STUDIO THOMAS JAMES INC.

Studio Thomas James shared their perspective with on the enduring design debate: bar cart versus bar cabinet, making the case for the bar cart.

The barts cart’s appeal lies in the ease and informality it brings to a room—something a cabinet doesn’t quite replicate.

“It feels collected rather than installed,” says Philip Thomas Vanderford. He explains that if a fully built-in bar isn’t part being installed, a bar cart brings a jewelry-like touch through furniture, whereas a bar cabinet can risk falling into an awkward middle ground.

At the Kips Bay Decorator Show House Dallas, Studio Thomas James introduced a trumpet-legged bar cart as a playful counterpoint within the room, bringing a sense of movement, lightness, and collected layering to the space.

Thank you, Meghan Shouse, for including Studio Thomas James in the conversation. Read the full feature in House Beautiful.

Consider the place where you pause before the plunge, towel over shoulder, already half in the water. That quick stop that somehow becomes part of the ritual: the slip of sandals, the echoing footsteps on stone, the anticipation of that first dive.

At Studio Thomas James, we’re reimagining the pool room as its own design moment, where function meets high style. Think custom millwork in washed coastal tones, integrated cubbies for sun-faded towels, and durable, elevated finishes that move seamlessly between wet and dry. Stone underfoot, wood warmed by sun, linen curtains that catch the breeze like a held breath before the jump.

Summer’s here. So go ahead—take a dip. But first, make the space before ritual as beautiful as the swim itself.