At last! A bar!

We finally have a bar, people! After a looooong search, the hubby and I finally agreed on a bar cabinet that we both liked, that fit perfectly into the space we planned for it, and has all the storage that we need.  I’m so happy!!!

It took us months to settle on one.  Here are some of the finalists in the dozens of options that we considered:

1. The gorgeous gold Madison bar cart from Blue Carreon Home. It costs Php54,000 ($1232) and is so pretty!  Unfortunately, the hubby says it’s TOO pretty and looks too fragile. The mirrored glass shelving probably won’t last long in our home.  We have 2 young boys, after all.

2. I loved the Tamsin Chinoiserie Bar Cart from Horchow.com. I love that it’s white and will match our decor perfectly.  It’s made of powder-coated aluminum with tempered glass shelving.   Plus, it’s only $795.  The downside to this is that Horchow doesn’t ship to Singapore. Can you see my tears of frustration?

3. The Libations Bar Cart from Crate and Barrel  ($599) looks sturdier, has more room for all of our accoutrements, and is available here in Singapore! The bar cart’s dainty iron frame is brass plated and sealed with clear matte powdercoat and smartly accented with leather-wrapped handles and slim, spoked rubber wheels. It’s not as pretty as the first two, so the hubby likes it. But it’s a bit too wide for our space. I measured it and went back just to be sure. It really is too big.

What we needed was a bar cabinet that had height instead of width, was made of a sturdy material, and had enough space for everything.

4. Enter the Sloane Java Wine Bar, also from Crate and Barrel. It was hiding in the corner of their showroom at Ion. They had a dark grey one on display, but I asked and they said they had it in the mahogany finish. Which is just perfect because our dining set is in mahogany too!

I love that it can hold our wine bottles and not just the spirits.  The hubby loves its solid look, and I have to admit it’s so much safer than the delicate metal ones I’ve been eyeing.  You know what’s the best thing about it? It looks like it was made for the space! Take a look –

It took a few tries before I was happy with the way it’s styled. I didn’t want it to be too fussy.  A few decorative objects inserted among the bottles and glassware did the trick.

 

 

I didn’t want to ruin the surface, so I placed a gold tray under the bottles and decanter.  I do love the touches of gold and silver, they brighten up the space!

What do you think? What are your tips for styling bar cabinets?