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Tuesday, November 14th, 2017
Whether above ground or in the basement, the Tommy Bahama Home Bar and Game Room Cable Beach Bar Cart 558-862 is sure to stand out.
Before you begin planning for your basement home bar, would you like to know how this idea all began? This bar craze started way back during the time when the Second World War ended. This was right around the time when it was every American’s dream to have his own home. And since many were first-time homeowners, they needed to make good use of every dollar which they used in building their homes.
These dream homes were places that they wanted to show off to their friends and family members. Bars and restaurants were urbanized back then and it took quite a revolution to turn this around and make the adults enjoy cozy, adult conversations while enjoying spirits right in their own homes.
Back then, homeowners were also evening hosts to their parties which were held in their basement bars. It was pretty much like attending a supper club downtown. Couples gather every weekend no longer dressed in their cocktail dresses and suits but in more relaxing clothing such as t-shirts and short pants.
Setting up their own home bars also led to the mastery of a unique skill which was to create the most awesome cocktails. Martini was born, umbrella drinks became popular, and Manhattan became more than just a place.
The key to holding the most successful home parties was to have a fully-stocked bar. This is a zone where you have everything that you need – the spirits, flavors, and comfy furniture.
So what are the necessities of a home bar?
Alcohol That You Actually Drink
When this is the first time that you’re stocking your home bar, then you must buy the spirits that you actually like. These must be the bottles that you are willing to share with your guests and proudly concoct for them.
These are the drinks that you can picture yourself sipping while you’re enjoying a game of billiards or simply chatting the evening away.
You must begin small. Don’t make the mistake that most homeowners have already confessed to wherein they thought of stocking home bars as a marathon of sorts. Do not equate being a good host with that of having more than you can handle.
For now, scout your local liquor store then check out their various liquors. The key is to grow your stock gradually. Get the ingredients that you need for the basic drinks that you’ll serve then slowly grow your stock from there.
Mixers and Garnishes
As you become more and more comfortable in mixing your drinks, you can then slowly expand your liquor menu.
The basic liquor stock includes – gin, vodka, scotch whiskey, bourbon whiskey, tequila, rum, and other beverages for those who might not enjoy drinking alcohol.
You will also need mixers such as tonic water, club soda, Sprite, cola, orange juice, tomato juice, cranberry juice, pineapple juice, and Angostura bitters which you use in splashes that add flavors to drinks.
Garnishes, on the other hand, are decorative stuff that you can use to make your drinks more visually appealing. These are also those things that you nibble on when you sip your drink. Of course, the kind of garnish that you use depends hugely on the kind of drink that you’re serving. Gin-based tonics, for example, use onions and olives.
Other garnishes include horseradish, lemons, lime, salt, and Tabasco sauce.
Glassware
Home Bar Furniture, Fixtures, and Appliances
Tags: home bar, home bar essentials, home bar necessities, home bars, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, stocking home bars
Posted in Basement Design, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Special Rooms In Your Home | Comments Off on Basement Bars: Why You This Traditional Setup Still Works Today
Thursday, July 7th, 2016
1586-75160-BL2 When in Rome Accent Bar Cartbar
Every homeowner should look into setting up a home bar. This is something that you should look into especially when you have guests come over now and then. This becomes a necessity if you love cocktails and spirits especially when you know how to mix the most exotic drinks. Learn these essential tips that will help you set up a beginner’s home bar in no time –
Arranging the Beginner’s Home Bar
So, let’s help you arrange that home bar. Begin by learning the essentials such as the spirits, bar tools, cocktail books, mixers, glassware and garnishes. Before long, you would realize that this project isn’t that daunting after all.
Okay, so do you own a bar cart? If not, then it’s time that you had one. The bar cart is one of the hottest furnishings that you should have in your home bar. If your space allows a huge home bar, then the bar cart should have its own dedicated area. These should be placed in a corner where the guests will be able to lay their eyes on your beautiful, new possession.
Organize the bar cart so it doesn’t look cluttered.
You can also transform any sideboard, console table or a credenza into a simple bar. Just top it with a tray, some bar tools, and other essentials and you’ve just created a small section of your home as a home bar. Go ahead and corral your decanters, bottles, glasses and bitters all on that tray. Store the bar tools in a drawer or in any storage unit.
If your home comes with a built-in dry bar (these are the ones that weren’t installed with a sink), then prepare to have shelves set up instead. Think of mixology and how messy it would be minus the sink so have it situated nearby. Store the less used spirits and glassware inside a cabinet. The go-to bottles should be more accessible.
A wet bar in your home signals you sharpening your mixology skills. Apart from the bar essentials which you will need, make sure that a bar towel is handy. A small trash bin is also necessary in case you’re using fresh ingredients or washing glasses.
Add the Bitters
Bitters are high-proof alcoholic beverages. These are infused with roots, herbs and spices. They are used in dashes and are botanical additives. It’s a no-no these days to hold just a single bottle of bitters behind your bar. You can have anything nowadays from coffee bitters to rhubarb bitters. These can be bought at any local liquor store.
