Any 'simple' man cave inspirations/ideas?

[Jeanke]

Any 'simple' garage entertainment corner inspirations/ideas?

Hey all,

Firstly, I will post pictures, I promise

I've recently completed our basement (the really old kind) renovation. Basically turned it from a terrible lost floor into a basic basement/garage. Nothing close to anything shown on this forum It looks a bit like most 'before' pictures on this website

So anyway, I'm looking for some normal pictures of normal-garages-but-where-you-could-potentially-also-watch-a-game-with-friends-and-have-a-beer. Anyone have any nice links or so around? When I google images for it, I only get these really nice and expensive looking things to see. But that's beyond the budget. I'm looking for someone found a chair and a table, and somehow made it into a nice place to watch the game on big screen.

So please, do share!

edit: Removed the term man cave from this post to avoid derailing this thread by the use of said word

 

[KRB52]

Maybe not the entire room, but at least a place to sit.

 

[Kevin54]

Hey all,

Firstly, I will post pictures, I promise

I've recently completed our basement (the really old kind) renovation. Basically turned it from a terrible lost floor into a basic basement/garage. Nothing close to anything shown on this forum It looks a bit like most 'before' pictures on this website

So anyway, I'm looking for some normal pictures of man caves. Anyone have any nice links or so around? When I google images for it, I only get these really nice and expensive looking things to see. But that's beyond the budget. I'm looking for someone found a chair and a table, and somehow made it into a nice place to watch the game on big screen.

So please, do share!

You may want to check out the Garage Gallery about 4 floors down in the Forums.

 

[sublimate]

Any 'simple' man cave inspirations/ideas?

My 'simple' suggestion?

Stop calling it a "man cave". That simple step will improve your space in many ways.
I think that term was created by the editors of a women's magazine specifically to refer to high dollar show places of yuppie tastelessness they were pushing to justify spending more money on their own dream kitchen renovations.

Try googling something old fashioned like 'rec room' or 'basement bar' if that's what you're after.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

My 'simple' suggestion?

Stop calling it a "man cave". That simple step will improve your space in many ways.
I think that term was created by the editors of a women's magazine specifically to refer to high dollar show places of yuppie tastelessness they were pushing to justify spending more money on their own dream kitchen renovations.

Try googling something old fashioned like 'rec room' or 'basement bar' if that's what you're after.

I can't agree more. I don't know about who coined the term, but it's waay over.

Keep It Simple, Stupid.

You don't have to have high dollar posters, surgery suite immaculate matching high dollar cabinets, etc. Display what YOU like, but less is more. A place for everything and everything in its place.

 

[RonnieC]

My 'simple' suggestion?

Stop calling it a "man cave". That simple step will improve your space in many ways.
I think that term was created by the editors of a women's magazine specifically to refer to high dollar show places of yuppie tastelessness they were pushing to justify spending more money on their own dream kitchen renovations.QUOTE]

Bwahaha! True! Look up "garage organization" images in google and it's easy to figure out which pix come from the ladies magazines. Galvanized buckets with handpainted labels like Nails, hanging at just the cutest angle. And plenty of floor space to store the colorful rain boots. If there is a workbench, there's painted pegboard above "organizing" 3 color-coordinated handtools. And a big chalkboard with something like "DREAM" written on it. If I had a chalkboard it would say "Stay the f*** out of the garage!"

 

[Jeanke]

I can't agree more. I don't know about who coined the term, but it's waay over.

Keep It Simple, Stupid.

You don't have to have high dollar posters, surgery suite immaculate matching high dollar cabinets, etc. Display what YOU like, but less is more. A place for everything and everything in its place.

Just to clear this up, and it will be clear from my pictures I guess, it is a garage/basement that is used, not something with high dollar cabinets.

And I use the term man cave, because that's what I read it is being called around here, I'm not a native speaker.

 

[bczygan]

Man cave elements:
Barcalounger
Beer fridge
Bar
Bigscreen TV
Kick *** stereo
Pool table
Foosball table
Video games
Beer signs
Kegerator
Tiki lounge decor

 

[Rosco]

Not sure if this is what you are looking for but I will start;

I have a lot of lighting in mine, but only turn on a couple of small accent lights when watching Nascar/football/dvd's etc.

I bought an inexpensive surround system on sale (this is a great time of year for sales), but took a lot of time installing it for a great look and sound.

Big screen TV

Wi-fi is a must when having friends over. Look at the "Almond" wi-fi extender on amazon. Mine went from 1 bar to 5 bars for 80 bucks

I have cable, but also bought an over the air HD antenna for certain games

I personally like a dark ceiling. I saved up and put tongue and groove wood in mine, but paint will work also. Think about a sports bar etc, most ceilings are dark because it hides industrial building construction, but it also adds to the "feel" of the room

Decorate with things you like. I cut out a few cool pic's from magazines and framed them in cheap $2 wal mart frames. Cheap 1x2 boards from lowes with a miter cut make a good frame for posters etc.

I used old wood and made a coffee table that you could set an engine block on. I use it to clean guns, set food and drinks on etc. it was free and took 45 minutes to make, but it actually gets more compliments than other costly items.

