This is day 19 in a 31 day series on hospitality. Click here to start from the beginning.
I’ve never had a beverage bar before but it’s been on my wish list for a long time. So, when we were rebuilding our house, I decided to make it happen. And oh, am I glad I did. I’ve had friends in the past with this type of space, away from the hubbub of the kitchen and it works so well for flow of traffic and ease of entertaining a big family or lots of friends.
I actually changed the floor plan of the house to accommodate this awesome space. As you walk through this side door (coming in from the breezeway), the beverage center is to your right and the floor to ceiling open pantry is to your left. That’s a peak of my bedroom at the end of the photo. The glass doors to the workroom are on either side of the beverage bar.
Did I mention I LOVE this space? If you ever have a chance to create a scullery/butler’s pantry/beverage center, I would highly recommend it.
Side note:: I love to put little love notes throughout the house to encourage a certain joy de vivre and to help us all remember to love and serve each other.
Katie Daisy’s stuff is awesome!
We did vertical plank board behind this wall for durability and architectural interest. It’s so easy to wipe down and keep clean.
Most of the glassware is thrifted. The colorful coffee mugs are from West Elm, as is the monogrammed amber stemware. The sign was a gift from our wonderful builder, Larry Anglea and his wife.
I keep cinnamon in my beloved Jadeite salt shaker to add to my coffee (thank you for the tip, Miss Patty!). We have this Philips Saeco RI9837/05 Syntia Automatic Espresso Machine, Stainless Steel
and we LOVE it. This is our second espresso machine and I highly recommend this brand, if you’re in the market. The coffee and espresso are divine and the frother works great. (Often the frothers are weak on these types of machines or don’t last long, so definitely read reviews before you buy). It also dispenses hot water for hot chocolate and tea. The only problem is that I often become the barista when guests are here because nobody else knows how to use it. It’s not quite as easy as making a pot of coffee. It’s a good problem to have though and I’ve just about got my girls trained to use it.
I keep the lower drawers stocked with extra coffee and tea, to-go cups for hot and cold drinks, packets of propel and crystal light and latte and cappuccino mixes. The to-go cups are a huge hit and so worth stocking up on for the holidays.
This may in fact be the most hardworking of all our rooms. It gets used all day, everyday.
This space is just behind the kitchen so it definitely eases traffic jams in the kitchen. The traffic jams are all in here, though!
When we’re having company, I like to keep fresh limes and lemons sliced and ready. I always have sugar, along with all the sweeteners and my favorite local honey for use in coffee or tea.
We designed this space specifically for the U-Line ice machine which we use all the time but especially in the summer when we’re filling up coolers.
I am SO THANKFUL for this little corner of our house. It is the very essence of hospitality and I think it’s a crying shame that the butler’s pantry got tossed aside right along with the butler.
We should start a ‘bring back the butler’s pantry’ revolution. Heck, we should start a bring back the butler revolution.
THAT’s what I really need. A butler to man the butler’s pantry. Any takers?
The question everyone asks about the open shelves is, “Doesn’t everything get dusty?” Not at the rate we use it!
Inspiration for the shelf style from Urban Grace Interiors.
Cabinet color: Benjamin Moore Great Barrington Green.
LOVE it! Love it All! AND YES to bringing back the Butler…!
Hi Edie. Love the pantry and beverage bar. You have great ideas.
lord have mercy.
i want to move in. to the beverage bar.
i’ll have your latte ready, dear!
mwahhhh:)))
oh Edie, I just love looking at all the details you so lovingly incorporated in your home 🙂 It’s simply beautiful. It exudes joy and hospitality, warmth and love. Just what a home should reflect!
We are in the process of planning final details for the floorplan of our ‘dream home’. It has not been an easy process for this indecisive mama! We will have an open/walk thru type pantry space and your beverage center is such a wonderful idea! Would you please share how tall your ceilings are? I love transoms and we are doing 9ft ceilings but I worry this might make my transoms too squished. Thanks again for sharing all your wonderful ideas!
Christy 🙂
I love a butler’s pantry — and anyone who serves Darjeeling tea. 🙂
Edie,
I love the open shelves and the color of the cabinetry. We did a scullery in our house too, but it wasn’t quite as open as yours. We put our microwave and toaster into the space too. We were only in our house 1 yr, and we just sold it bc my husband took another job. We are about to build again, but we are still in design stage. Do you have anything that you would add to your home if you were starting over? Do you still like your homeschool room combined with your laundry room? After seeing your’s , we have decided to combine ours, also off of the kitchen bc I’m always back and forth between the two. Can’t wait to see the BH&G article!!
Sincerely,
Amy Callahan
Edie,
I love the open shelves and the color of the cabinetry. We did a scullery in our house tooWD25574, but it wasn’t quite as open as yours. We put our microwave and toaster into the space too. We were only in our house 1 yr, and we just sold it bc my husband took another job. We are about to build again, but we are still in design stage. Do you have anything that you would add to your home if you were starting over? Do you still like your homeschool room combined with your laundry room? After seeing your’s , we have decided to combine ours, also off of the kitchen bc I’m always back and forth between the two. Can’t wait to see the BH&G article!!
