that lighting creates. Don't underestimate the impact of a small Edison bulb lamp or marquee letter sign (neither option generates enough heat to tamper with alcohol provided that it is not in direct contact). 
• Finishing Touches, I have a thing for blue & white porcelain. A rounded vase filled with your favorite flowers (hydrangea!) creates a feminine vibe. Other found objects or ornamental accents are also wonderful for filling out the bar cart!

Now Playing: "In The Beginning" by Fahrenhaidt 

Luxe Living: Christmas Decor

Now Playing: "Soul Food" by Martina Topley-Bird

Luxe Living: A Touch of Copper

As a natural redhead, I've always described the color of my hair as copper; not unlike a new penny. Because of my familiarity with the shade, perhaps that's why I appreciate the look of copper fixtures and other home furnishings. Its an authentic material that I find warm and somewhat unexpected. When the time comes for me to fly from the nest (hopefully sooner rather than later), I will definitely be coveting copper. I'll certainly adorn my new place with many beautiful pieces.

A few ideas for copper around the house that I'm most attracted to:

• Planters as makeup brush holders
• Backsplash tiles in the kitchen 
• Farmhouse sinks
• Ceilings
• Bath tubs
• Tiles to cover a dishwasher
• Bath/Kitchen faucets
• Lighting fixtures
• Teapots
• Canisters
• Barware
• Tableware
• Trays
• Pots and pans
• Cups
• Desk accessories/containers
• Vases

However you choose to style this material, it's a good way to add originality to your home. 

Now Playing: "Revenge" by Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse ft. The Flaming Lips

Luxe Living: Annie Brahler's Dream Closet

I recently found a new television program that I love to watch. Resale Royalty airs on the Style Network. The show centers around a high-end designer resale store owned by a mother-daughter trio in St. Louis.

I grew up in a household with parents who had an eye for quality pieces but predominantly shopped at thrift stores. Because of this fact, I've always admired antiques and objects with a possible unknown history. I have no reservations about purchasing something pre-owned. When you discover something that you never even knew you wanted and truly let that item speak to you, it's all the more special. I delight in unique objects with a past, especially if those goodies are valuable treasures. Clothing and accessories (along with art, cars, houses, music and just about everything else in the world) simply aren't made like they once were. Unless you have the money to purchase from the top tier of luxury brands, thrifting is your best option.

On the pilot episode of Resale Royalty, the ladies from Women's Closet Exchange head to noted interior designer, Annie Brahler's stunning Victorian home in Jacksonville, Illinois, for a buy.

I thought Annie's home was spectacular (and also couldn't help but wonder who her sweater was by). Any visit that revolves around two of my favorite things- champagne and style, can't go wrong. In the end, the ladies from the resale shop offered Annie $15,000 for some wonderful pieces from her wardrobe including a handful of Louis Vuitton bags, an Hermes scarf, Diane von Furstenberg evening dress and Chanel earrings. Some lucky ladies in St. Louis certainly benefited from that closet purge!

If you're a Pinterest fanatic like me, Annie Brahler's closet may look familiar. A photo from a House Beautiful feature of her stunning custom dressing room went viral on the site.

Absolutely perfect!












Now Playing: "Band of Gold" by Freda Payne
*One of my favorite songs!

Luxe Living: The Book Nook

“I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book! When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.” 
-Jane Austen

Whether you're a fan of whimsical fairy tales, epic novels or an avid nonfiction reader, everyone deserves a special place to curl up with their favorite piece of literature. A book nook is a creative way to add a personal touch to your home. You don't need a monstrous library or an entire room but a small corner of the house makes for a relaxing spot to unwind.

A simple bookshelf, lamp, cozy chair, throw pillow and blanket are a great place to start. I like to burn a candle and often listen to soft music while I read, so a table and nearby power sockets are also convenient.














Now Playing: Classical WQED
*Love to listen to classical music while I read or take a bath :)