Sometimes there is a piece of seemingly frivolous furniture that you just need isn’t there? It might not have a particular function, is possibly quite spendy, probably takes up quite a lot of room where you should really be using that space for more domesticated items such as a laundry bin. Or storage for your vacuum cleaner. But you just want it. And all the practical reasons why you shouldn’t can jog on.
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For me it’s always been a chaise lounge. I imagine myself languishingly idly in some kind of luxe silky negligee type item whilst reading a penguin classic, sipping champagne and indulging in some Charbonnel et Walker Dark Sea Salt Caramel Truffles…..*sigh*. In reality I know damn well it would be littered with internet shopping debris, and the closest I’d get to my fairytale vision is flicking through Grazia whilst trying to prevent Mabel from half inching my family bag of Malteasers. But I still want one. And as soon as we move house I’m treating myself, even if it does serve as a part time clothes horse.
Apparently a very covetable yet perhaps every so slightly superficial piece of furniture is the trolley i.e. what is often referred to as the “bar cart”. Child-proofing aside I LOVE mine, I’ve used it for a number of things including the perfect place for my vast make-up collection and a display case at Mabel’s first birthday party. Whilst Adam and I were styling a shoot in collaboration with Cox and Cox and Prezola a few weeks ago with said trolley being a key prop, it occurred to me that actually, aswell as being aesthetically desirable, the trolley is really rather useful.
To the right of this text you will see a pinnable graphic of amazing ways to style yours. If you ever doubted that you didn’t have a good enough excuse to invest now you have eight. You’re welcome. I’ve also added in a gallery below and you can check out more detail on how a trolley can be styled (and functional!) for your kitchen, home office or as a gin cart here.
Do you own a trolley cart? How do you style yours?
What’s your most coveted piece of furniture? Please don’t be afraid to include the slightly ridiculous in the comments section below. I would also like not only the world’s largest walk in closet, but one of those island units you can have in them with a glass top so you can see all of your accessories and the draws are allocated to specific colours of lingerie. I think I’ve only ever seen them in the homes of American celebrities but you know, a girl can dream.
P.S If you like a bit of interior styling then follow us on instagram and enter our #rmsTuesdayTreats competition. Our most recent winner Hannah made her White Company Trays super pretty and therefore won first prize – trays that she was encouraged to buy from this post. Is it wrong to be proud of being an enabler?
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I had been coveting the Cox and Cox one for a while, since seeing it as your make up station, but again there was no real place for it and I had no ideas what to use it for. Anyway, a few weeks ago I was away for the weekend and on my way home I received a text from my husband saying that our neighbours had given us something that I’d love. My neighbours are in their 70s so had no idea what it could be. So when I arrived home, there in the kitchen was a rather kitch retro tea trolley. They were getting rid of it to make space for a shoe rack! It’s not at all like the Cox and Cox one, it’s gold rimmed and had 2 shelves which are cream with large pictures of roses on. I’ve got it set up as a bar, with the drinks on top and glasses underneath. It’s a bit chintzy but some how works in our other front room style. Every time I see it I want to don a tabard and start wheeling it about!
Sophie this sounds amazing!!! You must tag us in a picture if you use instagram – would love to see it! I do like the industrial styling of mine but you can’t beat a bit of chintz – so pretty x
I have a chaise! It was given to us when we did 60 minute makeover, it’s hideous but I have one. I’m going to get it reupholstered once I rescue it from my Mum’s (and work out where I’m going to put it. I may need to move house).
I’m currently lusting after (and watching carefully on eBay) a bureau. A proper Victorian style one that I can work at and write letters. And it HAS to have a leather pad (preferably in green) because I think that will make me work much more productively as it makes me think of grown ups being very professional.
Sara! I REALLY want a bureau! Saw one in an Antiques place last month and tried to convince James we needed it for the next house – he was having none of it 🙁
You need one too – it would absolutely make you write a best selling novel or something.
VERY jealous of the chaise!!!! x
This post has made me want those Dark Sea Salt Caramel Truffles let alone anything else!
ha ha hahahahaha!!! They are my favourite Sarah 🙂
I have lusted after one of these trolleys for our new house since seeing your make up station, but couldn’t justify it to myself when there are so many other essential pieces of furniture to buy, like a bed for example… :/ But this post has inspired me to use it as a martini/cocktail station at our wedding… totally reasonable right? I mean the day would be incomplete without one…
Aimee using it for your wedding AND then in the home afterwards would make it an absolute bargain….
I LOVE a bar cart! Mine was my first purchase when we moved into our new place, before a dining table, before sofas, before any of the things you actually need! But I love it! I’m still searching for the right bits and pieces to accessorise it, at the moment it’s looking a bit bare – I feel like it needs some sort of pineapple accessories! Have tagged in my instagram post in case you have any suggestions 🙂
Funnily enough I am also obsessively checking eBay for a bureau. Have decided my hall will not be complete until I get one! x
Kate I am checking out your instagram and will see what I can come up with! There are lots of lovely pineapple accessories around at the moment. Oliver Bonas do some amazing pineapple topped cocktail bar type spoons…..x
ooh thanks Charlotte, will have a look! I managed to find a pineapple candle in H&M today- the collection begins!! x
We have a smaller trolley in our bathroom, and love it soooo much. It has wooden and metal shelves, with ‘bath’, ‘wash’ and ‘towels’ stamped on each level. Looks fab laden up with our best smellies, beautifully folded towels and a flower on top- though of course with a 10 month old, that only happens when the queen comes!
