Noella is the assistant editor for Apartment Therapy’s News and Culture section. You can find her words in Scalawag Magazine, Healthline, them, Uproxx, Harper’s Bazaar, Teen Vogue. In her free time, she enjoys roller skating and listening to Solange.
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Look, sitting around a sparsely stocked kitchen drinking five-dollar wine out of mismatched coffee mugs was cool back when we first moved out of our parents’ house, but there comes a point in every person’s life when they realize that it’s time to grow up and get some serious, adult glassware. When that fateful day came for me, I went a bit overboard and amassed a giant glass collection that took up the biggest cabinet I had. Now that I’m moving in with my girlfriend, I knew I had to pare down my stockpile. Our new place doesn’t exactly have the space for eight 1-liter beer steins and a glass for every cocktail in “Mr. Boston’s,” so I got down to business and started consolidating my glassware.
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I was able to get rid of a bunch of glasses that were chipped, ones I never really used, and a few that I didn’t even know I had, but there was one set of pieces I’d never surrender: my tulip glasses. Tulips, if you’ve yet to be indoctrinated, are all-purpose workhorses — sort of like the Instant Pot of glassware. They’re good for beer, wine, liquor, mixed drinks, and pretty much anything else you’d want to put in there, since the tapered shape concentrates aroma, helps retain foam atop beer and creamy cocktails and increases the strength of the glass itself.
But, the best part about tulip glasses is that I was able to replace a bunch of the glasses that I got rid of during my move. While I’m a sucker for a nice rocks glass, neat pours of spirits are just as good in a tulip, as are lots of different mixed drinks and cocktails (think: piña coladas and all classic tiki drinks). I was also able to scrap a few white wine glasses, a bunch of coupes I never (read: never) used, and a smattering of lowballs that were a little too big for cocktails and a little too small for beer. This is great for my small apartment, since I’ll be storing most of my glassware on the top rack of my bar cart, so real estate is limited. If you’re in the market for a few all-around killer glasses, but don’t want to dedicate an entire portion of your storage area to glassware — or you’re still trying to claw your way out of the reusing-Solo-cups phase — investing in a sturdy set of tulips is an easy, low-cost solution. These Libbey glasses from Amazon are super affordable and on sale right now, and they haven’t steered me wrong yet. Plus, they’re built to last and are dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning.
Or, if you’re looking for a more upscale set, these 16-ounce brandy snifters from Williams Sonoma are pretty much the same as tulips and have a beautiful cut texture to them. They’ll hold an entire pint of beer, a (very) generous neat pour, and more than half a bottle of wine, if you’re feeling ambitious.
But no matter which set you snag, you can rest assured that tulip glasses will help you save space and enjoy a variety of different drinks to their full potential — and you’ll look good doing it.
Sarah is a staff writer at Apartment Therapy. She completed her MA in journalism at the University of Missouri and has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Belmont University. Past writing and editing stops include HGTV Magazine, Nashville Arts Magazine, and several outlets local to her hometown, Columbia, Missouri.
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Bar carts are fun, functional, and versatile additions to your home. In addition to storing your alcohol and favorite glassware, you can also place a bar cart near your front door and even have your it double as your entry table. If you don’t keep alcohol in the house or prefer a dry lifestyle, you could also turn one into a coffee station or use it for bathroom storage. While the decorative possibilities of bar carts appear limitless, a pricey new piece of furniture offering style and secret storage for all your bottles and drinkware recently went viral on TikTok, and it’s just too good not to talk about.
Right after the holidays last year, TikToker Megan Sullivan shared her fancy new bar cabinet from Wayfair. While at first glance, it looks like your everyday storage cabinet, her video showcases that the piece actually features a 007-like revolving door, which reveals three levels of ample shelving inside. The video is less than 10 seconds long and already has 3.3 million views, and folks are still watching and debating whether or not this piece is worth the investment.
With over 350,000 comments, tons of people wanted to know one thing above all: Where is this from? This piece is called the Sinatra Bar Cabinet by Wildwood, and it’s available at Wayfair. Shortly after this TikTok went viral, the cabinet completely sold out online. It’s currently on back-order but available to purchase. I wouldn’t be surprised if it sold out again though because people are clearly loving the novelty of it and its subtle glam look
If you’re interested in this bar cabinet, you’ll want to take a few things into consideration. First, and most importantly, this thing is very pricey. Second, the cabinet only comes in one colorway. The exterior is painted a bright shade of white and features a gold linear design on the front with coordinating shiny gold hardware. On the other side of the revolving door you’ll find a matte blue interior. Of course, if you love design but aren’t sold on the colors, you can always paint it or work a little DIY magic. Either way, this baby went viral for a reason, and I kind of want one for myself.
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Whether you live in a house or an apartment, certain spots can always be a little tricky to decorate. For some, it’s the tiny half-bath that barely has room for a sink. For others, it’s the empty wall space looming above a headboard. For Abigail, the entryway by the front door was her trouble spot. Luckily, she found a fun little fix that can literally work for anyone, and spoiler alert: It includes a bar cart.
In fact, when Abigail moved into her 415-square-foot studio apartment in San Francisco, she found creating distinct zones in one big open room to be difficult. But she was up for the challenge. “I was very intentional about every inch of space,” Abigail says. “I was able to maximize all 415 square feet and create an entryway, living room, dining room, bar, bedroom, and office out of my tiny space!”
Getting back to that entryway, Abigail didn’t quite know what to do with the little U-shaped slice of space she had to decorate. A tiny half-wall sits opposite her door, and diagonal from that, she had a somewhat sizable stretch of blank wall space just looking to be filled. First, she placed a small bench into the nook right next to the door, as pictured above. Then, instead of opting for a traditional console table to anchor that longer bare wall area, she wheeled in a round rolling bar cart with a pretty gold finish. “I love the aesthetic bar carts bring to a space,” she says.
Abigail styled her bar cart with flowers, art, and tiny champagne bottles — everything you’d need for a warm welcome upon entering her place. The real genius of this decorating move though is the piece’s mobility. In a small space like a studio, flexible furnishings can really help you make the most of a tight layout, and I don’t know about you, but I haven’t seen many classic console tables on wheels just yet.
Bar carts can be a little pricey, ranging from $70 to $700 at stores like Anthropologie. So Abigail says she was “real hype” when she found her chic bar cart at World Market for just $40! No only did she score a great deal, but Abigail’s bar cart also fits perfectly in the entry. If you’re on the hunt for a bar cart of your own, The Home Depot sells one for $131 that’s almost identical to the cart Abigail has. Lowes sells a bigger, rectangular gold bar cart with wood shelves and racks on the second tier that can hold up to six wine glasses and five wine bottles. The one I have is from Lowes, and I absolutely love. It’s chilling in the living room next to my IKEA bookshelf, but now, after seeing Abigail’s place, I just might move mine towards the entry.