A Serve-Yourself Summer Drink Station

Create a Summer Drink Station for your backyard or patio!  Have everything set up so your family and friends can easily help themselves. 

This summer we are going to be celebrating my husband’s 40th birthday!  And this means that we’re going to be having a party with friends and family to celebrate the big day! So in between camping trips and summer outings we’ve been working on a few projects around here to get ready for the big event.  I’m really hoping the weather cooperates for us so we can have the event outside on our deck.  I’m planning on having everything – all the food, the visiting, everything outside.  So to make my life and party preparations easier I’ve been thinking of ways to organize food and all the party supplies.  We have a fairly large deck so it shouldn’t be a problem.

Make your own drink station by giving old furniture a makeover!

One of the projects I wanted to tackle was to put together a hostess cart, you know the ones?  They roll around where ever you need them so they are super handy for entertaining.  Well, as luck would have it I’ve got just the thing!  I’ve had a kitchen cart for many many years, but have never really used it.  In fact it’s been sitting in my basement for the better part of ten years.  Then all of a sudden while I was looking at my deck furniture and my colourful seat cushions, I thought of the cart again, and decided I needed it for my summer patio as a summer drink station.  And it also needed to be hot pink.  I know, it’s weird right?  I don’t know why these things pop in my head but they do and I just go with it!  🙂  And when I told my husband he kind of looked at me all crazy like, but I told him to just trust me…I had a vision and I was about to make it happen.

I love a good Before and After!

So thanks to my friends with CIL I got busy with my project!  And because every paint project needs a before and after, here it is…actually it was a stroke of luck that I managed to capture a before.  I was so gung-ho on getting this cart painted that I nearly forgot to take a picture!  Anyway, it wasn’t a terrible cart to start out with, it just needed to be pink.  Because well, pink.

Before  //  After

Don’t be afraid of colour!

What a difference!  It certainly is brighter…but wait, it will all come together.  Although I do have to admit that I panicked just a little as I painted this cart…the colour is certainly outside of my comfort zone, but I painted my way through my worry.  Wait until you see it all filled up with party supplies, and next to my aqua deck furniture and gorgeous floral cushions.  It works.

Ta da!  See how festive and bright it is!  The colour of it just matches all the dishes and decor I already had around.  I love it.

Next to my deck furniture it’s perfect.  Why not have bold colour around…it makes me smile!

What a cheery little sitting area isn’t it?

Tips and Ideas for your Summer Drink Cart:

I had a lot of fun adding all the supplies to my newly made over cart.  Come party time I will load it up with drinks, napkins, cups, straws, cutlery, treats, condiments, pretty much anything and everything that I can fit on it!  Here are some tips:

• Place your hostess/drink cart in an easy to access place on your patio.
• Fill a large self-serve jug with homemade lemonade or flavoured waters.
• Use jars or cutlery baskets to store straws and utensils.
• Set out napkins.
• Put out a selection of reusable cups.
• Set out a basket of bottle openers and cork screws.
• Offer a bucket of ice with a scoop.
• Bring out your patio dishes and put them all on your hostess cart for easy access.
• This cart would also be great as an ice cream station or bbq station!
• Keep your station out of the direct sun, so everything stays cool.  Bonus if you can put it under an awning in case you party gets rained on!

Pretty pretty pretty!  Go bold or go home I guess right?  😉

And I LOVE LOVE LOVE how it looks with my newly painted deck door!  So cheery and fun!

I should add that I will be taking this hostess cart inside during extreme weather conditions to keep the paint job looking beautiful! Plus I get the added benefit of a splash of colour indoors in my eating nook!

Painting Details and Practical Tips:

• We used CIL Ultra Premium Interior Waterborne Alkyd Paint for Furniture & Cabinets:  Melamine Finish
• Colour:  Wild Fire 62RR 21/444
• Make sure what you want to paint is cleaned properly.  I always use a TSP/water solution for cleaning.
• Make sure it’s dry before applying paint.
• Paint brush type:  I used a regular paint brush.
• Follow the directions on the can for drying times.

So, what are you painting today?  Do you love bold colours?  Or do you like more subtle colours?

Have an inspired day!
Disclosure:  I have been sponsored with product by CIL brand paint for PPG to write this post, but the thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.  Really truly.  I’m loving the transformation of CIL paint in my home!