How to design a vintage bar at home

How to design a vintage bar at home

As we slowly ease towards being able to allow friends and family back into our homes, now is a great time to make sure that you are all set to be the host with the most as visitors return, with some top class home entertaining. Vintage barware specialist, Tania Fawcett, who runs The Vintage Entertainer, provides a rundown of how to create the perfect vintage home bar – just add your own liquor!

It’s all about the base

The first step for any great home bar is the base layer. It’ll set the tone and determine the style of your accessories. Your base could be anything from a turn-of-the century cocktail trolley, to a simple, large silver plated tray, to a full blown vintage cocktail bar cabinet! Which option you go for will depend upon budget, but also on how much space you have and what would be most in keeping with your décor – not to mention have many bottles you have to home.

Mid 20th Century T-Shaped teak Danish cocktail trolley - £895

The essentials

Next you have to look at the essential items that you will need in order to cater for your guests’, and your own, drinking requirements. A cocktail shaker and ice bucket are non-negotiable. You do not want to interrupt your evening with constant trips to the freezer, and you certainly don’t want a room temperature martini!

Art Deco satin glass & gold cocktail jug & glasses - £175 for the set

There is going to be a lot of celebrating this summer, and that means one thing – Champagne! Flutes will always be popular, but there really is nothing more elegant and stylish than a vintage Champagne coupe. In fact, the Champagne coupe is the oldest type of Champagne glass, and it allows the drinker to be able to appreciate the full body and flavour of the wine, rather than just the bubbles. If you enjoy the fizz, though, drink up fast!

You’ll also need a selection of wine glasses and smaller vessels for digestifs, or shots. Mixing an eclectic array of styles together will always look chic, or you can create a theme by going for a cut glass theme, for example.

Early 20th Century diamond cut fluted glasses - £240 for set of 16

This is where you can add even more colour, scale and interest to your bar, injecting some of your own personality – it is your own home, after all. Think unusual cocktail stirrers, fun shakers, and tall, coloured glass decanters. You don’t even have to use these items but they will make a huge difference to the look of your set up.

Beautifully enamelled silver cockerel cocktail sticks - £245 for boxed set

Finally, you’ll need extra bar kit such as silver or glass dishes for cut lemons and olives, bottle openers, bar spoons, lemon squeezers, ice tongs… yes, the list could go on and on, but, even if you stick to these key items, you’ll be able to welcome guests back with a flourish.