Raising the Bar

Gift yourself a home bar rehab for the holidays.

A few days before last month’s presidential election, an article in the New York Times reported on the predictable ways in which Washingtonians were steadying their nerves in response to fear of the unknown. People were drinking more, it was suggested, anecdotally, and more seemed to be doing so from the comfort of their own homes. For the style-conscious drinker, such a turn of affairs represents a design opportunity.

To make the most of it, we asked Sarita Simpson, principal of the Washington-based studio Interior Matter, for tips on how to carve out a space conducive to convivial evenings with friends.

Take stock
“Before you do anything, reflect on how you like to entertain,” says Simpson (who sent out post-election cocktail party invitations with the cheery greeting ‘We’re All Going to Need a Drink’). She elaborates: “Do you host large gatherings or intimate ones? And are you into wine or spirits?” If it’s the former, you’ll need to integrate the right type of refrigeration. If it’s the latter, you might want to make room for an ice maker.

Dry is fine
Not every bar needs a sink. If tapping into a plumbing line is impractical, consider a ‘dry bar’. This could be as simple as the burl walnut cabinet with slatted tambour doors that Simpson designed for a historic house in DC’s Cleveland Park neighborhood.

Spare the worktop
Bar tops in materials such as marble, wood, and even classic zinc are prone to staining and etching. While commercial establishments have staff to keep surfaces pristine, homeowners might want to fall back on more low-maintenance means. Simpson has a clever solution: bespoke trays that are lined with leather and fashioned out of the same material as the bar or cabinet top. You bring them out when entertaining and store them away once your guests have departed.

Only connect
Simpson recommends using materials that echo throughout a home. For a whole-house redesign, which included a bar, she made liberal use of brass finishes. With maximalist brio, she clad this bar — and the integrated backsplash and shelf behind it — in custom-aged brass. The result is what she calls “a refined industrial look.”

Mix it up
When it comes to accessories “not everything has to match,” says Simpson who likes to search for “really special vintage stemware and tumblers” on the e-commerce sites Chairish and Etsy. Finishing touches include fresh flowers and greenery, candles, a bowl of fruit, and decorative bottles of boozy cherries or bitters. On occasion she’ll stack a few books on the bar as conversation starters — a tactic which can also route maudlin talk of politics.

Hold your liquor
Bar carts have made a comeback and they are a great option for anyone who doesn’t want a full-on bar. But take care not to overload them. According to Simpson, one must check the urge to put every last piece of bar kit on display and approach the task with a curatorial mindset. “I always tell my clients to exercise restraint and tuck a few things away.”