
The One Room Challenge REVEAL day is finally upon us and I can’t WAIT to share all the details with you. Before we get going, I just want to thank all of our wonderful sponsors. We never could have created this space without you, and we are so grateful you trusted us with your products. Riad Tile is a longtime favorite of ours, and their stunning green zellige tile is a highlight of this space. It was the first time we worked with Letifly, and we were SO impressed with the quality of their sconces that light this speakeasy up (pun intended). VIGO Industries came through with their show-stopping Zurich Faucet and Matte Stone Sink. And Minted‘s eye-catching Desert Dance prints by Cyrille Gulassa fit this space like a glove.

I’d like to also give a special shoutout to two spectacular small shops that sent us some extra special pieces. It’s all in the details, and Jill Rosenwald and LuveWantShop ensured that those details would be on point. JIll sent this beautiful striped bud vase that was handmade in her studio. And Regina of LuveWantShop sent this gorgeous acrylic ice bucket and a beautiful wine opener from her vintage shop.
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Speaking of details, I’d first like to show you how you gain entrance to the speakeasy.
PASSWORD: GERTRUDE
Then, you just pull the latch on these inconspicuous shelves to enter……..
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THE BAR
The bar was meant to really be the focal point of the room, with the stunning finish of Riad’s green zellige tile serving as the backdrop for an arched enclave of shelving. The shelving was styled with vintage decanters and glassware that I have been picking up for Billy for YEARS at estate sales. It feels good to finally have a spot for them to shine.

The shelf we created out of a custom-cut piece of glass (we used Dulles Glass to order it). We struggled to find brackets to hold up the glass, so of course Billy decided to just make them. I was being a bit of a pain-in-the-a$$ about what they would look like. Apparently, that idea I had in my head didn’t exist in the real world. So, Billy decided to will them into existence. He used 3/8 inch brass piping to bring my vision to fruition. An Instagram Reel will be forthcoming showing the process.
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Nearly everything you see on these shelves is vintage, but the one piece I couldn’t resist picking up for this space is this Pineapple Cocktail Shaker from Anthropologie. I had sold nearly all my vintage decanters (yes, I am full of regrets), and the only one I had left was only large enough for a single drink (peep it on the shelves). These vintage peek-a-boo glasses (see below) hail from the 1950s. They’re some of my most treasured items, and I’ve only ever found three out there in the wild (and I spend a lot of time in the wild).
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I also can’t resist sharing this image of my mother from about six years ago, when she and I found this enormous vintage Johnnie Walker bottle at an estate sale and she bought it for Billy for his birthday. This piece was worth building a space for. Ha!

THE TAPS
We carved this arched area out to host the taps, and to mimic the arch of the bar area. We matched the countertop in the same butcherblock countertop as the rest of the speakeasy, and custom built the cabinet doors below. It was a fairly straightforward DIY. We ordered some clover metal grate off of Amazon and attached it to the back of wood we cut to size and painted black. The halfmoon hardware was a vintage score off of ebay that we simply spray painted in an antique brass. The color on the walls is “Baked Terracotta” by Benjamin Moore. And the exposed beams we spray painted using a gun and Magnolia Home’s “Locally Grown” paint.

So, are you wondering how the taps work? We ordered this EdgeStar wine fridge and removed the lower shelves. Next, Billy drilled a hole into the side of the fridge just large enough to attached the taps to kegs that now occupy the lower half of the wine fridge. We currently have a Montauk summer ale hooked up and a Five Borough’s Tiny Juicy IPA. Nothing like a nice fresh, foamy locally-brewed beer in the summer!

We also had this bar cart that’s been hanging in our dining room forever, but now that all of our vintage decanters have come to the speakeasy we brought this down too. It was the perfect piece to fill in the negative space on this wall, and I love how the black and white plays with the floor.

THE BANQUETTE
The banquette is the other star of the room. There has been a lot of chat about this banquette in previous blogs and there will be a forthcoming Reel on Instagram regarding how to DIY your own channeled banquette, so I’m not going to go into a ton of detail here about it. The vintage scalloped marble tabletops were a find from Habitat for Humanity Restore. I immediately took off the bases they were on, and then proceeded to steal these bases from my brother’s coffee shop (holla, Southdown Coffee). We did order our own that are exactly the same as these, but they have yet to arrive.

I styled the tops with these small Voluspa candles from Anthropologie, the bud vase from Jill Rosenwald, the Matte Terracotta Bud Vase from Anthropologie, and a nice ice-filled glass of scotch in this vintage glass.
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THE FLOOR
The checkerboard flooring was chosen for its matte and rustic finish. I loved the idea of using a classic black and white tile in this space, but I was VERY specific about what that would look like. I think it’s very important to keep two things in mind when using checkerboard tile: 1. the angle at which it is installed and 2. the finish of the tiles.

