Post #487480 by Kon-Hemsby on Sun, Oct 11, 2009 8:14 AM

We'd had the little home bar in our kitchen/ diner for a while, named the Kitsch Inn.

We decided that it was time to build a proper bar. As we don't have a basement, as they are fairly rare in the UK, we considered building an extension to the home. However this was going to prove expensive, so we decided to convert one of our spare bedrooms. Only a small double bedroom, but we decided as long as there was a sofa bed in there it was the most effective method of making our home bar. So here is my attempt at building my first tiki room /bar.

The first few photos show me stripping out the built in wardrobe, carpet, coving etc. Just so it gives an idea of what it was before.

So it was time to procure some matting and assorted DIY materials from our friends at http://www.cheekytiki.com.
After considering how best to put the matting up, we decided to go the whole hog and stick it to the walls. Now it was the moment of truth. Get that adhesive on the walls and get the matting applied.

Mmmm the smell of that matting was lovely.

Originally I planned to use thatch for the ceiling but eventually decided to fit a false ceiling with matting. I fixed batons to the walls and fixed the others through the ceiling into the loft. I made up ceiling 'panels' of hardboard with matting glued to them. I decided to stain and varnish the ceiling tiles to make them look different to the walls. BUT the matting looked so rich I decided to stain and varnish ALL the matting. I love making work for myself! But it was worth it.

More to follow.

[ Edited by: Kon-Hemsby 2009-10-11 08:44 ]

[ Edited by: Kon-Hemsby 2009-10-21 13:29 ]