Post #506629 by Mr. Pupu Pants on Sun, Jan 24, 2010 1:23 PM

Hi Beadtiki, sheesh, we are neighbors! :) I hope I get a chance to meet you.
The time and effort is a big part of the fun and I figure, when it's done, I'll have learned alot as well.
I just try to put my own twist on the stuff that has inspired me (much of it here on Tiki Central -- so much talent and encouragement on this site).

As a general rule of thumb, what has helped me draw everything together is creating a sort of 'backstory' for the bar in order to stick with a theme of design and content.

I figured, if I was going to do it, I might as well go all out (which is the only mode I know -- for better or worse).
I picked a 'decade' (1945-1955ish) and a 'location' (favorite beach on Kauai) and a 'purpose' (floatplane airport beach bar) and other 'influences' (Disney, WW2, Nautical, Hawaii Vacation Travel) and collected and designed stuff around that. It has helped me keep style, color and materials together (and then I break the 'rules' from there).

It definitely makes an overall difference when the layers of details look like they were 'created' with similar type materials and techniques. Helps create a 'reality'. I don't mean for this to sound all overblown...blah, blah, blah -- just the only way I can think to describe what I was thinking.

Hey Bongo, I look around this site with my jaw lowered all the time. I just try to remember that we're each in a league of our own (based on space and resources) ....and there's no crying in Tiki :)
Also -- I can't tell you the number of mistakes I've made that turned into....uh.....'works of art'. Thanks very much for the very kind words.
John