Tiki Central / General Tiki
The mother load... and its new home.
B
boutiki
Posted
posted
on
Wed, Sep 10, 2008 9:11 PM
Well, I just spent my entire day painstakingly pulling hundreds of bamboo strips down one by one... and I couldn't be happier. I got word from a friend that an acquaintance of theirs just bought a house with a bamboo bar in the basement they did not want. I assumed it was a free standing bar. Was I ever wrong. Built in the early 1950s this room had remained unaltered (except for the wallpaper "upgrade" in the '70s). There was even the original left-overs in the crawlspace behind the basement. I told them they should keep it and enjoy it, but the husband wanted his "guy room". Whatever. Here is all the bamboo loaded up in the old Econoline. They range in length from 3 to 7 1/2 feet, most are about 5 feet long: And here is the room before I took out the pry-bar: One of the best things to me is the wonderful patina of this aged bamboo as well as the history. I guess we got a good start on the materials to build out our new Tiki room. If we have bamboo left over, we'll offer it here on Tiki Central first. Reduce, reuse, recycle! Check out Tiki Quest at http://www.pegboardchicago.com/TCintro.html [ Edited by: boutiki 2008-11-07 09:10 ] |
TT
Tiki Trav
Posted
posted
on
Wed, Sep 10, 2008 9:17 PM
WOW! your friend is an idiot. I guess you will have to build something spectacular to show em what they threw away... |
B
Beachbumz
Posted
posted
on
Wed, Sep 10, 2008 9:23 PM
Wow Boutiki great score! looks like enough bamboo to make a few bars with if you wish.. what a shame to tear down a great room like that though.. I would have turned it into the Ultimate Tiki Guy Room if I was him... anyways.. any chance you got to keep that ultra funk wallpaper as well?? :wink: |
B
boutiki
Posted
posted
on
Wed, Sep 10, 2008 9:33 PM
Yeah, no accounting for taste, huh? As they say, "My loss is your gain". At least it didn't go into the trash. You think that wallpaper was something? You should have seen what was there originally. I couldn't get a decent picture, but you could see it. What at first looked like a fantastic abstract 50's modern wallpaper upon closer inspection turned out to be a custom painted wall treatment. It was a stylized thatch design in warm natural colors. Simply amazing! They spent some real dough on this place back in the day! -Duke |
BK
Big Kahuna
Posted
posted
on
Wed, Sep 10, 2008 9:41 PM
WOW! Great score for you, but what a shame such an awesome original room had to be dismantled. Keep us updated with pics of your Tiki room! |
B
bigbrotiki
Posted
posted
on
Wed, Sep 10, 2008 9:46 PM
Duke, any chance to get old snapshots of the original owners in their rumpus room? Those kinda photos are really hard to come by, even though thousands must exist. Even harder to find are any amateur photos of rumpus room revelers holding or imbibing from Tiki mugs... |
LS
Lake Surfer
Posted
posted
on
Wed, Sep 10, 2008 9:52 PM
Nice score Duke! Almost exactly like the basement that Dave Krys tuned me in on a couple years ago in the north Chicago burbs... though it wasn't tiki themed at all, more like duck hunting or something. Same great patina on mine... add a little torch to it and you're good to go! Some of the two trips I made... not anything like your haul though. |
B
boutiki
Posted
posted
on
Wed, Sep 10, 2008 10:24 PM
Sven, I asked if anyone had old photos or anything from back in the day. She said she looked through everything she had, but found nothing. Mind you, she was a kid when her uncle had this place hoppin'. She promised to ask her cousins and if they come up with anything I'll of course try to get pics/ scans to add to the post. So I guess stay tuned... but don't hold your breath. Like the rest of America, the "Tiki Years" came and went for most folks around here, and many did not see fit to save any memories or evidence. Perhaps they regretted their lapse in "good taste", though I gotta' say what they replaced it with hardly qualifies as "high style" to me. Different strokes, I guess. I get the same bemused expression when a lot of regular folks see our collection of art and mid-century furniture. Lake Surfer, Maybe I'll post pics of what we are dealing with and solicit suggestions. -Duke |
T
tikiyaki
Posted
posted
on