Have a place to hang coats

 

[laser3kw]

Stop calling it a "man cave". That simple step will improve your space in many ways.
I think that term was created by the editors of a women's magazine specifically to refer to high dollar show places of yuppie tastelessness they were pushing to justify spending more money on their own dream kitchen renovations.

That needed to be said for a long time
I agree

 

[Pansy]

I agree with the general sentiment of this thread. Every time I hear the term "man cave" I cringe.

 

[Jeanke]

Here we go, just to calm down the women's magazine linking. I assure you, this basement would never appear in a women's magazine :O And not everyone on the internet is native english speaker.

The before is all I have on my phone right now:
At this point we had sealed the ceiling with a product, as it was extremely dusty, the basement is over 70 years old, under ground, with garage door 'under' the house.

This was a very dirty job, stuff kept falling down in my face as I was painting the ceiling with that stuff

Here a quick dark look at the basement, my brother nicknamed it 'r*pe alley', and it doesn't take too much imagination to see why..

And then, the bigger improvements started. I started with the essential, and made the wine cellar first, keeps about 120 bottles. More than sufficient for me. Bottom area is kept for champagne bottles that stand upright. Took the picture right after I made it, so hadn't fully loaded it at that point

Then, I painted the ceiling and the walls, in standard bright white. I know I should have probably picked a color or something, but honestly, after how dark and dirty it was, this was really refreshing Still no regrets on that:

More pictures will follow later, I'll have to take some pictures at home for that!

 

[Jeanke]

Hah yes, I still found pictures. So to GET in the basement, the stairs were completely wrecked, so we had to redo them and I tiled them with tiles. They look like wood, but they are actually tiles and they are textured, as to assure you don't easily slip from them.

<img src="http://i62.tinypic.com/2rz51dx.jpg" width="300"> </img>

Then also, on the left side of the stairs, as you would go from the living area, down to the basement, the entire wall plaster was just.. well great for a setting in a horror movie. It just looked completely terrible and destroyed. So, I took that down and made a wall with metro tiles. Looks really fresh now, and also easy to clean (no grout applied at the moment picture was taken)

 

[Jeanke]

You may want to check out the Garage Gallery about 4 floors down in the Forums.

Oh but I do, and those pictures are really beyond nice most of the time. But also, yeah, waay too complicated for me.

I just look at making a corner to project the EU qualifiers on big screen, and to be able to enjoy it with friends. Thats all. Sometimes on this board people have the most creative ideas to get the most out of stuff. I saw a guy, saved the picture at home, who for example made a bench which was on casters. WHen rolling it away from the work area it served as a full on bar at which you can enjoy a beer. That's the kinda of nice stuff in a small basement Will for sure be stealing that idea, for example

 

[Jeanke]

Not sure if this is what you are looking for but I will start;

I have a lot of lighting in mine, but only turn on a couple of small accent lights when watching Nascar/football/dvd's etc.

I bought an inexpensive surround system on sale (this is a great time of year for sales), but took a lot of time installing it for a great look and sound.

Big screen TV

Wi-fi is a must when having friends over. Look at the "Almond" wi-fi extender on amazon. Mine went from 1 bar to 5 bars for 80 bucks

I have cable, but also bought an over the air HD antenna for certain games

I personally like a dark ceiling. I saved up and put tongue and groove wood in mine, but paint will work also. Think about a sports bar etc, most ceilings are dark because it hides industrial building construction, but it also adds to the "feel" of the room

Decorate with things you like. I cut out a few cool pic's from magazines and framed them in cheap $2 wal mart frames. Cheap 1x2 boards from lowes with a miter cut make a good frame for posters etc.

I used old wood and made a coffee table that you could set an engine block on. I use it to clean guns, set food and drinks on etc. it was free and took 45 minutes to make, but it actually gets more compliments than other costly items.

Have a place to hang coats

Really good ideas here! I just thought of it indeed, the lighting. I should add some of it somewhere, because right now it's either full on or full off. But with the lights on there is no way to see what is projected on the screen

Also wifi indeed, seems like a must, didn't consider that, but will be no problem to have that set up, will do that today in fact!

The coat hanger, now that's a good idea, I just realize we don't have a coat hanger, anywhere, not even in the house

 

[Lippyp]

Most bar ceilings are dark because it hides the nicotine stains!

Get an old engine block and a sheet of safety glass and make it into a table like Top Gear have, also old car seats on a frame would make great seating to watch the footy on. I have the back seat out of my old Isuzu Trooper stashed away ready to make into a garage couch.

 

[Plump]

You're on the right track. Nearly everything except two of the TVs were begged/borrowed/stolen for my garage. I used left over base cabinets and an old 8' table for my bar. Drywall, tiles, OSB, about 50% of the insulation, and all of the paint were leftovers from friends or other finished projects around my house.

Even the sink and water heater were from the side of the road!

Totally agree that internet connections are essential. I was able to trench in some water, coax, and a Cat5 line to get my all hooked up. With the cable company requiring that each TV has a box, I use my internet connection to get games on the TV separate from the cable.

