apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

We call our "service cart" and find it extremely useful - a safe, comfortable, efficient and civilized way of moving food, drinks, napkins and dishes between the kitchen, dining room, bedroom, library and terrace. An instant sideboard - saves table space, wonderful for used dishes. Recommend getting one with a lift-off tray.

Unfortunately, I associate bar carts with people who like to display their alcohol. I generally consider this to be poor taste, in the same vein as having wine racks as part of the decor, or a "bar" in the living or family room. I suppose if you bring out a bar cart for a party and at least clear it of the booze between parties, the would be just fine. These carts can be very stylish, and in the right setting, they are quite practical. I agree with Bromelia as to the uses of bar carts.

Hmm, we don't really have anywhere hidden away to keep our alcohol (since cabinet space is at a premium in our kitchen)... so since it's "on display" like it or not, at least putting it neatly on an attractive cart is better than nothing! I feel the same way about our wine rack... exactly where else could we put it other than in our kitchen? I hate to think that living in a small apartment with no built-ins makes us automatically tasteless! That said, a cart like this can also be a tea cart rather than a bar cart, and would look very pretty with an attractive tea service and some fresh flowers. Is that tasteless too or would tea be ok? =)

I love some of these carts. We debated about getting one, but since we have plenty of space, decided that we preferred to not always display our bar. We made a mini bar area in our dining room out or an old TV cabinet instead, which also saves us our limited cupboard space. See what we did here:
http://makemineeclectic.wordpress.com/2009/03/24/mini-bar-makes-more-progress/

We use a tray table from Target as a bar in our dining room. It's a dark wood tray set on a chrome base. It doesn't have wheels, though, so I guess it's not technically a cart.

Yep, our liquor is out in the open.

Is this going to be like the TV-in-the-fireplace post, where people argued that your propensity to keep certain things in the open or hide them speaks volumes about your self-esteem/anxieties/class issues?

I hope not.

We just purchased the Acacia Mini Bar from CB2 and are loving it! I love the idea of an open bar cart, but with a baby on the way we opted for one that is enclosed and that we can put a child lock on - there's lots of breakables in there!

But in a small NYC apartment it's great to have the kitchen cabinet space back that had been dedicated to barware.

That first cart from Restoration Hardware is simply stunning! But my two or three beers a year (in restaurants) doesn't justify the purchase, I fear! Plus, I can't think of any space in my house that would comfortabley hold it, sad to say. (Every space is designated and either has it's piece of furniture or is needed to remain empty for visual rest.)

I did buy a tea cart for my Library to stash overflow materials on in our local history room -- they can contain a LOT of stuff!

My liquor is out in the open. Why not? I typically drink cocktails every night. Shocking, I know. I store my wine differently only because my I keep my house quite warm.

Making a show of labels is always vulgar, but there is nothing in poor taste about displaying liquor itself. Liquor has long been displayed by people of much higher social caste than me (and presumably you, unless you're nobility). But of course I can see how you could dislike seeing it out in the open if you have issues about drinking that make you sensitive to it.

I seriously love that Restoration Hardware liquor cart, but what I really want (and could never afford) is a Napoleonic tantalus. Awesome.

Once again, I appear to have stepped in it.

I shall simply remark that the nobility are not always paragons of good taste. I mean, look at Versailles or Blenheim.

Beyond that, I apologize for my snooty comments.

The great thing about furniture like this is that it can be used in multiple ways. I agree that the bar carts pictured would make beautiful (or fun!) tea carts. I, for one, used to have a coffee cart in my living room that I used daily for personal caffeine consumption and when entertaining for preparing and serving espresso. I didn't see the sense in putting it out of sight since I used the contents of the cart at least once a day.

Liquor bottles are... or at least, can be... quite beautiful.

Displayed liquor does not an alcoholic make. It just means you trust your help. ;)

Yes, I've been currently debating as to whether I need a bar cart for my apartment. I'm torn. I have no problem with keeping alcohol out in the open, but I wonder about the logistics of a moving cart for drink mixing. They also seem a little low, like you need to bend over to serve yourself a drink.

I might go with a smaller console or buffet setup. I just purchased some beautiful Kim Seybert bar accessories and I am anxious to put them to use!

Just as I would not serve my guest canned food from the can, I do not serve my liquors from the bottles that I buy them in. I use decanters. Not the heavy, cut crystal ones, but sleek, modern ones. Each one is different. You can find suitable ones at Crate & Barrel, Pier Nine and such shops, or visit the studio of a glassblower. Besides, no one but you needs to know what brand of Scotch or Vodka you're pouring: I'm assuming that it tastes good, right?

My father was a sportsman, and I inherited his set of decanters, each with a hunting scene hand cut into the heavy crystal. I keep them packed away, though: not quite to my taste, and I'm not a hunter.

By the way, I'm descended from Russian nobility... and I agree with Usbek de Perse: way to many aristocrats have no taste at all, or terrible taste at best. Money or ancestry cannot guarantee an "eye".

I have an antique tea cart from my great grandmother that I have turned into a bar cart for my husband. His favorite drinks are on the top next to his humidor.

http://thebluepearlgirl.wordpress.com

Not if you have kids. Scotch looks too much like apple juice. Don't ask me how I know.