Wed, Sep 10, 2008 11:01 PM
What a beautiful room. Sorry, but the people who ripped it out are idiots...period. |
H
Haole'akamai
Posted
posted
on
Wed, Sep 10, 2008 11:23 PM
Wow. And good on ya, Boutiki, for spending all the time it took to salvage that beautiful place. May it live long in your future creations. |
JC
Jeff Central
Posted
posted
on
Thu, Sep 11, 2008 5:36 AM
No Shit!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's nice that you salvaged this stuff though Duke. Now get Lake Surfer over there are start rebuilding!!! Cheers and Mahalo, |
S
Swanky
Posted
posted
on
Thu, Sep 11, 2008 6:21 AM
I would have lowered the bar top and the bamboo went up the walls too high considering the low ceiling, but... It is fantastic to know places like this exist today. It really takes me to that happy place. Duke, in my bar, to fight a semi-low ceiling, we are doing textured ceiling treatments and then black paint. Flat black is still very shiney on a flat surface. The texture helps make it really non-reflective. We're months away from done, but maybe a month away from telling just how well the effect will be. |
T
TikiMango
Posted
posted
on
Thu, Sep 11, 2008 6:59 AM
Amazing score! Too bad the new owners didn't understand what they had right under their noses. Great find for you, and I'm sure you'll put all that infused bamboo to good use. |
F
FLOUNDERart
Posted
posted
on
Thu, Sep 11, 2008 7:03 AM
Ah man that's sick! Why doesn't that stuff happen to me!?!?!? |
T
TikiG
Posted
posted
on
Thu, Sep 11, 2008 7:43 AM
Time and time again I'm amazed at what is still lurking out there in suburban America hidden or covered over etc. Thank God you had the chance of salvaging components of a timeless treasure. How many of us have accidentally discovered something like this -only to have to walk away from it because of "not being prepared" to deal with it immediately under the circumstances? I know I have more than a few times in my life...Thanks for sharing and best of luck with the resurrection. Cheers! |
N
naugatiki
Posted
posted
on
Thu, Sep 11, 2008 8:26 AM
Sad to see it go but it's nice that it has fallen into the right hands, and with that safari wall paper they were probablly wern't thinking poly pop but a dark Africa theme. Even though the design looks like it would be more at home on the walls of childs dentist office. |
G
GatorRob
Posted
posted
on
Thu, Sep 11, 2008 9:37 AM
Some day when I'm long dead and gone, someone is going to tear down all the bamboo, lauhala and tapa from my walls and wonder what kind of nut case would want a room like that. It'll probably be my wife. |
JC
Jeff Central
Posted
posted
on
Thu, Sep 11, 2008 9:51 AM
:lol: |
LS
Lake Surfer
Posted
posted
on
Thu, Sep 11, 2008 9:54 AM
Duke, Sure! Let me know when. After my week in California I'm free for the fall, save for some projects for my bar. Low ceilings are not the end of the world... my whole basement has them. I like them, brings everything in closer and more cozy. You just have to hang things on the outside of the room. The eyeball lighting I did really makes the room pop by lighting the walls and making the ceiling disappear, paint it dark and it really helps. I did dark brown paint with half strips of bamboo running the width of the ceiling. Looks like a hut. There is a real easy drop ceiling kit out there right now that would probably work for you. Let me know when you need an extra pair of hands, I've got some ideas that I'd even like to try on the other half of my basement.... the wahine is starting to give in! :wink: |
B
bananabobs
Posted
posted
on
Fri, Sep 12, 2008 6:55 AM
You too? My wife walks by my room, averting her eyes, shaking her head. Boutiki, I can just imagine your reaction when you walked into that room. |
UT
uncle trav
Posted
posted
on
Sat, Sep 13, 2008 7:30 AM
Man!! How many times I have imagined my home bar to look like that. Through my Mai Tai induced fog staring through the plastic bamboo jungle as gentle waves of exotica play in my home bar I can see my place looking like that someday. A great rescue mission Duke. At least someone can enjoy it in a new location other than the dumpster. Thanks. |
B
beadtiki
Posted
posted
on
Sat, Sep 13, 2008 3:18 PM