An old microwave was built into the bar as well as a convection/toaster oven for the kids chicken nuggets, pizzas, bread, etc. I have a warming plate and deep fryer too as I do a lot of cooking and catering. It's awesome to have the fryer outside of the house to keep the smells down.

One last thing that I can think of that was free was a really nice exhaust fan for getting some of the fryer smell, smoke, funk out during the cold months. I have a screen door for the service door as well as the overhead garage door for the warmer months to keep the bugs out.

It's fun to see what you can scrounge up between the free sites, friends, and a little dumpster diving/roadside pick up. Have fun with it!

 

[Jay Sco]

Nice wine rack, my wife wants to know when she can go visit!
Hard to give you ideas since we know nothing about you, you'll just have to search and get ideas. Some people might need a small workbench for hobbies to relax while others might just want a place to sit and hang out. Some might want an engine block table while others may want one made from baseball bats (or cricket paddles or whatever). Lots of ideas here for every taste.
Looks like you're already making progress, keep it going.

 

[Tyberius]

Oh but I do, and those pictures are really beyond nice most of the time. But also, yeah, waay too complicated for me.

I think you have to keep some of that in perspective. Look at the timeframe of some of the projects. They have been going on for years. And most are quite modest changes from one posting to another. It is only when taken as a whole - viewing the thread in one sitting - that the progress seems unbelievable.

Yes, some projects do progress very rapidly, but most don't.

And your tiled wall and stairs qualify for "beyond nice"

Keep up the good work!

 

[Lippyp]

For entertainment in my garage I have a woodstove and a bottle of jack daniels.

 

[-Brent-]

Jeanke, I think your space is a good starting point. One of the first things I would do is make a sliding barn door to separate those two spaces you have.

As well, I'd start looking in some junk shops for some neat lighting to refurbish. The nice thing about old lights is that they can be rebuilt, easily, and you may be able to find something rugged/industrial looking - which will compliment the rough brick walls. That's a neat look.

Speaking of the brick walls, something that's done in urban areas (in the US, especially) is "half painted brick" where some of the brick is exposed and other areas painted. Take a look at Pinterest or Google to get some ideas.

As for artwork, we all have our differences as far as what we think is pleasant to look at. What are your interests? Some guys go for signs or advertising/posters and others put parts of the automobile on the wall. It could be anything.

A good buddy of mine (I wish I had pictures of his basement) made a couple really large prints based on his father's black and white photos. Specifically, there a really neat one of two young guys boxing (somewhere in S. America) and another taken at a World's fair. The photos all have a light focused on them (like a gallery would have) and that's it. Nothing else on the walls. The color is very neutral and the contrast of the images are really the focal points.

My best advice is to keep it simple (as already said) and look at pictures. Save the images you like and use them as inspiration to help create your own style.

 

[-Brent-]

Also, I forgot to add, you want to see a guy with great style that's took a rough space and made it his own, look at this thread. Luca has one of the best design eyes on the GJ and he's completely different as far as his approach and materials used.

Be prepared to spend a while on the thread, it's 28 pages - but worth it.

 

[Jeanke]

some good tips here!
did some finishing/cleaning today, happy with where this is going

 

[Kevin54]

Jeanke, I think your space is a good starting point. One of the first things I would do is make a sliding barn door to separate those two spaces you have.

As well, I'd start looking in some junk shops for some neat lighting to refurbish. The nice thing about old lights is that they can be rebuilt, easily, and you may be able to find something rugged/industrial looking - which will compliment the rough brick walls. That's a neat look.

Speaking of the brick walls, something that's done in urban areas (in the US, especially) is "half painted brick" where some of the brick is exposed and other areas painted. Take a look at Pinterest or Google to get some ideas.

As for artwork, we all have our differences as far as what we think is pleasant to look at. What are your interests? Some guys go for signs or advertising/posters and others put parts of the automobile on the wall. It could be anything.

A good buddy of mine (I wish I had pictures of his basement) made a couple really large prints based on his father's black and white photos. Specifically, there a really neat one of two young guys boxing (somewhere in S. America) and another taken at a World's fair. The photos all have a light focused on them (like a gallery would have) and that's it. Nothing else on the walls. The color is very neutral and the contrast of the images are really the focal points.

My best advice is to keep it simple (as already said) and look at pictures. Save the images you like and use them as inspiration to help create your own style.

Brent....is that your place or a web grab? I like it I'm going to put a slider between the existing garage, and the bumpout I am going to put on.

 

[DP121]

I like what you have done so far. Lots of hard work there for sure!!! I thought that i read this basement is also a garage? Are you using it that way? I see some walls there that are brick but don't appear to be load bearing? More pics please I like this place!!

I think I would make a cheap bar out of 2X4's and plywood. Apply dark stain and whenever i had some buddies over for beer just use a cooler. But I just remembered you are a wine drinker. Aw heck I still like it. KCCO!!!

 

[almac]

first thing I'd do is sandblast all that painted brick. I like the look of red brick.