Sincerely,
Amy Callahan
Amy,
I SO wish I had a dining room but it just wasn’t to be on our limited main level. (We had to keep our house on the same foundation footprint b/c our lake lot is small). Other than that, I love everything about the layout of this house. And yes, I LOVE the workroom. And why not make the hardest working room in the house inspiring? It makes me love doing laundry. Well, most of the time. I just got some photos back from the BHG shoot and I’m excited for the article too. So surreal:)))
xoxo
edie
Love your Br Kimd sign! Would you be so kind as to share where you got it? Loving this series!!
I linked to it in the post, Terry 🙂 It’s from Katie Daisy. She carries such awesome stuff!
Great space! I’ve never thought about having a beverage bar before. I’m intrigued by the U-line ice maker. I could use that! Does it have any other features besides making ice? Is there a cold water dispenser? That would be very handy at our house.
Thanks, Terry! The Uline is just an ice maker but we are in serious love with it. It makes the best ice!
:)))
edie
The beverage center is just as spectacular as the rest of your home. Simply amazing. Your espresso/coffee maker is a dream but way out of our price range. Your scullery/butler’s pantry are quite fabulous. I may be coveting it a bit.
Ruth
Lovely, lovely! I miss my open shelves and beverage station… although my beverage station only had room for coffee things. My last automatic espresso machine was a Saeco… new one is a Krups. So far I like them both and definitely think it was worth the investment. (Along with the to-go cups and lids from Sam’s Club… but why do the lids only come in boxes of 500?!)
Marsha!
I love that we’re in a love triangle with Miss Jan! Have you met her yet in person? She’s incredible and funny and adorable and TINY! I feel like a Russian softball player standing next to her. You must meet her in person is you haven’t. And yes, the lids, why 500??!! Even I don’t think I’d ever use that many.
Hope you are well:)))
xoxo
edie
Edie~
I’m so in-love with this space!
I’ll have to pop back over and study it.
I’ve got some catching up to do on the 31 Days of Hospitality!
Everything you do is amazing!
Just subscribed to your lovely blog.
Thanks for the JOY you share.
xo
you lovely encourager, you!
thank you.
xoxo
What a great idea to combine the beverage station with the pantry. I think you said that it is also an entry space, so it is also a welcoming space for guests to know that they can just come on in and get their own drink without interrupting the flow of the dinner prep. 🙂
LOVE…. this is such a beautiful space. Someday when we once again have the space we used to have, I would love to incorporate an area like this! I think back on Holiday parties and of course everyone ends up in the kitchen! This would be such a perfect little area as well!
I so love your posts!
xoxo
Claire
PS: I want a Butler too!!!! 😉
To go cups!!! I can copy that idea immediately. Lovely, Edie, especially the mismatched cups. xoxo
Our home doesn’t *exactly* allow for a butler’s pantry, but I like to rearrange furniture for parties so we can have “stations” sorta like this. Really great!
Hi Edie- Love the idea of having a butler’s pantry or beverage station. I’m also looking at purchasing a super automatic espresso machine. I’m not really sure what to look for in one. Could you tell me (us) what to look for in one? Right now I’m loving the model you have and also the Gaggia Titanium. I like the cup warming are on top of the Titanium model : )
Thanks! I’m really enjoying the hospitality posts!
Angie
Oooooh so pretty!
Heartily agree with you about the butler and pantry. LOL
I. am. in. LOVE! If we ever move or build again, I hope we can incorporate such a great space. Shoot, even if we don’t move, I think I will start saving now for a massive kitchen makeover in which I can incorporate the bulter’s panty! I will pull for budgeting in the butler as well. 😉
Such a GREAT idea!! I could just sit on a stool right there & find my happy place 🙂
Ahhh, I’m reading your blog and seriously feeling sad. Missing the early blogging days, home schooling, days when my kids were little and my old house. Yes, it had a butlers pantry, though you’rs is way cuter. Mine ended up being a place to store table linens and spare dishes…what a shame. 🙂
This space is amazing! We moved into our new home in January, and I have been trying to add a beverage center like this one from the very beginning. So far, we haven’t had the chance to do a built-in area, but I have put a table up in the dining nook with our Keurig, mugs, k-cups, tea, sugar, etc…I love it and our guests love it! It really is a great idea for anyone who entertains!
Thanks, Edie! I’ve been wanting an expresso maker and needed a recommendation.
Gosh, I love your house.
Edie,
I love your beverage bar. I have something similar in my butler’s pantry which I love. My beverage bar is for hot chocolate and tea only. Seeing your bar has me thinking about consolidating a little more and convincing my husband to move his coffee there. I love having a butler’s pantry. Mine sits between my dining room and kitchen and has been very handy for me. I’m enjoying your posts on hospitality.
how lovely is your blog! lylah