Now I’ve seen this though, I almost wish it wasn’t quite so bathroomy so we could use it in lots of other ways!!
Danielle what an amazing idea, I’ve never even considered it for a bathroom (our current bathroom has limited room) but definitely when we move house….maybe I’ll need to buy another one? 🙂
I LOVE a bar cart! Mine was my first purchase when we moved into our new house, before the dining table, before sofas – before anything you actually need! But I love it! I definitely need a few more accessories (I’m thinking something pineapple-y, have tagged you in my instagram pic of it for any suggestions!)
I’m also obsessively searching ebay for a bureau – I feel like my hall won’t be complete without one! x
Ever since I saw your post featuring this beauty I have wanted one. I’ve seen tons in charity shops but theyve never seemed quite “industrial” enough so I’ve not invested and reasoned with myself if I havent found another less expensive alternative this was going to be my christmas gift to myself.
Last week I was rummaging in a second hand shop et voila I found “the one” it’s a beauty and cost me £14.00 I absolutely love it and thanks to this post it shall be taking pride of place in my office xx
£14?! Wow. That is a find. Do tag us in on instagram, would love to see x
Awwww I have wanted that trolley for ages!!!!
Could sadly never justify the price tag BUT I did convince the boy we really NEEDED a trolley for our mini bar as he kept complaining the bottles took too much space on the worktop! So a little trip to Ikea later & this cutey was mine!! http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/50227973/
It did take an age to decide between the turquoise or dark grey (dark grey won in the end!)
It now lives in the kitchen laden with bottles of spirits, cocktail mixers, shakers & accessories and some cute flamingo glasses (obviously!)
It’s a little overcrowded most of the time, but when we have parties I can just remove some of the bottles and show it off
In fact at a recent BBQ I made the boy help me wheel it round the house to get it into the back garden!!!!!!!! He was not impressed but the guests were! haha!
A chaise lounge would be AMAZING! That and a walk in wardrobe! xx
Rebecca I love this one from IKEA – small-ish yet still seems to have a lot of room. I love how you manage to have it manoeuvred for your party – the fact they ALSO have wheels makes them even more practical I feel!
Oh god, now I really want this trolley, which I’ve already had to talk myself out of on several occasions. Proper enablers!
I fell into the trap of buying a ‘bargain’ duck egg chaise longue in the John Lewis sale at the start of the year, sadly it didn’t live up to my comfort expectations (and something about the proportions just wasn’t quite right?) so it went back but only after a lot of ribbing from my husband, pals and family. I’ve definitely not given up on my dreams of chaise longue, but maybe now the trolley’s overtaken it?! Jeeez… x
Rebecca it was a lovely chaise! But, it does have to be 100% right. The trolley is cheaper, takes up less room and has more uses….I think it’s a no brainer.
🙂
I would love a trolley but my OH thought it was a bit daft! I may show him these photos to show otherwise! We did compromise and bought this beautiful cabinet from Ikea – http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/00242278/ which will house all our lovely glasses and drinks, as well as some photos and china!
Ah yes I have had my eye on this Marianne, I have no where to put it mind (!) but it would be fabulous as a make-up cabinet…..or just to show off things that are pretty x
I have the green version of this as a bar cabinet – it’s brilliant!
Well it’s easier at this point to say what I don’t want to buy for our house! We are having wardrobes built next weekend and then can assess what else I need for the bedroom! There is so much space so a chaise was an idea but then it changes on a weekly basis so at the minute it’s one of those cosy chairs from Loaf that I think I need in the bedroom (no idea why when there is a bed!)! We also will need a new bed and bits an bobs! I have seen a nice console that is oak but has metal legs which I am lusting over but again it’s likely to change! I am obsessed with wanting shelves up everywhere too lol! I do love this trolley though but no sure it would work in ththe bedroom, fancy a smaller version for the bathroom as someone mentioned above! And def need a zinc drinks trolley too for the kitchen obv not the bedroom (although who doesn’t fancy a gin sometimes in bed?!) I love th cox and cox drawers on the trolley and those storage like wooden boxes/shelves! X
I really want those HOME letters!! Would you mind sharing where they are from? Xx
I had planned to set up a drink and (healthy) snack station for the kids over the summer holidays so they could easily help themselves (my youngest is four and can’t reach the fridge). I didn’t do it as I couldn’t find anything suitable… I obviously didn’t look hard enough because this is perfect.
All my emphasis right now is on my new business so the house will have to wait for special furniture. My trolley at work is turquoise and from IKEA which is for the products used for fat freezing so it’s ideal that it’s mobile but my favourite piece of furniture is my tall bureau that I work from with a glass display above which looks great to display products that I use. The bureau has been painted a soft green which fits perfectly in my barn as it’s very quirky (it’s on a farm that is now a business centre in Gloucestershire and the barn sits on top of stone toadstools), everything inside is mismatched and imperfect as I wanted it to primarily feel warm and welcoming in total contrast to similar businesses that are white and clinical. By having quirky furniture from house sales and eBay that I’ve painted with Annie Sloan chalk paint, I’ve saved a fortune but everyone assumes it’s the highest quality
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