How’s your man cave looking right now? Is it a room designed according to your taste and dedicated to your favourite activities? Or, has it gradually become overrun with kids’ stuff? Well, if it’s not feeling like a place of your own, kick out the intruders and give your pad a makeover to rival these…
The Bat Cave
Did you hear about the Australian Batman enthusiast who built his own bat cave? Entrance to this awesome room is granted by a remote controlled sliding door, taking lucky guests down into a cinema with an adjacent bar and wet room. The owner had it constructed in the basement of his home, laying carpet on the floor of a concrete cabin and arranging his furniture around a 10ft curved TV screen. The rock-effect interior is impressive, though the designer working on the project commented that the most challenging aspect of this build was getting the acoustics right in a room without a single right angle…
Want to steal some inspiration from this cave? Rejoice in the fact that bigger isn’t always better: small and cosy works well if your man cave is underground. Go for low lighting to encourage the sense of calm and use carefully placed neon strip lighting to draw your eye towards your focal point.
The Man Cave with a View
Here’s some inspiration from the kind of cave you’ve never seen before… Alexandre de Betak’s Majorcan man cave uses natural elements and materials, resulting in a dwelling that looks like something a modern Fred Flintstone would happily live in.
What’s so great about it? Well, it’s minimal yet warm: curvaceous white plaster walls are offset by pebble floors, brass taps and Nile-green glass tiles, with roaring open fires and a pool to dip in and out of on hot days. There are three pods cut into the wall for his children to sleep in (requiring them to scramble up the wall to get in – certain to challenge even the most energetic five-year-old), and there’s even a secret door inside the children’s closet too.
If you fancy borrowing inspiration from Betak’s cave, start by copying some of his simpler cave elements, such as stone shelves for your precious books, an iPhone dock nestled into a piece of rock and a giant movie room – a mountain of pillows arranged on the floor.
The Runner’s Man Cave
Think that man caves are only ever used for drinking beer and watching movies? Think again. This running enthusiast revamped his basement to give himself a space that reflected his lifelong passion for running. Mike Padilla has designed himself a man cave that places his treadmill centre stage, and with just a turn of his head, this cave man can find encouragement to run that little bit harder with photos of his running idols adorning the walls. Padilla’s man cave features AstroTurf and a 92-inch screen projector – perfect, he says, for catching the game or hosting a party with friends.
Want to borrow some of Padilla’s ideas? Head to an industrial supplier and pick up some supplies from Rawlins Paints to give your cave a floor that can withstand a pair of sports shoes. While you’re at it, fill up the room with your favourite fitness equipment, giving you somewhere to let off steam after a long day at the office.