An entirely serious consideration of home bars, drinks cabinets and the art of entertaining. Mr Wilde would be proud.
This time of year, there are few things in life more festively satisfying than a well-stocked drinks cabinet or cocktail shelf. Except, perhaps, a beautifully made one.
As the party season approaches, thoughts inevitably turn to socialising and entertaining. Invitations are offered, menus contemplated and the ‘good glasses’ retrieved from wherever they've been hiding since last Christmas - I actually do have some Reidel rose glasses on my Christmas list - please, Santa. And, somewhere amongst the preparations, we begin to wonder whether our homes are quite as ready for guests as we'd like them to be.
Of course, no one needs an excuse to enjoy a beautifully furnished home! But Christmas does provide a rather good one.
A Little Something from the Drinks Cabinet?
Once upon a time, the drinks cabinet was a rather formal affair. Usually reserved for the dining room, it housed the best crystal, a selection of spirits and perhaps a bottle of wine or two saved for special occasions.
Today, the possibilities are considerably more exciting.
A bespoke drinks cabinet might sit discreetly within a kitchen, form part of a living room's fitted cabinetry or occupy an otherwise overlooked alcove. Behind its doors, there's room for an entire collection of glasses, bottles, cocktail accessories and all those little necessities that make entertaining feel effortless.
Pocket doors can disappear neatly into the cabinetry, leaving everything accessible while drinks are being prepared, before closing away again when the entertaining is over.
It's quite wonderful what can be concealed behind a beautiful pair of doors!
Raising the Bar
For those who take their entertaining a little more seriously, a dedicated home bar is an appealing proposition. And we're not necessarily talking about recreating the local pub in the spare room.
A beautifully designed home bar can be an elegant addition to a kitchen, dining room, games room - if you have one! - or entertaining space. Depending on the available room, it might incorporate a drinks fridge, sink, bottle storage, shelving for glassware and a generous easy-clean surface for mixing and serving.
Lighting deserves particular consideration. Subtle illumination within glazed cabinets or beneath shelving can transform the appearance of a bar, highlighting favourite bottles, interesting materials and beautifully crafted details.
Timber, painted cabinetry, mirrored surfaces, metal accents and decorative glass all offer opportunities to introduce a little personality.
After all, if there's one place in the home where a touch of theatricality is entirely appropriate, surely it's the bar, right?
In Defence of the Dresser
The humble dresser deserves a little more recognition.
Traditionally associated with country kitchens and displays of crockery, today's bespoke dressers can be wonderfully versatile pieces of furniture.
Some retain their familiar open shelving and cupboards, providing a home for favourite ceramics, serving dishes and glassware. Others are more contemporary, incorporating glazed doors, integrated lighting, concealed storage and carefully considered display areas. Many suit the role of ‘gin cabinet’ and provide a place for the display of many wonderful UK and worldwide gins. (I know this hobby well.)
A dresser can bring character to a kitchen or dining room while keeping everything needed for entertaining conveniently close to hand. And unlike the decorations, which must eventually return to the loft, a beautifully made dresser earns its place in the home throughout the year.
A Place for Everything
One of the pleasures of bespoke cabinetry is that it can be designed around the things we actually own.
Tall champagne flutes, generously proportioned wine glasses, awkwardly shaped decanters, cocktail shakers and those serving platters that never seem to fit anywhere: all can be accommodated with a little thoughtful planning. Even a mouse house - I have not had a glass, I promise - look above!
Adjustable shelving, dedicated drawers, concealed compartments and carefully positioned lighting make an enormous difference to how comfortably a space works.
There's also something rather satisfying about opening a cabinet and finding precisely what you're looking for. Particularly when the guests have already arrived.
Not Just for Christmas
Although the festive season provides a wonderful opportunity to gather friends and family, the best pieces of furniture aren't designed for a single occasion.
A home bar might become the setting for Friday evening drinks with friends. A drinks cabinet can make an ordinary supper feel like something of an occasion. And a dresser filled with favourite ceramics and glassware brings pleasure to everyday life, whether you're entertaining twelve people or making a cup of tea for one.
At Collins Bespoke, we believe cabinetry should be as individual as the people who use it. Whether that's a discreet cocktail cupboard, a beautifully appointed home bar or a dresser designed to house a lifetime's collection of favourite things, every detail can be considered.
Because while entertaining should never feel like hard work, having somewhere lovely to keep everything certainly helps.
And really, when it comes to a well-furnished home, one can never be too earnest. (See what I did there!)
#foreveranenglishteacher
Of course, if you’re thinking about your entertaining space and are planning a bespoke drinks cabinet or bar area, give us a call.