I think checkerboard looks best when it is installed at an angle from the room’s most prominent view. And the finish and material is also important. A vinyl checkerboard is bound to look cheap, and a high-shine marble material is spectactular, but in my opinion works best in a very upscale interior. But whether you choose marble (or ceramic as we did), I think the most important thing is that the tile is not purely black and white. If choosing a marble finish, look from some prominent veins to break up the starkness of the checkerboard pattern. With ceramic, this matte, rustic finish helps break up the bold patterning as well. Ultimately, we chose this tile from Home Depot.
THE BARSTOOLS

If you’ve been following along, this is probably not the first time you’ve heard I scored these vintage rattan barstools at the thrift store for $4 for the pair. I brought them home, cleaned them up, sanded them down, and then sprayed them with a coat of KILZ primer. Next, I used a high gloss black Rustoleum spray paint to coat them in this finish. I dropped the bottom of the barstools off at the upholsterer and had them done in the same fabric as the banquette (he charged me $80/cushion for those of you interested). Billy helped upholster the backs. The last step was shaving five inches off the bottom, as they were much too high for this counter height. And for about $90/each, I had some gorgeous custom barstools.

THE COUNTER + SINK
The counter was made from a butcherblock countertop we bought from Home Depot and then stained with Varathane’s Early American.

The sink and faucet are both from VIGO Industries and I am so in love with how the white farmhouse sink sits within the black IKEA cabinets, and then plays into the white and black checkerboard tile.

CIAO
Well, that’s all folks! Thanks so much for stopping by our speakeasy. Be sure to make your next stop the One Room Challenge blog, where all the other incredible transformations will be revealed!

Hope to see you here again soon. Just don’t forget the password. 😉
XO,

It’s AMAZING! I love the entrance, which really makes it a true speakeasy! All of the styling details add so much, especially those fun peekaboo glasses!
Thanks so much Brittany! We had so much fun making this space 🙌
Beautiful space! Did I miss a source for the floor tile in the post?
Hi Casey! You did not miss it, I forgot to link it! Just added it now under THE FLOOR subheader. Thanks for the heads up!
Such a classy, rich space with a touch a whimsy. Congratulations on pulling this beautiful space together. I can hear the vinyl spinning and the laughter, as you are hosting. I am sure this space is going to be everyone’s favorite!
Thanks so much Donna! We’re excited to get a lot of use out of this space.
So damn good! Love the tables, the accents, all of it! Y’all will have some great times in this space!
Thank you so much Leila! We are so excited to start entertaining down here.
Kate❣️You and Billie are genius. It has been so fun following along with this amazing ORC. I just love your thrifting. The peekycheeky glasses 💯Riad tile, shelving, the banquet…..on and on Just amazing 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Thank you so much that means a lot!
Kate!!! As always your room is filled with so many incredible, well thought out details! Its so beautiful, I love every single thing. I didn’t realize you had that secret door, thats so AWESOME! Really great job you two!!
Thanks so much Erin! Billy was adamant that we leave the surprise door until reveal! ha!
“Gertrude” looks truly amazing. The two of you never cease to amaze me! That bottle of Johnny Walker finally found a suitable home 😉
It sure did! Thanks ma 😉
My first thought was the movie The Great Gatsby… You did a fantastic job creating that era of style for Gertrude. I can imagine the fun times you’ll be having.. and even the kids playing bartender 🙂 I love how the banquette turned out.. definitely a winning look!
Thanks so much Jamala!!! Now you’ll have to come over and have a drink! 😉
You outdid yourself yet again Kate! What a cool hideaway spot. Well done friend!
Thank you so much Ola!!
OMG, that secret door is so good! Everything in this design is just perfect, I love it!
Thank you so much! Billy was most excited about that secret door!
I love your entire house. You find the coolest decor items.
Thank you so much Erika! I spend way too much time at the thrift store. 😂
KATE!!!! This is so so so good!! I think you should invite us all over for a cocktail party so we can see this gorgeousness in person!
Libbie! Anytime – I would LOVE THAT! And thanks so much!
[…] feels like a speakeasy I want to be in right this moment (FYI this moment is at 5:14 pm;)). Head here for the […]
[…] feels like a speakeasy I want to be in right this moment (FYI this moment is at 5:14 pm;)). Head here for the […]
[…] feels like a speakeasy I want to be in right this moment (FYI this moment is at 5:14 pm;)). Head here for the […]
[…] feels like a speakeasy I want to be in right this moment (FYI this moment is at 5:14 pm;)). Head here for the […]
This is nothing short of amazing! What a wonderful space to enjoy! Congrats!
Thank you so very much!
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