Try experimenting with different flavors. Stock your bar with classic tastes and unique flavors which you can concoct to equally unique cocktails.
Learn about each bottle that you buy.
Invest in Cocktail Books
You were advised to level up on your mixology skills and the simplest way to do this is to buy a cocktail book. Behind all those great bars in the country are books that have explained the spirits, mixers and cocktail foundations to learners.
Buy the Spirits
Make sure that you buy only the run, gin, vodka or whatnot that you love to drink. Don’t buy just because the bottle looks lovely or because a friend likes it. There is no point in buying whiskey if you’re not a whiskey drinker.
Remember that using the right techniques which you learned from the books and the best spirits will yield the best beverages.
When it comes to brands, pick only the premium ones. Base your decision on the past cocktails that you liked. If you’re a vodka drinker, then make sure that you would buy premium vodka only.
Lastly, quality should come before the price so make your choices best on flavor. Stock up on tools like the jigger, bar spoon, muddler, citrus peeler and handheld citrus press and you’re more than ready to set up your beginner’s home bar.
FFDM’s RayLen Vineyards Collection
Tags: bar cart, decorating a bar cart, designing a home bar, home bar, home bar design, home bar essentials, home bar necessities, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, stocking home bars
Posted in Interior Design 101, Special Rooms In Your Home | No Comments »
Tuesday, February 2nd, 2016
For Four or More. The Denmark Collection (Bottom figure) is best for modern home bars. The set is made of American walnut veneer and solid hardwood. The Winners Only Bar and Game Room Westchester Barstool
DFWT145124 is versatile yet comfy. It’s made with walnut veneer and solid hardwoods as well.
One of the most unused rooms in many homes is the basement. Horror films even depict this as a scary, dark and dank place, a common notion as this is space plays second fiddle to the attic in terms of storage area. But aren’t you tired of doing your laundry down there or throwing all your out-of-season decor? Instead of allowing dust to settle in this extra space in your home – why not turn it into something useful instead?
A Home Bar
The basement can be remodeled into any room that you want. It offers a wealth of living space many different purposes. For example, it can serve as a wine cellar/bar. You might be looking into entertaining guests during the holidays or if you simply want to relax after a taxing day at the office – a home bar can be a place of refuge or entertainment.
Your home bar should reflect your taste not only in wine but also in interior design. Now you won’t have to rack your brains to set up your home bar. Just invest in the fundamentals – stock up on wines and the best liquors plus buy furniture that will make your guests nod in appreciation and approval.
With regard to liquor storage, know that most wines store for a very long time, more so since the basement is a cool and dark place. The rule of thumb is this when it comes to wine consumption, though, the lower the level of the liquid, the more that you should hurry and consume it. Air can make diminish the wine’s fine flavor. Vermouth, in particular, must be refrigerated (not just stored on a wine rack) and consumed once opened.
Once you have the wines, start shopping for the barware and glassware. Purchase ice bags, jigger, bar spoon, cocktail shaker, strainer, and ice cube trays.
As for the furniture, check out what McCreery’s Home Furnishings has to offer – from bar stools and tables, to wine racks, down to the most elegant glass door cabinets.
Hickory White Home Entertainment Hal Frank Cabinet 108_106_1023
A Game or Entertainment Room
Game rooms can have a flexible look. There are a variety of functions to be infused in one look so be sure that you delegate space for the board gamers, table tennis enthusiasts, video game experts, and a seating area for those who would want to just relax. These dedicated play areas don’t have to fill up the rest of the space. An entertainment area can also be allocated or a banquet corner.
A Library
What could be quieter than that room downstairs? Bookworms would love the idea of turning their basement into a room filled with books and, yes, more books!
Library fundamentals include two or more shelves (depending on the amount of available space that you can work on). Just like the rest of the rooms in your home, make sure that you also choose a theme. For the more traditional bookworms, there are always those wooden shelves while the contemporary aficionados should find a more streamlined shelf design.
Hickory White Bedroom King Upholstered Panel Bed 895-25 is the ultimate man cave essential.
A Man Cave
An awesome bachelor should have his equally awesome man cave. Pick the furniture, tools, and decor that you will set up here, wisely. Man colors are often blue, black, brown, green, and metallic hues. You can ask your buddies and family members to build it with you. They will be especially helpful once you set up the patterned or textured wallpaper and when you balance the decor with the rest of the furnishings.
Men are also all about memorabilia and collections. A sturdy display cabinet is perfect for collectors and hobbyists.
Lastly, of course, what’s a man cave without a relaxing bed down that basement, right? So you better choose it right.
Tags: basement, basement design, basement entertainment zone, basement makeover, basement remodel, basement remodeling, design for home library, designing a home bar, entertainment center, entertainment room, home bar, home bar essentials, home bar necessities, home library, home library design, man cave, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, setting up a home library
Posted in Basement Design, Special Rooms In Your Home | No Comments »
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