Wow! What a find! Kind of makes me think of Quagmire from Family Guy - can't you see him behind the bar mixing a martini with a bunch of "chicks" dancing around!? We found on Craigslist a PanAsian restaurant in Tacoma, WA that had closed and was changing it's decor - the enire outside of the building had been covered in half rounds of 8' bamboo poles and they had ripped it all down and left it in the parking lot for the taking. We picked up as much as our truck could handle and I think we got a bit more than we really needed! Gonna have to figure out what to do with the remainders! Better too much than too little I guess. |
TT
ted tiki
Posted
posted
on
Sun, Sep 14, 2008 10:34 AM
Nice haul! I was able to fill my VW Jetta to the ceiling a few years ago with bamboo from a bar that decided to go all Sinatra/Martini. I still haven't done a thing with all of it, but someday.... |
E
exotica59
Posted
posted
on
Mon, Sep 15, 2008 7:29 PM
wow! nice score boutiki! your right about the beauty of the old patina of the bamboo. We love the stuff we got with lake surfer. I even asked the owner if I could have the bamboo covered door, and they said, "sure go for it!" |
T
TikiG
Posted
posted
on
Tue, Sep 16, 2008 10:39 AM
Boutiki/Duke, I love the proportions of the bamboo before the pieces were removed from the walls. I wish to do a bamboo remodel of a spare bedroom over the winter months here in California and wish to achieve an effect similar to the photos you posted, therefore I have two questions to ask you. What is the average diameter of the bamboo shown? What was the approximate vertical height of the area covered by bamboo on the walls where the bamboo did not go all the way to the ceiling? (5' ?) Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance, Greg |
B
boutiki
Posted
posted
on
Mon, Oct 27, 2008 11:17 PM
TikiG, One great trick I picked up and is worth passing along– they backed the bamboo with black paper. I just painted the wall black. This way when you put up your bamboo the irregular spaces between the sticks are given more contrast and a stronger graphic quality. Makes a big difference. I've been working like a fiend since I got the bamboo and have made a lot of progress. I've taken some photos along the way and will post them ASAP. Lake Surfer, -Duke Check out Tiki Quest at http://www.pegboardchicago.com/TCintro.html [ Edited by: boutiki 2008-10-28 15:33 ] |
T
TikiG
Posted
posted
on
Tue, Oct 28, 2008 8:10 AM
Thanks Duke - This info helps me fine. I'll take your suggestion of a black wall behind the bamboo to heart. Cheers! PS Thanks for autographing my copy of Tiki Quest for me! |
H
Haole'akamai
Posted
posted
on
Tue, Oct 28, 2008 9:19 AM
Great nugget of insight! I'm going to have to remember this... |
B
Bohemiann
Posted
posted
on
Tue, Oct 28, 2008 5:07 PM
Let this be a lesson for us all! Write your will up so that, upon your demise, if your un-grateful spawn or inheritors of your tiki treasures are idiots or just "don't get it" your legacy is not left to those who would destroy or not appreciate them. I, thankfully, will live forever. My Chinese fortune cookie said so. |
B
boutiki
Posted
posted
on
Fri, Nov 7, 2008 9:09 AM
OK, so here are some photos of the new Tabu Tiki Lounge in progress... Laying down the base black... Up goes the matting and bamboo... We wanted some areas to be painted in classic Tiki green and orange... Ceiling has to go black... Raw materials... More to follow. -Duke |
S
Sneakytiki
Posted
posted
on
Fri, Nov 7, 2008 9:20 AM
Duke, Its looking amazing! Love the bright colors coupled with organic tiki materials, of course the collection does not hurt!!!! Wow!! |
T
TikiG
Posted
posted
on
Fri, Nov 7, 2008 9:32 AM
Nice Duke! Love the long wall. The recycled bamboo looks like it was in place all along. I can't wait to see the finished room with the tikis in place and all the mood lighting. This thread is very inspirational for me in a way that I'm not jealous, but motivated to do the same in my home as well. Thanks for sharing. Cheers! |
S
sungod
Posted
posted
on
Fri, Nov 7, 2008 10:48 AM
Hey Duke, I won't lie. I am jealous!! Very nice work. Sungod |
TM
Tipsy McStagger
Posted
posted
on
Fri, Nov 7, 2008 12:13 PM
wow duke!! that's shapin up great!!! nice collection of tikis too!! can't wait to see more.... |
D
Deckhand_Davy
Posted
posted
on
Sat, Nov 8, 2008 9:57 AM
wow~! That looks top!! I'm loving it! Can't wait to see it done :) |
