“When partygoers make it into a kitchen, they tend to never leave,” says interior designer Courtney Giles Decker. To route guests elsewhere in her own home, she turned a hallway into a bar, drawing people into a space fully stocked for cocktail hour.
Understated shimmer
An antiqued brass faucet adds a timeless element to the stately space. Made of hammered nickel, the bar sink has a golden sheen.
Looking glass
A mirrored wall and glass shelves are reminiscent of a swanky hotel bar.
Artful details
To break up the rows of bottles and glasses, Decker placed gold-framed art and mementos along the shelves.
Opposites attract
High-contrast elements include glossy black cabinetry (designed by architect Bill Litchfield) and creamy Calacatta Luna marble countertops in a notched shape. Decker continued the color (“Black” by Benjamin Moore) onto the ceiling. “A stark white ceiling would have stuck out too much,” she says.
Midas touch
The wallpaper, which features a gold honeycomb-like design, is “Hicks Hexagon” by David Hicks for Cole & Son. “I knew the pattern would liven up a small space and make it seem less serious,” says the designer. A gold ceiling fixture by Circa Lighting cleverly mimics the shape.
Tip:
“We wanted the space to feel different than a kitchen, so we added the antique brass grill to the cabinet doors,” says Decker. The grills are from a company called Rockler, which offers multiple finishes and designs. Additional bottles are still visible through the doors, but cabinets leave the countertop uncluttered.
This article originally appeared in our February 2016 issue.
