Tikifying Exterior Walls

Well, we've gotten the bar up & running on our big deck, and things are looking pretty good, but one thing really bothers us... our siding. It's not bad for a regular house, but it detracts from the fully immersive feeling we want to achieve.

We can't just cover it with matting, since water may become trapped and start rotting the wood. We could paint it, but it would still just be painted wooden siding unless we want to try trompe l'oeil bamboo (shyeah, right).

We're considering putting up lava rock siding (real or faux). Does anyone have any other suggestions for finishing outdoor walls that don't compromise the integrity but do help create a tropical environment?

You can see a sliver of the house in the 2nd picture here: http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=10547&forum=2&10

Cheekytiki is an expert mural painter and could paint something fantastic on the side of your house I reckon. He's in the USA early next year I think. It might be worth speaking to him, if you're interested and he has any spare time.

[ Edited by: kon-hemsby on 2004-08-24 14:20 ]

You know, a mural didn't even cross my mind! Great idea, thanks.

I like the mural idea too!

Gene from Falling Cocos here. Didn't we just meet at the "Tiki Beach Festival"?

The lava rock idea would be cool, but that's too much work it would be easy to attach something like a trelace with a tropical vine in a pot or in the ground. I'm all about tropical plants.
Also you could attach a painting on a large wooden panel to the wall, maybe with a bamboo frame. An instant piece of artwork would be an outdoor sign or banner printed from a "Photo Shop" file of your favorite Shag or Mark Ryden painting etc.

BOY!! I'm giving my self some good ideas here! Even though I call my self "Mr. Anti Inkjet Man" because I'm a silkscreen printer.

http://www.fallingcocos.com/

[ Edited by: MEAN GENE on 2004-08-24 11:02 ]

I love what you've done so far. I'd love to see it in person. If you need any plants, I'm always giving away Ginger (6 or 7 kinds), Canas, Plumerias (6 or 7 kinds), Taro, Ti Plants, Bananas (3 kinds), Bromeliads, Papyrus, King Palms that I grew from seeds, etc. DANG!!! Some body STOP me!! I've got to get to work!!

I'm so into plants, I don't even have a bar yet!

http://www.fallingcocos.com/

[ Edited by: MEAN GENE on 2004-08-24 11:20 ]

Your bar and entry look great. Check out Ona Tiki's posting/pictures of his (and moki's)Tiki House re-model. They did a cool mural on the side of their house.
Aloha!

Your bar looks great! We love seeing everybodys ideas. Hope to see your place in person someday.
We hired a muralist to paint the back of our house. Much better that staring at the grey stucco.
You can see the pics here:
http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=9252&forum=7&58

Keep up the good work.
:drink:

[ Edited by: Moki on 2004-08-24 12:33 ]

I love the mural ideas that I've been seeing. I may have to break down and actually pay someone. We usually just do it all ourselves, but neither of us is any good at painting. I'm not worried about hard work as long as it's construction or crafty. For me the lava would be easier to do than the mural :wink:

Gene - it was nice meeting you at Tiki Fest, and YES PLEASE on the plants - I'll be PMing you soon, thanks!

Moki - WOW, that's an awesome place you've got there. You've given us something to shoot for. Simply fantastic.