B
boutiki
Posted
posted
on
Sun, Nov 9, 2008 6:57 PM
Thanks for the positive response. I love seeing how others create their own environments, so I thought we should share too. Here are more progress shots. Getting things trimmed out... Laying carpet. We found a couple different lots of inexpensive carpet tiles on Craig's list. One is this new Envirotex by Shaw. It's a high-wear contract grade carpet– and the best thing is that it's 100% recycleable. We went with the carpet to make things a bit warmer and cozier. Plus, with the squares if you spill a navy grog, you can either clean the effected square or replace it if need be. Once we've addressed the walls, ceiling and floor, we can start to bring in furniture, lay out the decor and hang art... Covered the windows with vintage curtains in a Tiki print. When we decided to paint some of the walls rather than cover everything in bamboo and matting we were thinking we might be able to approximate some of those great Witco catalog shots Sven included in Tiki Modern. We still have quite a ways to go. -Duke |
L
Liana
Posted
posted
on
Sun, Nov 9, 2008 7:01 PM
Wow, that is so cool!! I'd never want to leave the room! Great stuff :D Liana. |
TA
tiki atomica
Posted
posted
on
Sun, Nov 9, 2008 8:05 PM
this tiki-phile can only think of one word to adequately describe maestro boutiki's new tabu tiki lounge.... and that word is: tiki-licious! |
BK
Big Kahuna
Posted
posted
on
Sun, Nov 9, 2008 8:25 PM
Yowza! You da man! |
LS
Lake Surfer
Posted
posted
on
Sun, Nov 9, 2008 10:06 PM
Looking real good Duke! No worries on the mixed connection... it looks like you've got it down great by yourself! And with your collection you're set on decor! :wink: |
K
Kahu
Posted
posted
on
Mon, Nov 10, 2008 9:48 AM
WOW !!! I almost do not miss your old tiki bar, seeing this new expansive one. Looks awesome. |
TM
Tipsy McStagger
Posted
posted
on
Mon, Nov 10, 2008 10:03 AM
it's an odd layout....but not as tiny and cramped as your last tiki room and coming together nicely...that painted cinder block throws me...looks too institutional/high school cafeteria in the 70's for me....but the rest of it is tops. |
B
boutiki
Posted
posted
on
Mon, Nov 10, 2008 2:22 PM
Though it has much lower ceilings and a totally different feel, we are fortunate to have nearly twice the square footage as our old Tiki room. The new space is basically just a large rectangle, but there is a storage room in one corner and a big chunk in the middle taken up by the furnace (hence the louvered doors– access and ventilation) and that cinderblock support. It is, after all, a basement. That cinderblock structure supports the stone hearth for the fireplace upstairs and houses an ash trap. When we are done there won't be much of it visible– the orange is just kind of a background color. It will be largely covered by framed artwork, Tikis, and display shelves. I didn't like it at first, but it divides the room in two spaces, the more Hawaiian side and the Witco side. Plus, it has to be there to hold up that fireplace which we love: -Duke |
TM
Tipsy McStagger
Posted
posted
on
Mon, Nov 10, 2008 2:56 PM
...sounds cool. - i like the idea of being able walk around the room and not see the otherside..kinda like a tiki room shaped like a square donut, but with the furnace room in the center....or is it shaped more like the letter "L" because the storage room cuts it off. -either way, i'm glad i gave you the opportunity to showcase your fireplace. nice! |
K
Kahu
Posted
posted
on
Mon, Nov 10, 2008 3:55 PM
Ok, again, WOW! I loved the look and feel of your old home from downstairs, to up, and even the backyard. But the more I see of your new home, I see such a wonderful space. Logan must love having all that floor space to run around on! |
B
Beachbumz
Posted
posted
on
Mon, Nov 10, 2008 4:06 PM
I wanna double that WOW!! Really nice job!! I hope to someday create something similar.. Keep the pics coming, your living my tiki dream.. Aloha |
T
tikiskip
Posted
posted
on
Tue, Nov 11, 2008 6:50 AM
Very nice tiki room. Your house should be in Atomic Ranch magazine. |
P
Polynesiac
Posted
posted
on
Tue, Nov 11, 2008 8:03 AM
Your house is AMAZING and the attention to detail is fantastic! Not done yet? You've already done an awesome job- I can't wait to see what else you'll do! |