Vintage furniture is having a major moment, with people searching flea markets and estate sales to find unique antique pieces. Among the most popular vintage finds? Secretary desks. With their rich wood tones, brass hardware, and built-in organization, it’s easy to see the appeal of these stylish desks.
Lately, creative homeowners have been repurposing secretary desks into chic bar cabinets. By transforming these antique pieces, you can refresh your bar setup with vintage charm and plenty of storage for glassware, spirits, and bar accessories. Keep reading to discover how to makeover your secretary desk into the ultimate bar cabinet.
Repurposing Secretary Desks
What are Secretary Desks?
Secretary desks, also known as escritoires, became popular in the 18th century and remained in vogue through the 1930s. These antique desks have a drop-down workspace and pigeonholes or cubbyholes for storing papers and supplies.
Traditional secretary desks feature fine woodworking such as mahogany, cherry, or oak. Styles like Chippendale and Queen Anne exhibit detailed ornamentation. Secretaries often have small drawers with brass pulls, flip-down desktops, and shelves behind cabinet doors.
Why Repurpose Secretary Desks?
Secretary desks boast several qualities that make them prime for repurposing projects:
- Vintage appeal: Their handsome antique styling suits today’s eclectic decor
- Durability: Secretary desks were built to last from high-quality woods
- Built-in storage: Cubbyholes and shelves easily adapt for barware
- Display space: The desk surface offers room to artfully arrange bottles and accessories
By converting a secretary desk into a bar cabinet, you can infuse your entertaining space with antique sophistication. The compact size makes them ideal for small homes or apartments.
Tips for Repurposing
Follow these tips for a successful secretary desk bar cabinet makeover:
- Choose a petite, narrow desk to conserve space. Avoid bulky, oversized pieces.
- Prepare the desk surface for drink-making by adding a protective finish or custom cover.
- Install interior lighting to illuminate the contents of the bar cabinet.
- Use baskets, trays and dividers to neatly organize barware inside the desk.
Designing Your Secretary Desk Bar Cabinet
Choosing the Right Secretary Desk
Not just any secretary desk will do for converting into a bar cabinet. Keep these factors in mind while desk shopping:
- Size: Measure carefully to ensure it fits your space constraints.
- Interior storage: Evaluate if the cubbies and shelves will suit your barware collection.
- Construction: Seek solid wood joinery without wobbles or weak points.
- Style: Match the desk style to your home decor, whether floral Chippendale or geometric Art Deco.
Narrow secretaries around 30-36 inches wide work best in most home bars. If using a vintage piece, refinish or polish the wood before styling.
Essential Styling Elements
To create a fully-functional secretary desk bar cabinet, incorporate these key elements:
- Top tray: Display barware tools, cocktail books or bar signs on a silver or wood tray.
- Lighting: Install LED strip lighting inside to highlight your glassware and spirits.
- Glass shelves: Illuminate lower cabinet levels with glass shelving.
- Organization: Use baskets, dividers and trays to keep things tidy inside.
These details help transform the desk into a practical yet eye-catching bar station. Backlighting and glass shelves exhibit your prized liquor bottles like works of art.
Decorative Touches
Don’t overlook decorative elements when designing your secretary desk bar. Consider:
- Adding a backsplash, tile or removable wallpaper behind the bar cabinet
- Pulling up a couple stylish bar stools on the opposite side
- Mounting a mirror or artwork above the secretary desk
- Installing custom knobs and pulls for a personalized look
These finishing touches lend excitement and personality to your repurposed bar furniture. Pick a backsplash that coordinates with your interior design scheme.
Stocking Your Secretary Desk Bar Cabinet
Once your secretary desk is fully converted into a bar cabinet, it’s time to fill it up! Stock up on these bar essentials:
Essential Barware
Tools for mixing perfect cocktails:
- Cocktail shaker
- Bar spoon
- Jigger
- Muddler
- Mixing glasses
- Bottle opener
- Ice bucket and tongs
- Coasters
Basic barware like a Boston shaker, Hawthorne strainer and bar spoon handle common mixing needs. Add more specialty items as your mixology skills grow.
Liquor and Mixers
Stock your bar with a selection of these spirits and mixers:
- Vodka
- Gin
- Rum
- Tequila
- Whiskey
- Vermouth
- Bitters
- Wine and champagne
- Club soda, juices and tonic
Start with versatile base spirits like vodka, rum and whiskey. Add complementary liqueurs, vermouths and bitters to expand your mixing options.
Bar Accessories
Fill in the remaining space with bar accessories:
- Cocktail books
- Coasters
- Cocktail napkins
- Serving trays
- Bottle stoppers
- Cocktail picks
- Stirrers
Books, barware and accents like vintage tins complete your secretary desk bar cabinet decor.
Get the Look: Secretary Desk Bar Cabinet Inspiration
Secretary desk bars showcase the beauty of these multifunctional antique pieces. Here are a few inspiring examples:
Rustic Farmhouse Bar
This DIY bar gives an oak secretary desk a rustic makeover with cedar plank accent walls and black pipe shelving holding rows of whiskey bottles and glasses. Baskets keep bar tools organized while a mini-fridge tucks discreetly underneath. An equestrian print and pendant lighting echo the farmhouse vibe.
Modern Glass Bar
In this modern design, a glossy white secretary desk gets updated with black hardware and legs. Interior glass shelves and LED lighting brightly display bottles and barware. The simple styling maximizes the sculptural quality of the glassware against the desk backdrop.
Eclectic Home Pub
This pub-style design transforms a mahogany secretary into an eclectic entertainment spot. Interior wood wine racks flank glass shelves holding multicolored liquor bottles. An antique world globe and books pile atop the desk while a Persian rug defines the space. The mix of old and new elements creates an inviting, well-loved pub ambiance.
These examples illustrate how secretary desk bars can suit any style, from modern to rustic. The key is choosing a desk with sizes and storage layout suited for barware.
Secretary desks make charming and functional additions to any home bar. With their handsome woodwork and built-in organization, repurposed secretary bars offer style and storage.
By following the tips in this guide, you can refresh your bar setup with a vintage secretary desk makeover. Keep an eye out for petite desks with interior storage at flea markets, estate sales and antique shops. Add stylish lighting, glass shelves and decor to complete your secretary bar cabinet.
Finally, fill your new bar furniture with all the essential tools, spirits, glassware and accessories needed for cocktail hour. Then sit back with a well-crafted drink and toast your successful furniture makeover!
