The words ‘man cave’ make me eyeroll – I can’t help it! And not because the males among us shouldn’t have their own getaway space (lord knows I am on board with a good she-shed!). It’s because a man cave typically suggests a mix of overstuffed, oversized reclining chairs, a television that takes up half of the largest wall, and a bar fridge in the corner to keep necessary beverages cold, with little thought given to design, or adding a little form to the function.
Despite my bias towards “typical” man caves, I LOVE masculine-inspired spaces. Stately wood pieces, anything plaid, tweed, herringbone, strong stripes – all things menswear inspired gets my creativity flowing. This space needed to function as an “elegant man cave” – a den for TV watching, but also an entertaining space for guests. The client – a single man with older sons living at home – put complete trust in me to create! And the ‘before’ space left lots of room for the imagination.
The small room needed to provide plenty of lounge-worthy seating for relaxing, while at the same time functioning well while entertaining guests. Books and treasured items needed to be stored and displayed, and the whole space needed to flow with the currently renovated adjacent kitchen, which boasted stunning Labradorite counters and marble subway tile backsplash!
I kept the main upholstery pieces neutral so we would maintain lightness but grounded the space with tones of denimy-blues (designers make up words all the time, don’t you know!). This colour choice pulled in the marble and stone colours from the kitchen. The existing built-in cabinetry was retrofitted to fit a new propane fireplace with tile surround, and smartly placed millwork created the illusion that the built-ins go from floor to ceiling. Originally, the walls were painted a light grey as a continuation from the nearby kitchen area, but once the project was nearing completion, I knew we needed a contrast on the walls! A beautiful slate grey-blue was inspired by the custom drapery, and made everything pop while keeping a calming, cottage-like ambience. Hey, sometimes I come up with new ideas as things progress!
Sofas were ordered with extra-plush yet supportive cushioning, and performance fabric to ward off spills and stains. A beautiful warm walnut cocktail table with brass accents brought easy elegance to the room and is mimicked by the stately mantel. The client’s own art collection gives a lived-in, personal feel to the space and newly painted shelving shows off special collections, while new accessories help bring continuity and repetition to the colour palette. The space is perfectly ready for lounging and entertaining family and guests!
