Post #334976 by Martiki-bird on Wed, Sep 26, 2007 8:26 AM

Are you a tiki snob? Can you explain why? Do you buy whatever you can or are there things you pass on, not because of price, but because of what it is? Maybe someone else out there can help me better explain this to my friend?

Well I’m definitely not a tiki snob, largely because I'm sure my grasp of “tikiness” isn't better, more valid, or even as good as others here. I'm extremely selective about which items I collect, but my criteria is usually whether or not it appeals to me, not how rare it is. I’ve been known to pass on certain tiki items even if the price is right or it’s super-rare, simply because I just don’t like it. This isn’t being snobbish, just selective, and I suspect that your collecting habits are similarly motivated.

In my experience, snobs generally aspire to prove their superiority by flaunting, criticizing and excluding. As Urban Tiki said, only the individual themselves can know if they’re a snob, but here's some behaviors that could be perceived as “tiki snobbishness”:

TC-ers labeling items that they do not collect as “inherently inferior”, but without being able to explain what is “inferior” about them;
TC-ers condemning or belittling folks who do collect and/or display the aforementioned “inferior” items;
TC-ers pointing out only the perceived anti-tiki flaws (never the assets) in various endeavors without offering solutions or positive feedback;
TC-ers repeatedly using themselves as THE measuring tool for “tikiness”;
TC-ers dictating how “tiki” should be experienced (clothing, music, décor, food, beverages), and condemning individuals not adhering to their mandates;
TC-ers discrediting another TC-er’s input SOLELY on an individual’s duration or status on TC.

Anyway, I’d like to think that none of this ever happens on TC…(adjusting rose-tinted shades)...

To address your friend’s white walls question (hopefully without sounding like a snob): Speaking as an (inactive) interior designer, white walls, trim and ceilings have their place, but oftentimes they are used in combinations that detract rather than enhance tiki-esque décor. In the case of your ultra-white ceiling, the high-contrast between the gorgeous deep red wall and the white brings the eye to the ceiling first rather than to the walls or objects within the room, especially since there is no other white element within the room.

Whites and light neutrals can make naturals materials like bamboo or pandan seem washed out, but a carefully chosen neutral can enhance a collection. If you were a client of mine, I would have suggested a toned neutral (red-brown, green, or orange) in a lighter shade on the walls to help off-set the white ceiling (assuming that I couldn’t persuade you to consider a color for the ceiling). The toned color would have been chosen to highlight the collectables. FYI: I personally think that the biggest design faux pas would be to precisely match the walls and ceiling to the color of the thatch or bamboo (I see this sub-par suggestion lobbed off regularly on TC.)

But anyhow, I love seeing photos artfully-arranged collections, and I think your room looks fabulous irregardless of the white ceiling. Besides, if you’re satisfied withthe result, it really doesn’t matter what I (or anyone else) think about it.

Gina a.k.a. Martiki-bird (I had lots of spare change today…)