Almost since the beginning of time, it seems there have always been rooms that were designated 'men only'. One of the first gathering places for men was the Barber Shop, which was definitely a place for men to hang out, relax, share local gossip, and trade business tips. Back in the day, some were quite lavish.
Interestingly, restaurants were originally for men only so they could discuss business without women present, but that ended with the women's movement. Thank goodness for that one!
Remember the great old movies? Men retreated after dinner to a lavish parlor primarily to smoke, partake of their beverage of choice, play games, cards, etc. The women preferred to gather in another room. The Victorian era really knew how to do parlors well!
For longer retreats, men often escaped to hunting lodges. The type of parlor or manner of retreat has changed many times over the years, usually gravitating to current social climets. Among them are Fraternal Lodges, Social Clubs, Boxing Clubs, and Gyms.
Between the 1950s and 1960s, recreation rooms began popping up everywhere in basements and garages. My family bought their first home after the war. The full daylight basement had a dirt floor, and my father mixed concrete in a mixer every weekend until he finished the entire floor. My mother was set free to fill the area with seating, a bar, a player piano, and a pool table. Thus, our basement recreation room was ready to enjoy, and that we did, without knowing it would one day be called a Man Cave.
Ten years later, my family moved to a new home, and a Pinball Machine was added to the basement rec room furnishings. I spent many hours there during my high school years. One day, energized by decorating magazines of the time, my mother waited until everyone had gone to school and work, and proceeded to paint all the main components turquoise... including the pool table, the player piano, and the bar. My father was furious, but the designer in me rather liked it. She did a wonderful job!
The name "Man Cave" is credited to Joanne Loving. She was attempting to come up with a cute name for the basement recreation rooms popping up everywhere and jokingly referred to them as "Man Caves" in an article in the 1992 Toronto Star. It stuck.
During the 1990s and 2000s, TV further popularized the Man Cave by including it in sets for major hit series like Tool Time and Last Man Standing. And the rest is history.
Over the years, Man Caves have run the gamut from a small corner to extreme upscale quarters dedicated to Sports, Lavish Home Offices, Movie & TV Rooms, Gaming, Workshops, Garages, Bars and Home Brewing, Bowling Alleys, Poker Clubs, Geek Dens, Motorcycle Enthusiasts, Cigar and Smoking Lounges, Fitness and Gyms, even Golf Simulators and Bowling Alleys.
How do you create your own Man Cave? Initially, you must determine your greatest passion, narrow down a location, and adorn your sanctuary of interest with all the things you adore. Here are some initial examples to inspire you! However, for a plethora of additional ideas, you'll need to visit my Pinterest board!
Click on the first photo to enlarge and see the title and scroll through the rest.
For additional ideas, take a look at my Pinterest Board: Man Caves: A Room of His Own! I have curated numerous ideas and included photo credits for you. Explore here!
Lakewood 400 Antiques Market is the ultimate destination for discovering Man Cave accessories, furnishings, and collectibles. From fresh produce to handmade jewelry and fashion items, you can uncover amazing treasures at this market. The variety of items available means you never know what surprises await you! For more information Click Here!
Please Note: Beginning January 2024, Lakewood 400 Antiques Market will be open on the 1st weekend of every month, and no longer on the 3rd. Go to the website and you can add the upcoming dates to your Google calendar. For a reminder every month, sign up for their newsletter.
Jan Jones is a Designer, Artist, and Author of
"Finding Me: A Motivational Journey of Discovery for Young People."
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For the www.janjones.design website and jjd magazine where you can read many articles by jan.
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