Living

An At-Home Bar Upgrade

Mixing up at home cocktails with Garden & Gun and Blade and Bow
Filed Under > "Hostess with the Mostest"

I’ve always been a fan of a great at-home bar. I strongly believe it’s a must-learn life skill to mix up classic cocktails, and as an avid host, it’s important to provide an array of libations for your guests at a moment’s notice.

Now more than ever, with the amount of time we’re spending at home, a great home bar has truly become a necessity. While I have a few bar carts and drink stations set up around my home, nothing has upgraded the experience quite like my recently acquired Field Bar, a collaboration between Garden & Gun and Blade and Bow.

This bar is unlike any you’ve ever seen. Handcrafted in York, South Carolina, by the father-son team at Leake Furniture Makers, this expandable bar is made from cherry wood and brass. When closed, you’d have no idea what treasures are held inside: four crystal rocks glasses, a bar set by Lost Cove Jewelry, a custom throw and a custom set of napkins, both in Blade and Bow plaid. It’s also equipped with plenty of drawers and compartments to stow your other cocktail accouterments.

A true showstopper, the Field Bar reminds me of antique curio cabinets—the kind you would fold out to sit down and pen a letter. This is a true piece of art, but one that can travel. (When we’re allowed to travel again, that is).

If you’re looking for a last-minute holiday gift that’s sure to wow, put the Field Bar on your list. And don’t forget to add a bottle of Blade and Bow Bourbon as spirits aren’t included! Truly, MKR

In partnership with Garden & Gun, photography Kathryn McCrary

Setting the Table with Schumacher for Williams Sonoma

A classic print gets a whole new look
Filed Under > Entertaining
Dragon Ice Bucket, Double Old Fashion Glasses, Decanter
Ikat Serving Bowl, Dragon Platter, Cheese Knives
Schumacher Table Cloth & Ikat Ginger Jar
Schumacher for Williams Sonoma Ikat Charger, Ikat Dinner Plate, Dragon Salad Plate, Napkin
Schumacher for Williams Sonoma Ikat Ginger Jar

It’s amazing how a quick change in tabletop can make a room look completely different. Case in point setting the table with the new, jaw-dropping Schumacher for Williams Sonoma Collection.

Have you seen this collection yet? For those of you not familiar at all with Schumacher let me give you a quick run down. Schumacher was founded in 1889 by Frederic Schumacher, and quickly became the industry leader in textiles, wall coverings and trimmings. This legendary American design house is renowned for its unwavering commitment to beauty, artistry and quality and is a go-to for designers all over the world. So when they joined forces with Williams Sonoma, I knew the collaboration would be iconic.

This exclusive collection is the first time ever Schumacher has allowed their iconic patterns to be available in dinnerware and entertaining pieces and by how beautiful the collection turned out they’ve all got to be asking, why didn’t we do this sooner?!?!

I cannot tell you how much fun I had setting this table. This collection, at its heart, is a pattern and color lovers dream which is was waited with bated breath for it to launch.

Not only was I anxious to see which iconic Schumacher patterns were going to make the collection, I loved knowing that I would be able mix and match all of the different Schumacher patterns such as ikat, dragon, and chinois fret and the end result will feel cohesive and effortless. This is what I’m always talking about when mixing patterns…be bold, don’t be afraid friends!

Plus, from an entertaining standpoint this collection is so full and colorful there was no need to crowd the table with additional decor such as candles and loads of florals. I kept it simple by combining an orchid I already had potted at home and a few white hydrangeas from my garden combined in the Schumacher Ikat Ginger Jar.

While the entire collection is stunning, my personal favorites have to be the dragon ice bucket that is literally so large it can hold 3 bottles of wine! The amazingly intricate dragon decanter and matching double old fashioned glasses. And lastly all of the fabrics, specifically the napkin collection. They’re so beautiful and at such a great price!

At the end of the day every Schumacher for Williams Sonoma piece can completely stand on it’s own, but my suggestion…have fun with this one because the collection is truly meant to be mixed, matched, and swooned over. Truly, MKR

P.S. Come back this weekend when I’ll be sharing my recipe for the easiest ever Korean Ground Beef recipe as pictured above.

Photography Rustic White Interiors | This post is sponsored by Williams Sonoma, a brand I love and adore. All opinions and images are 100% my own

An Easy At-Home Holiday Breakfast Bar For Guests

How to set up an easy and festive self-serve holiday breakfast bar
Filed Under > "Hostess with the Mostest"

One of the favorite things I have in my home is a makeshift tea station upstairs in my bedroom.  Ove the years, I’ve become a major night-time tea drinker.  And because I spend the majority of my evenings cozied up in my bed working, reading, or watching TV I got tired of running downstairs 2-3 times just to put the kettle on to get more tea. So, to alleviate that last year I purchased an electric tea kettle and turned a bar cart into a tea station. 

It’s nothing fancy, just an electric tea kettle and a tray full of mugs, tea bags, mulling spices, and all-things cozy. So when thinking about hosting all of our holiday guests this season I thought, why not turn my upstairs bar into an at-home holiday breakfast bar.  

If you’ve been following my Blog for a while then you know I have an upstairs loft that I turned into a sort of game room/bar area. It’s an awkward space, that truly doesn’t get used a lot. But it’s beautiful and I knew it would perfect for this self-serve idea.  

So why not set this up in the kitchen? Two main reasons.  One, it’s festive and fun, and I love doing small things like this to really make guests feel welcome and like you went all out for them. 

And two, all of the bedrooms are upstairs while the kitchen is downstairs.  I, like many people, love a slow, quiet start to my morning.  I don’t necessarily want to get dressed, and ready and head downstairs and start my day right away.  By having everything guests need right outside their door they can pop out and grab a cup of coffee or tea, and a breakfast pastry and head back to their room to have that nice leisurely start that every vacation should have.  Plus at night it can be used as that sleepy time tea station has become part of my nightly routine.

Regardless of where you set it up, a self-serve, holiday breakfast bar is beyond easy to create.  First, I made sure that I had all the morning necessities present.  Coffee maker, electric tea kettle, and toaster. I love this new vintage set from Russell & Hobbs.  It’s well priced, works like a gem, looks adorable, and the toaster even has a croissant toasting shelf!

Second, stock your holiday breakfast bar with everything guests would need to make it self serve so everyone can run at their own speed in the morning.  Think mugs, water, tea bags, coffee, sugar, utensils, napkins, etc.  And I stashed all of the extras in the drawers making it super easy if guests run out of anything. 

Third, I made it festive with holiday-themed coffee blends, pastries,  jams, packets of cocoa and tea. And of course, added a wreath and a few of my favorite rosemary and lavender Christmas trees as decor.

Lastly, I always make sure guests know that this is there for them to access at any time.  There’s nothing worse than being a guest who feels they have to tip-toe around their hosts.

And that’s it.  An easy at home holiday breakfast bar that is as festive as it is functional! Tell me, how do you make guests feel welcome in your home? Truly, MKR
 


 

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