Accents

Cocktails Anyone?

Styling by Giuseppa Nadrowski

3034

Mid-Century Bar Cart

$349, West Elm, Birmingham (to open in September), westelm.com.

Natural bone cocktail shaker

$79, Restoration Hardware, Somerset Collection, Troy, 248-614-6984.

Mary Jurek Design four-piece bar set with wood base

$90, The Italian Dish, Birmingham, 248-593-8299.

Antica Farmacista Manhattan-scented reed diffuser

From $26, A Touch of Lace, Bloomfield Hills, 248-645-5223.

Simon Pearce decanter

$225, Zieben-Mare, Franklin, 248-539-8879.

Saddle leather coaster set

6/$29, Pottery Barn, area Pottery Barn stores, potterybarn.com.

Leather bottle rack

$75, Jayson Home, jaysonhome.com.

Shaken, Stirred & Styled

Ingredients for Creating a Chic Bar

When choosing colors and design appointments for a bar, butler’s pantry, or small alcove area for storing or displaying cocktail accoutrement, design-industry experts recommend considering classic comfort.

Born in Detroit, award-winning artisan Mary Jurek, right, of Los Angeles-based Mary Jurek Design Inc., is known for her handcrafted stainless steel tableware and home décor goods — most accented with rustic elements like wood or natural stone. (See her four-piece bar set on opening page.) When creating the ideal at-home bar, she suggests reflecting your own personality.

“Your home bar needs to not only complement (the rest of) your décor, but also your personal style,” Jurek says. “Choose your pieces wisely and you’ll enjoy them for many years to come. A stunning ice bucket and a large tray are your most essential items for a well-designed home bar.” She also notes that a home bar can set the mood for relaxation and time with friends, and says: “It must be an area that delights the senses.”

Sue Kim, Valspar color strategist, conjured up the look and feel of a fall beverage — the hot toddy — when she recently provided ideas for a bar’s wall paints.

Much like a hot toddy, “the colors used in a home bar can focus on comfort and renewed tradition,” Kim says. “You can make the space more formal by using a red-brown, like Valspar Autumn Russet (2009-6), and pairing it with touches of gold décor. If you’re looking for a lighter and more casual feel, try Valspar Late Day Sun (3006-4A) for a splash of sunlight in an unexpected space.” (Note: Valspar Reserve stands up to stains, splashes, and more, so it would work well in a bar area.) — Megan Swoyer/Giuseppa Nadrowski