A Bar Cart for Every Style
Not sure how to work this must-have piece into your entertaining repertoire? Six bloggers show how it’s done.
Nothing can compare to the ease and freedom of summer—fragrant, sun-drenched days trailing lazily into warm, carefree nights. Make this season one long party you and your friends will never forget with an outdoor bar cart. We enlisted six bloggers to put their unique spin on this summer entertaining staple.
The Southern Belle
Photo: Lavin Label
This sweet and sophisticated bar cart brings the garden party right to your door, y'all. Monica Lavin, of Lavin Label, has imbued her cart with all the Southern staples: sweet tea, monograms, and the pink floral mix of a true Southern belle. Show off and show out with a glimmering bar cart sure to dazzle guests. (Once the summer ends, bring indoors to enjoy yourself.)
Get the Look: To recreate the look in your own home, think classy-meets-fun. Monograms are a must, as are anything gold and girly. Monica has set up a bountiful vignette of florals, peaches, and mint, so guests can see at a glance what their drink is all about. Your pup in a flower collar won't hurt, either!
Editor's Tip! Pick a signature drink for friends to imbibe. Making big batches allows you to enjoy your company rather than play bartender all night. You can find Monica's recipe for Southern Sweet Peach Tea here.
Photo: Hunted Interior
Kristin Jackson, of The Hunted Interior, knows how to entertain, and her bar cart is no exception. A veritable party on wheels, this cart is decked out with everything needed to transport guests to a tropical getaway. A retro record player sets the pace for the night while providing tunes;
a slushy machine{/2} cranks out Kristin's "lushies;" and chic barware makes guests feel appreciated. Ever the conscientious hostess, Kristin also put out flavoured syrups and fresh fruit for those already feeling the relaxed island vibe.
Get the Look: You're on island time now, so think lush botanicals, bright colours, and tropical fruit galore. Kristin's lucite and gold bar cart imparts an added punch of luxe to the scene. Don't forget the extra details: plenty of seating and pillows make for relaxed guests.
Editors' Tip: A record player and a few records (or an ipod and a dock) is a great way to get guests involved, while giving yourself time off from music duty.
Photos: Just A Girl And Her Blog
Abby Lawson, of Just a Girl and Her Blog, decked out her versatile wood bar cart with a lemonade station for friends and family of all ages. A large lemonade dispenser and juice decanters invite guest to help themselves. Adorable
milk bottles, complete with caddy{/3}, hearken back to simpler times.
Get the Look: Enjoy summer's bounty by incorporating a bevy of fresh fruits onto your cart. Here, Abby used bowls as vibrant as the offerings. Choose bright blues, greens, purples, and pinks to brighten up your natural
wood cart{/6} and set the summer scene. Finish the look with a galvanized ice bucket, striped hand towel, and small wooden accessories like Abby's lanterns.
Photo: City Farmhouse
Jen, of City Farmhouse, knows how to create a party wherever she is. Her impressive bar cart (really, a cooler on wheels) adds a sleek sophistication to any soiree. No more trips to get ice here! Though her backyard may not be a large country field, she's brought the picnic to her guests with smart additions and creative ways to include all the fix-ins. From craft beers to a charcuterie board, city life seems like a walk in the park with this lush spread.
Get the Look: A chic striped outdoor rug sets the stage for Jen's backyard picnic. Seating comes in the form of versatile pieces—a garden stool, a cube pouf, and coordinating ikat and geometric pillows. The white, light blue, light green colour scheme nods to the coast, while her charcuterie and orange tree add a European vibe. Finish the look with string lights or candles to keep the fun going well into the night.
Photo: Love Grows Wild
Liz, of Love Grows Wild, crafted an outdoor bar cart made for summer nights. Airy and light, her cart sits to the side of her conversation set, so every guest can help themselves at their leisure. Rather than filling her bar with different alcohols, she transferred them into identical decanters for a uniform and relaxed label-free look. Below, she stashed wine in an unpretentious galvanized bucket.
Get the Look: This idyllic scene—a whitewashed palette of natural materials that seem to have been bathed in the elements for years—is a cinch to recreate. For this look, go au naturel: whites, wicker, woods, and rattan. White and galvanized metal accessories keep the design subdued. You want the space to look lived-in, so make each piece of barware special. Even Liz's decanters, glasses, and beverage dispenser seem unique, as if they could have been in the family for years.
Photo: Paper & Stitch
Brittni Mehlhoff, of Paper & Stitch, put together a bar cart that isn't a cart at all—it's a shelf! Your bar cart can really be anything that works in your space. Think outside the box like Brittni and see what great finds you can discover! It was very important to her that she keep the look streamlined and minimal, yet she was able to fit everything needed: glassware, alcohol, mixers, lemons, cutting board, napkins, straws and drink sticks, and even a succulent and flowers to liven it up.
Get the Look: Brittni embraced a subdued and on-trend colour palette of pinks and greys, so stick to muted colours. She chose decanters to elevate the design and geometric napkins to emphasize the shapes of the cart. Less is more so chose a few accessories you love in light colours, and when in doubt, do without.
Photos: Paper & Stitch
