The Man Cave

There, I said it...Man Cave.  When we were planning the house, remember I wanted to call it 'The Lodge,' J's Space, etc. etc.   Anything but CAVE, but there you have it.  Everyone else calls it that so...

I really have to admit that when everyone is there, watching television, it is pretty dark and cave-like and I think that's the way they like it!

I'm going to show you start to finish how we created this space for J and anyone and everyone who wants to watch Cardinal baseball or Blues hockey.

We framed out a portion of the basement in the new house, that opened from the stairs. 

There is an extended section for a bar area.

Chipboard (that's what we call it) plywood was added to the back wall studs so barn wood could be secured.  Before adding those planks, we stapled tar paper to keep any gaps that peeked through dark.

(This photo was taken just after J jumped off the front porch and sprained his ankle.  Very few things slow him down!)

Here is the (almost) finished product!  The barn wood on the back wall and bar area are actually from an old farrowing house J tore down on the farm.  His grandfather and uncle raised hogs and J remembers the old building well.  He had the wood for years and wanted to use it.  I kept telling him to wait for the new house and it makes a wonderful statement for his 'lodge' area, don't you think?

The color variation was natural and happened as the once-painted barn weathered.  

Our carpenter guys had fun creating the pattern!  It looks like it has movement to it.

The flooring is a luxury vinyl TruPlank from Mannington called Barnbrook Oak Timber.  The walls are Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray.

Here is how the room looked the first Christmas we moved in.  

We used our old furniture until we knew more what we wanted to do with the space.

This Christmas, the kids and I added a gallery wall for J including some of his golfing, hunting and fishing pictures.  He really like them!  

Over the year, J also refurbished the bar he and Favorite Son made several years ago.  He added more barn wood to the front but kept the cherry top.  Two European deer mounts flank the television and he's filled the display cubby he made for me years ago in the old house.  Click HERE to see how it was styled when it was mine.   

And we had to find a spot for J's foosball table.  This was a bit challenging but I think we finally did it!

The hooser cabinet was J's grandparents (who lived on this farm), as is the wooden storage box.  Grandpa made it and is a treasured heirloom.

J really likes how the deer mounts look on the barn wood.

After lots of shopping and measuring, we finally decided on a leather set.  The sofa is long enough for J (or anyone) to lay down on.  It also seats three comfortable.  The loveseat is roomy enough for two and both pieces recline.  The coffee table is re-purposed from our old home.  

The rug is from Target.

The furniture we had before was too crowded with the foosball table.  

The new choices work so much better!

You can get a peek in one of two bedrooms downstairs.  

I just realized the cords are sticking out in this picture!  We've now hidden them better.  We also moved the wooden box between the sofa and loveseat.

We are so happy how J's lodge/man cave has turned out!  We are really enjoying this space!!

Thanks for visiting.  Wishing all the Dads out there a very 

Happy Father's Day!

Linking to:

Sundays At Home
Metamorphosis Monday

Amaze Me Monday

Make It Pretty Monday

Tuesdays At Our Home

Dishing It and Digging It

The Scoop
Tuesdays With a Twist

Share Your Cup

Sweet Inspirations