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Our Home Bar {#junkyardfancy}

by Kimbrough

For several years, I have been wanting a bar cart or some cool place to set up a proper bar in our home. I was inspired by photos like this cart attributed to Deborah Needleman, founder of Domino Magazine:

bar cart 1

Also, I have pored over (no pun intended) HGTV’s article “How to Style a Bar Cart” and this amazing re-styled cart done by Elsie Larson over at A Beautiful Mess.

bar cart 2

I looked around for potential carts, but never really found what I was looking for. Then, this past December, my Dad showed me an old ice box (early 1900s)  that he rescued from someone who was going to throw it away. It was in rough shape and needed lots of love, but right away, I knew what I would use it for…our bar!

antique ice box turned into home bar

Amazing, right?

I wish I had taken before photos. Maybe my Dad has some. If so, I will add them later. I know it needed a lot of clean up. The brass fixtures were black and the tin on the inside of the top compartment was beyond repair. The original top was rotten, too. My Dad made a new top and lined the top compartment with cedar.

He made glass racks to fit inside, too.

glass racks, home barThat crystal was my Great Aunt Dot’s. I love the etched stars.

brass handle, home barThe brass latches are original.

IMG_0339_1We added a brass bottle opener.

IMG_0389_1It looks like we are almost out of vodka and tequila. Must remember to replace those soon.

home bar, antique ice boxThe top compartment is where we keep glassware, straws for stirring and cocktail napkins.

IMG_0396_1The bottom compartment has two shelves. One for bottles and mixers and the other for wine and other festive equipment.

antique ice box turned into home barI’m a firm believer that you can turn most any piece of furniture into a bar. I have seen night stands, kitchen islands and even just large trays atop a kitchen counter turned into entertaining spaces that would satisfy most cocktail consumers.  It feels really grown up to have a place dedicated to adult beverages.

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5 comments

Ashley Smith June 18, 2014 - 7:57 am
Love it! Pappa Buzz is amazing too!
Oliver July 2, 2014 - 12:49 pm
KIM! I love the converted Ice Box Bar! I remember the one in my grandparents' house. My Grandfather hid his candy (obviously not very well) in the top and my Grandmother kept her bridge cards/score pads/cocktail napkins in the bottom.
Kim July 2, 2014 - 8:40 pm
Oliver, that is amazing! We love having such a neat place for the adult beverage station. I feel kind of grown up now.
Ashley Applewhite November 13, 2014 - 10:32 am
This is awesome! I recently started collecting pieces from thrift stores and garage sales to repurpose. I got some good inspiration from some of these photos! Thanks for sharing! I hope to put some of my finds on my blog soon. Come check it out if you're interested! www.ashleyapplewhite.com
Kim November 13, 2014 - 3:24 pm
I will do that Ashley! I'm a sucker for a home bar. There are so many ways to do one, too.

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