We saw this photo in the August issue of Domino. It's from designer Thom Filicia's lake house, and it's (obviously) a picture of his well-stocked bar. In his entry way.
It got us thinking...
We saw this photo in the August issue of Domino. It's from designer Thom Filicia's lake house, and it's (obviously) a picture of his well-stocked bar. In his entry way.
It got us thinking...
There is something very suave about beautiful decanters of brandy or scotch sitting on a handsome bar cart in the corner of the living room. And, if you are strapped for storage and need to leave something out in the open, displaying liquor is certainly preferable to setting out cereal boxes.
Some liquor bottles are beautiful — Hendricks Gin comes to mind — but others are just plain ugly. And we're averse to seeing a ton of them all packed together in a big sticky gaggle. Also, we tend to store our gin and vodka in the freezer.
What about you? Do you set your liquor out in the open? Where do you put it?
See the rest of Thom Filicia's lake house here:
Related: Straight Up: How To Create Your Own Cocktail Recipes
(Image: Jonny Valiant for Domino)
nope, too many shameless friends. I put them out of plain site and save for appropriate events.
view amt230's profile
I'm fortunate to have a mirrored bar at the apartment so I've got my bottles lining the shelves. It makes entertaining easier for me b/c guests can help themselves.
I doubt I'll be as lucky at the next place so will probably conceal all but the basics then.
(And if you make martinis, you want your liquors at room temperature to melt the ice a bit. Something I learned from The Peacock Lounge at a cocktails class. Now there's more space in my freezer)
view ashleym (aka autzve on flickr)'s profile
As much as I detest the frat house aesthetic based on decorating with empty liquor bottles, this is a nice look for a vacation home. It sorta says, take your shoes off, make yourself a drink, we're all friends here. Not at all approriate for my live/work loft where I hold client meetings, but maybe when I finally buy that cottage property.
view Kristina's profile
I hate to dust, so I keep mine in a cupboard, and bring it out when we have company.
view spossberg's profile
i'm a fan of the lamp, the table, the wall color, the beam in the corner, and the ceiling... not so much the liquor. looks like it would be a lot of glass to dust. frequently.
view ambsATX's profile
We keep ours in the open, but only because we're grad students who never really outgrew our undergrad decorating "sense" when it comes to alcohol. So the liquor lives in plain sight, row upon row, lined up in a strange little alcove that came with the apartment, with some shelving above it to store highball and wine glasses and a wine "rack" (made from a box - pure class!) The plus-side to this alcove method is it keeps dust off the glasses and bottles, and makes use of an awkward space that otherwise would only be good for storing, i dunno, more textbooks. And at heart, i do think all those multi-coloured bottles look rather pretty. At least i convinced the significant other to finally take down the "Periodic Table of Mixology" poster that used to accompany this fantastic scene!
view kittystockings's profile
I used to have a stand with stylings akin to an Eileen Gray side table where I kept bottles and tools as well as wine and martini glasses. The above posters are correct... dust was a huge problem, but it was a great little table with three tiers and I loved the look after applying a shot of Windex now and again.
view marthag's profile
i someday want to have a little bar cart in my living room. i love the look of beautiful decanters and well designed bottles of liquor. maybe when we buy a house...
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view cassiopia's profile
I love this. It looks like a steampunk laboratory. I store mine on the bottom shelf of a built-in in my dining area because I haven't got anywhere else, but I'd like to keep it out set a little higher. The bottles are pretty.
view Tiamat_the_Red's profile
We've got a very high shelf in our kitchen so our booze goes there. On display and not too low to get in the way.
view buda's profile
I think it's cool but with concrete floors and a cat, I can only admire the photo.
view renata's profile
All my bottles sit in the bottom of a weirdly configured corner cabinet. Like renata, I have tile floors and cats.
If I had a hutch or a bar cabinet, I would consider putting them in there.
view verily's profile
We have a lot of friends who have alcohol issues -- either drink too much or are in AA -- so when we have liquor in the house, I never display it. Easier to avoid the issue.
view madampince's profile
Isn't it bad for the alcohol to sit in a lot of sunlight like that?
view lemongelatin's profile
@lemongelatin- no, the liquor is probably going to be fine. The lightstruck problem is really just beer and wine (ultraviolet rays produce chemical reactions that lead to "off" or "skunky" tastes). Liquor is distilled and going to be more stable, also why you can leave bottles of it open forever without them becoming unpalatably oxidized, as would be the case with wine and beer.
view arttarte's profile
Our liquor cabinet has glass doors, and the cabinet itself was built over a window:
http://tinyurl.com/6s2dqf
Hmm... I should make sure that window is locked.
view WeHeartFood's profile
I keep my gin in the refrigerator so my martinis will be as cold as possible. My son hides his Springbank scotch in his closet, but leaves the Johnny Walker in sight.
view Fontessa's profile