COCKTAIL TIME: Ways to Create the Perfect Bar At Home

One of my favorite spots in a house is the bar.  No, not because it involves a glass of champagne or a cocktail, but because I have a weakness for an orderly, colorful, sparkling display.  It doesn't hurt that it usually includes a tasty beverage though! My obsession with a chic bar set-up comes from a love of seeing decanters, glasses, wine bottles, tea, coffee, colorful liquor bottles, the list goes on, displayed in a pleasing arrangement.  Flowers, lamps, snacks, or small accessories make it even more appealing. You dont need an actual bar, although a well-designed wet bar is fabulous. Some of my favorite bars are created using tables, chests, or other furniture. I love these set-ups so much, I actually have 2 in my home.  I have a vintage Regency tray table that was my Grandmother's, and I have a console table set up closer to the kitchen.  Truly, it's one of my favorite parts of a home!  Although small, it can become such a fun focal point if you style it right. Try these colorful and creative ways to set up your own bar.  I would love to try ideas from all of these.

Don't miss a quick shot of mine at the end. Also, would love to see pics if you have any chic entertaining spots you have created!

Love how the ping pong paddles and balls are kept on the bar cart!

courtesy of DesignManifest

Love this new tray table at Candelabra in Mt. Pleasant, SC!  Great price too!

courtesy of littlegreennotebook



courtesy of mylittleapartment

This was done with a shelf from Ikea.

Below, is the tray table that was my Grandmother's.  It's one of my favorite pieces at home.  I have it set up very simply right now.  The green ice bucket, which is another vintage piece, was given to me by a friend after she used it on the set of one of her films.  The decanter belonged to my other Grandmother, and the lamp is a vintage find of mine that is part of a set. 

Monday Morning Mix

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!  I'm wondering how many people took advantage of the tax free weekend.  I tried to avoid that whole scene.  However, I ended up downtown on King Street on Friday, probably one of the worst spots ever if trying to avoid the tax free shoppers.  Hampden Clothing was having a big sale, so I had to check it out.  I'm definitely glad I went, because I scored an Alexander Wang skirt for $30, not bad!  It wasn't too crowded, but walking there, I noticed the Apple store had crowd control ropes up for their customers.  No thank you! I waited in line for my iPad 2 for 3 days, and would not do that again, especially in downtown Charleston in August!  Did any of you get any good tax free deals?  I also squeezed in some beach  time and caught up with a good friend in New York over the phone.  I'm not a huge fan of talking on the phone, nor do I ever really have the time, but I feel like it's so important to catch up with your good friends every now and then. Hope all of you had just as nice of a weekend!  Time for my promised Monday Morning Mix. 


Organize your desktop, and add some color while you're at it.  Most of us spend the majority of the week at our desk.  Why not make it a more cheerful and attractive space?



courtesy of seejanework.com

courtesy of decorpad.com



Talking to my friend in New York made me want to get together with friends.  I love entertaining, but I stay so busy it rarely happens.  Make plans to entertain or have friends over later this week or this coming weekend.  It will make you get your house in order, and possibly push you to get some things done that you have been putting off. 

Paint your front door.  A fresh coat of paint or a new color will freshen up the entire facade of your house.

courtesy of Coastal Living

Coastal Talent: Keels Culberson Swinnie

In college, I had several good friends who studied interior design with me.  We had all the same classes, we did our design projects together, and we were almost always together on the weekends or when we went out.  These are all great friends, and it's been so interesting to see where our design backgrounds has lead each of us.  One of those friends, Keels, was always painting amazing works of art.  A family home in Costa Rica served as inspiration for a lot of her pieces.  Her use of colors and techniques were, and still are, out of this world.  I knew those paintings done in between classes would become something bigger.  When we graduated, we split off into our various career paths in design.  Keels moved back home to Pawley's Island, SC, and had immediate success with her art.  She helped launch Ebb & Flow Art Co-op, first displaying her pieces there.  Before long, her work was known by most everyone in the area.  Over the years, she has married, moved to Georgetown, SC, and her passion for painting has found its way onto all types of furniture.  She is doing amazing things with salvaged doors, using them as headboards and tables.  Her pet portraits are incredible, and her children's furniture is so fun!  I would love to design a beach house with her pieces. 

On a side note, I wish I surfed, because Keels' Dad has been known to handcraft some awesome surfboards.  Artistic talent obviously runs in the family!

  

 

 

I love her pet portraits!

 

I've always loved this painting below of Teak and Billy, Keels' dog and goat.

How cute is this high chair?

To see more of Keels' work or get more information, you can go to her website http://www.keelsart.com/

Or contact me or Keels Culberson Swinnie directly.
Keels email: kellykeels@aol.com
Keels' phone: 843-446-7076

Monday Morning Mix

It's Monday morning, you're back to work and the weekend is over.  Most of us have a full week of work ahead, and if you are anything like me, you aren't always motivated to jump into the week head first.  I like to find simple ways to perk up my Mondays, whether it's a trip to Starbucks, lunch from Chick-fil-A (which happens a little too often), or popping into a favorite store.  Every Monday, I would like to share a mix of images, products, ideas, you get the drift, to motivate us to tackle the week or just put an inspiring design idea in your mind to start the week off right.  Welcome Monday Morning Mix!

Buy some flowers for your desk or home



Add a punch of color to your neutral bedroom

courtesy of reasonstobreathe



Add some vivere to a normal weeknight meal by setting your table as if you were entertaining.

via abeachcottage

Make your bathroom more like another room in the home.  This image shows numerous ways - lamps, a rug, a chair, garden stool or chandelier.

courtesy of reasonstobreathe

Since it is the first of the month, make a list of all things that need to be done at work or at home that you have put off, and set goals of when you would like to complete them.  (Pictured below is my Thomas Paul "to do" list that doubles as a mouse pad.  Genius!  This was a great stocking stuffer courtesy of Mom.)



Conquer your Closet: Before and After

Well, my "One Busy Weekend" from last weekend finally caught up with me, and I came down with an irritating respiratory infection.  Attempting to recover, I spent this weekend laying low at home.  I was honestly kind of glad to be in the house, because every year about this time I like to do a bi-annual cleaning of the closet.  I usually do this in August, but Monday is August 1st, so why not!  Fall lines are about to hit the stores and the magazines are reporting what we should be wearing in the upcoming season.  I like to clear out the closet in anticipation of new pieces and use that time to organize what I'm keeping.  Before cleaning out my closet this weekend, I looked for inspiration and ideas to get me going.  I found some amazing examples.  Even if some of these closets are not a reality for you, they show some great ideas for organization.  I think it's safe to say that most of us suffer from a lackluster closet at times. Hopefully, these will motivate you if your closet is in need of a pick me up. 

Blair Waldor's closet in Gossip Girl, courtesy of CWTV

courtesy of Pinterest



Ralph Lauren's closet at his home on Long Island

Real Housewife of Beverly Hills' Lisa Vanderpump's dressing room



courtesy of Melanie Fascitelli



courtesy of Annie Schlecter Photgraphy



courtesy of dreambookdesign.com





If any of you were wondering how my closet turned out, I took some before and after shots.  It's not perfect, but it's a vast improvement from before.

Before...

 After...



I think the lamp and rug helped transform the space.  I can actually walk into the closet now!  I filled one bag to give to Goodwill, and my shoes are now organized across the top shelves and off the floor.  There is one small detail that I think makes a huge difference, and that is matching hangers.  I love my Joy Mangano black hangers.  The boyfriend gave me an entire set for my birthday last year.  Best gift ever!  

What are your clever closet design ideas or organizational tips?