I am slightly giddy over here as I finally own a bar cart. I know, that may seem strange. But let’s face it. They are everywhere and they are always styled so cute. I have swooned over many a bar cart for what seems like forever. But, I never thought we could pull one off. First and foremost, we don’t have a large sprawling home with room for extra lovelies. We also have children and the idea of a stocked bar cart in our main living area doesn’t work for us. If I had a dedicated dining room or entertaining space it would be one thing, but we just don’t have that. So I wasn’t sure we could really host one in our home. Then something happened. I was randomly shopping Joss and Main one evening {hubby out of town} and came across this pretty little tea cart. Yes, they called it a tea cart. They had me at hello. Tea cart + pretty detail work + oval shape = a piece I had to have. I decided to go for it and I figured I could make it work! I would just have to be a little clever in my styling to have it work well in our space. Here she is {after a bit of a makeover}. More details on that below. 
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Now let’s get down to the brass tacks. My lovely cart arrived and I was very sad about the finish. While it would work well in many homes, the gold/orange color was just all wrong. It blended with the wood floors and it just didn’t have the look I was hoping for. Enter gold spray paint! I knew I could make her shine and because I used a credit I had to purchase her, I wasn’t at all upset about a bit of elbow grease. Oh, and do you see in the very bottom of the photo that she strolled into our home with black caster feet! Um. . . not gonna work. She needs gold sexy wheels STAT! 
And now that she is a pretty gold, she looks great against our white millwork. I think I have a crush on our bar cart. Is that normal? 
So now let’s talk about the styling! This sits in our dining area right behind our table. There is plenty of space for it but raise your hand if you can’t afford to lose real estate to just pretty pieces. That would be me. So I decided I would style it to be an everyday piece that could work for us. I wanted the children to feel included. I grew up around pretty things and it was just a way of life for us. Nothing was off limits. So the bottom of the bar cart is really for the kiddos. Well, the Pellegrino just adds color and height! 
But he straws are for their smoothies we make weekly. I will also toss napkins in the white bowl for them to use. The crayons are used by my kindergartener each day for homework and they rest on an acrylic tray. 
Anyone who comes around knows that I love fresh flowers. I normally keep them on the kitchen counter and shift them around as I cook. So now they will be here. There is also a stack of coasters from my dear friend Megan and a special stack of books. 
This shows you a peek into our living room where you can see the drapes I recently made. 
The Caroline Kennedy book is from my mom { I am a huge lover of poetry and literature} while the book entitled ‘She Walks in Beauty’ was sent to me by my very dear friend, Catherine. Such special reminders to have out and about on a daily basis. 
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The little bowl is for us to toss our keys into. 
And I think she looks so much prettier with her new gold feet. Good-bye black casters. I mean, really? 
I am really glad I held out for just the right shape and lines. Although she needed a bit of gold paint, I couldn’t be happier. I love the mirrored shelves, too. So on a daily basis, this bar cart works for the entire family. But make no mistake about it! When it’s time to party and entertain this little lady will be singing a different tune. I love that I can style this and change it up when the occasion calls for it. What about you? Have you hopped on the bar cart train? Am I the only woman in the world that has crayons on her bar cart?
I love bar carts too, but have not really thought about them for our own home for the same reasons you held off. Your ideas for family-friendly everyday styling are great, and really take this in a different direction. I can actually see myself getting one of these and using it for non-traditional "bar" related uses. They are so pretty!! I love the items you chose for yours. Great inspiration!
I've been swooning over bar carts too. Love the shape of this one. Looks amazing Courtney!
I love the shape of this cart – the oval gives it a bit of a feminine touch – me likey! And I love that you showed how versatile a piece like this can be. I have my eye on one but I've yet to bring it home. This post may just be the push I needed to bust out my debit card. 😉 Have in NYC girlie – can't wait to hear all about it!
* have fun * – it's early and I'm not through with my first cup of coffee yet 😉
Love your family friendly bar cart styling! I too have swooned over them, but as a non drinker and mom of 4, I'd resorted to pouring over them in magazines and on blogs. Your tea cart looks great 🙂
I actually love the idea of crayons on a bar cart. Works for me 🙂 I still want one, but I think the babies would be climbing it at this point…
It looks great!! And gives me hope that we can reintroduce our bar cart one of these days!!
I LOVE! This is so adorable. I've had my eye on a bar cart forever, because they're gorgeous, but we don't really drink all that much unless we're entertaining…so basically we'd have bottles of booze sitting there doing nothing. I love the way you decorated it!!
xo Kylie
So Adorable my friend! What a perfect little cart for family activities as well as parties! Love it!
Love it Courtney. Glad you were able to find a spot for one. I love how you have it styled. While we no longer have young ones at home, I styled ours simply too…I don't want to have to dust all those bottles!! LOL
I love it! I have one sitting in my garage that is tacky brass that needs some TLC. You have inspired to get started on it and figure out a place to put it! We always have crayons or colored pencils out in our house and I keep them in mason jars to make them look a little more chic!
I love it! I have one sitting in my garage that is tacky brass that needs some TLC. You have inspired to get started on it and figure out a place to put it! We always have crayons or colored pencils out in our house and I keep them in mason jars to make them look a little more chic!
So cute! Love the little coasters! 🙂
I love these water bottles on display! I put some in my kitchen and I just feel healthier looking at them on display:) Loving bar carts too! They are very swanky and can be styled so cool!!
I love the finish on the mirrored top! And the crayons were such a fun touch. Great buy 🙂
I am in love with your bar cart Courtney. I really like the shape and detail of this one. I am trying to find space to put one in our house. I think we will have to have some crayons on ours, too! Never too old to color, right? Fun coasters!
I had a bar cart about 10 years ago and at the time I really didn't see them much. I had copied the idea from a display home. I got rid of it and now I want it back!! This is so cute the way you set it up and such a great idea to put the items on it that your family actually uses. Pretty!
LOVE her. She's gorgeous!! 🙂
Pretty, pretty! Great call turning it true gold and the antiqued mirror shelves are beautiful. I have a bar cart on my screened porch in bright blue but something like this is perfect in your space. Great score!
Super cute. I am with you on not having space for a bar cart, but that one is perfect! I am a tea drinker, too, so I could see that actually being really functional! I love the idea of putting the fresh flowers on the cart. When I have fresh flowers on my kitchen table, I feel like I'm constantly shifting them out of my way. Great job on the refinishing!
Love it! And the fact that you made it family friendly is genius. I do like the idea of a different tune she'll be singing too. 😉
I love the gold make over and it is the perfect look for a dinning room or gameroom. I too am on the hunt for one.