As we close off Cocktail Week, I thought this Tim Gunn-approved bar cart would be good inspiration as you go off into the weekend! I love how the owner has reworked this vintage cart to make it completely Happy Hour-ready: it not only holds liquor and lemons, but the drawers — pulled out on the sides — function as shelves for glasses. Talk about making it work!

When Cass and Carla renovated their 1952 home in Austin, Texas, they knew that comfort was a top priority. "We wanted to have a welcoming, well-crafted, simple house that suited our family and friends," they told Apartment Therapy in this recent House Tour. The result is a sort of easy minimalism: lots of space, light, and personality — particularly in the kitchen! — for this vibrant family of four.

Well, not really. But even if that wasn't the original design intention, it pretty much does just that. Have you ever seen a home bar that was quite so cool? It's a bar! No, it's a sculpture! No, it's a work of art! Gah. It's awesome. We rest our case.

Sirima's San Francisco loft doubles as both her home and her printmaking studio. It's open, colorful, and full of things to look at — while still being organized! Her kitchen is a real treat. It holds what she says is just a "fraction" of her "embarrassingly large collection of vintage 1930's –1940's glassware, pottery and cookware" from design luminaries like Eva Zeisel, Ben Seibel, and Russel Wright. You'll also find Jadeite/Delphite milk glass, pink depression-era glass, and Hall pottery. Wow! 

I've been sharing my kitchen renovation with you over the past couple of months (see all the posts and the progression here). Today's finally the day: the big reveal! Here are some photos of my kitchen as it is today, after all the research, sweat, and dust. We are thrilled and feel so lucky — hope you enjoy the peek! 

I've seen barn doors show up all over the home in the last few years. Have you noticed that? The rustic character and worn, weathered varnish looks great in a lot of different settings. Here's one example: this sliding barn door — with its heavy iron hardware — leads into a pantry! Such a cool detail.

This simple San Francisco kitchen is so homey, with just the right amount of color and whimsy. Love the look? Want to emulate some of it in your own kitchen? Here are sources to help you get the look. (Fill in the blanks in the comments!)

Rustic Modern Kitchen

Cabinets: Original
Cast iron pans: Lodge
Clock: _______
Dishes: Crate and Barrel and Sur la Table  
Oven: _______
Paint – Walls: Benjamin Moore for PB AF-660 Granite and 872 White Christmas
Photography: Panoramic photo by Karen Hellyer 
Side Table: _______
Tea Towel: _______
Teapot: _______
Tile: Subway tiles

In our house we keep the liquor in a tall wood cabinet I found for a song at a thrift store in Manhattan. It stands against the wall near our dining table, which is between the kitchen and the living room. (I like the proximity to both places.) It works for us now, but we're moving soon, so I'm curious to see how other people store their spirits. Do they keep them out in the open on a bar cart? Grouped together on the countertop? Set up side by side on a shelf? Here are 10 examples culled from our Kitchen Tours for a little inspiration.

This minimalist kitchen really benefits from the absolutely striking raw wood countertop. So unique and beautiful. I really can't take my eyes off it. 

Keith spent a over a year remodeling his 1959 Mid-Century home in Palm Springs. A big part of the remodel was completely gutting and transforming the 1980s kitchen. The result? A gourmet kitchen with all the bells and whistles: