I bought a house mainly for the basement dry bar rumpus room. This room was added in 1964. At last my Tikki bar. Started looking on utube and got discouraged by the purists saying what is not Tikki and look at my stuff from the 40s, 50s and 60s. Got very discouraged ,closed the door and left it empty. Then I found your channel. Game changer. Not only did you make things but you showed us how. I live on the Canadian prairies. No bamboo and any vintage TIkki is way to expensive.Spent the summer going to garage sales, antique stores and flea markets and acquired some stuff for my bar. Now I will spend the winter decorating and crafting. Thank you so much.
My pleasure, Trina! While I agree with the purists that some things people call "tiki bars" are nothing of the sort, I also believe there's a tremendous range of flexibility. After all, the original Don the Beachcomber's and Trader Vic's location would not qualify as true tiki bars under a strict definition. But you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone willing to pass up a trip in a time machine to visit them! I firmly believe intent is the key--if you stay true to your vision, that will come through in the end. Please share your progress as it develops! 😁
Cheers Jayme, I really enjoy watching your videos, and I respect your "get stuck in and invest some sweat equity" approach! I look at peoples' bars on Tiki Central and think it's not even worth starting because I could never source all that incredible tiki ephemera, but then I see your videos and I'm inspired by the way you do it yourself. Thank you for sharing your journey with us. Mahalo!
I was super-intimidated by the Tiki Central builds and other amazing home bars that I've visited like the Moai Icehouse, but none of them were built overnight. I took them for inspiration and began my build at my own pace. I've come so far in six years of doing this. I've spent a bit when I could afford it, yes, but the bulk of it is my figuring out how to DIY on the cheap. I always say that incremental progress is still progress, and I truly believe that. You'll be amazed at how quickly it adds up!
I like the "make yer own" approach, and it really makes it special when it's all your own! Especially the speakers! I did a similar, if much smaller, project involving the built-in Wet bar in our house. It had originally been done in the early 80's "shades of putty with mirrors" style (that nobody ever actually liked). it's a small space, but we leaned into the "island style" and it came out nice. I like to see all the creative touches that you used in your space.
The size of your escape doesn't matter, but rather the volume of escapism contained within! And I have to commend you on the wet bar aspect. Having started an indoor tiki space that has a dry bar, I am constantly reminded how much difference running water makes!
I absolutely love the work you have put into the Lagoon of Mystery. There are many spectacular Tiki Bars packed with thousands and thousands of dollars of vintage and custom items that are basically out of reach for the regular person. What you have done is prove that a little ingenuity and some hard work and perseverance can pay off as nicely as you have accomplished. My wife and I had seriously thought of moving to FL from NJ a couple of years ago. As a result, I kind of stopped working on the bar area in the basement, as well as the bar and the Tiki look in the backyard. Due to some family circumstances, and the crazy housing market in FL, we have decided to put these plans on hold for several years. My renewed interest is in resuming some effort to the basement bar area. I forgot how much of a great hobby this is and how a little work here and there can make a huge impact on the space. Because of living in Northern NJ, anything outside takes a beating between the fall and spring. Summer is also really short to invest too much time and money outside. With that said, the basement will become the focus. We have a 3 person pre-made all bamboo bar already in place. The space just needs some Tikifying. I planted bamboo several years ago as a screen between neighbors and it is heavily overgrown. I intend to make this a source of materials for the future. Also, time to put my router, miter saw, and Dremel to good use. I am catching up on episodes and you have given me the inspiration I need to continue to create a Tiki space for the average guy. Mahalo.
You build your paradise where you can. I've always said to let the space dictate your tiki design, and in your case the outdoor weather dictates that your focus be indoors! Let me know how it goes--after all, incremental progress, no matter how incremental, is still progress. It all adds up!
@@LagoonofMystery Thanks for the encouragement. Watching Episode 52 right now and taking notes. I want to hit the lottery, quit work, and just work on these types of projects; I would be seriously happy.
Love it! You've become a personal hero of mine. Thank you for the inspiration... one day when the Apocalypse Grotto is done, it would be an honor to have you as a guest!
Love your videos and congrats on 50 episodes! Question- you mentioned a giant clamshell mould for the sink. Any idea where to find one like the one you used? I can't seem to find one at all but the one I watched somebody use was smooth and not ridged on the outside like yours. I'm thinking of building a fountain and I'd like to use a big one like that for the base of it.
Goodness, I got that shell off Amazon in 2017 and it looks like they no longer stock it. I know the Toasted Coconut in Houston uses the exact same cement shells as sinks in their restrooms, so you might reach out to them (you could get lucky). I'm seeing several "polyresin" giant clam shells online with similar dimensions as mine although it doesn't look like an exact match. Resin's waterproof, so could work for a fountain if your intent is for interior use. If intended for outdoors, I'd be cautious. UV will degrade standard resin over time. Most of the giant clam shells on Amazon now are plaster (gypsum) which would degrade quickly in a fountain. The only other things I can suggest is to set up Craigs List alerts for your area and do a search of Amazon and Ebay on a regular basis. Products come and go and you may get lucky.
@@LagoonofMystery Thank you so much for the thoughtful reply! Was seeing those same resin shells and was thinking that might be the way to go... that you mention it should be good indoors (it would be) that is probably the route I will take when the day comes to make that call. Thank you again and keep up the great work :)
@@TheGuermoEnfuego My only other caveat would be to order one shell to start, coat it with a clear acrylic sealer and see how it holds water (and holds up) over an extended period of time. It may prove unsuitable, in which case you have a prop to use elsewhere in your tiki space. Or it may be exactly what you need, in which case you start buying up more of them when funds are available. And if you come across some concrete versions along the way, mix and match!
I really enjoyed this walkthrough. I've always loved Rockabilly but over the last year or two I've also fallen in love with other mid century things like Tiki. I personally prefer a nautical/Caribbean/Tiki mix instead of 100% time period accurate Tiki. (Apparently that's heresy to a lot of the Tiki community). If I ever create my own Tiki hybrid bar I will definitely come back to this video for inspiration. The ceiling especially.
I have to agree with that. I understand the tiki purists are being protective of the genre--nobody wants the bastardization of the 70s and 80s to repeat--but they forget the original Don's and Vic's embraced the "Beachcomber aesthetic." Tiki didn't become *tiki* until Stephen Crane made carved figures the focus of decor in his Luau restaurant in Beverly Hills in 1953. Before then, tikis made only an occasional appearance as decor. Some of these same folks argue PNG can't be used in tiki because that's not Polynesian (even though every Trader Vic's uses a LOT of PNG in decor) and reject Caribbean for the same reason (to which I say, fine, give me all of your non-Polynesian rums!). Most of us agree that broad standards are useful but an obsession with purity sucks the fun out of something that inherently meant to be fun. 🙂
@@LagoonofMystery I like the sound of a "Beachcomber" themed home bar. Haha. I don't want to fight with the Tiki gatekeepers. (I say that jokingly of course.)
@@perceivedvelocity9914 Me, too. I ascribe to the beachcomber aesthetic. I like traditional tiki with bamboo and lauhala, but add nautical elements whenever I can. I've yet to have anyone accuse me of having a fake tiki bar (although, given the interwebz, it's only a matter of time). 😅
What’s great about your videos is they’re extended studies on really niche aspects of a tiki bar but this one is awesome because you point out so many projects and give the “how it was made” back story. Would love to see even more like this for the pieces that may not warrant an entire video!
Thank you! I'm not sure I'm able to tell whether or not a project warrants a stand-alone episode or not, as they all become all-consuming for me! The biggest takeaway (I hope) is that building a home tiki bar may seem daunting, but any amount of progress, no matter how incremental, is still progress. Looking back, it took me 14 months of off-and-on weekend work to finish out the first section of the Lagoon--roughly the bar and backbar area through the skulls (although the skulls were a later addition). I began the backbar build in February '17 and had the shell sink operational in May '18. That was a long time, but at that point any sane person could've stopped and had a perfectly serviceable tiki space for a modest monetary cost that was spread out over the period. It's not all that different from eating an elephant--you do it one bite at a time! 😅
Congrats on episode 50! That's awesome! Enjoyed this video of how your tiki bar evolved into what it is today, and I'm sure it will continue to evolve. 🗿
Another great episode! Which model of light do you use for your ceiling water effect light? I’m not super happy with my current one that I use for the same purpose. Also I got my first jade tile ordered, any advice on trying to wrap in rope and bamboo? I’m having difficulties finding instructions online
@@godzillathehun1395 Yes, I like the ripple effect these produce and they run on straight AC power, which means I can hardwire them into my home grid. There are others that use a DC inverter which work just fine, but not for my purposes.
The first ones I found were on Amazon, then Ebay. The styles have changed so much that my latest purchases have come via Aliexpress. Sadly, these lights only last a couple of years outdoors before the motor goes out. These LED projectors seem to only come in super-cheap or super-expensive high-end pro models. There's nothing in midrange that is long-term durable (at least not that I've found). Note that there are quite a few variants that do essentially the same thing in the same general price range: www.aliexpress.us/item/3256802139963629.html
![TV Show Built My Tiki Bar?! [Reaction Video]](/img/n.gif)
I bought a house mainly for the basement dry bar rumpus room. This room was added in 1964. At last my Tikki bar. Started looking on utube and got discouraged by the purists saying what is not Tikki and look at my stuff from the 40s, 50s and 60s. Got very discouraged ,closed the door and left it empty. Then I found your channel. Game changer. Not only did you make things but you showed us how. I live on the Canadian prairies. No bamboo and any vintage TIkki is way to expensive.Spent the summer going to garage sales, antique stores and flea markets and acquired some stuff for my bar. Now I will spend the winter decorating and crafting. Thank you so much.
My pleasure, Trina! While I agree with the purists that some things people call "tiki bars" are nothing of the sort, I also believe there's a tremendous range of flexibility. After all, the original Don the Beachcomber's and Trader Vic's location would not qualify as true tiki bars under a strict definition. But you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone willing to pass up a trip in a time machine to visit them! I firmly believe intent is the key--if you stay true to your vision, that will come through in the end. Please share your progress as it develops! 😁
Loved the story of how your bar got its name. This is the character of the individual home bars that I love so much. Thanks for sharing. Cheers!
Thanks for the kind words! Not too many folks are watching through the end credits, so you're one of the select few who know that secret origin! 😅
Cheers Jayme, I really enjoy watching your videos, and I respect your "get stuck in and invest some sweat equity" approach! I look at peoples' bars on Tiki Central and think it's not even worth starting because I could never source all that incredible tiki ephemera, but then I see your videos and I'm inspired by the way you do it yourself. Thank you for sharing your journey with us. Mahalo!
I was super-intimidated by the Tiki Central builds and other amazing home bars that I've visited like the Moai Icehouse, but none of them were built overnight. I took them for inspiration and began my build at my own pace. I've come so far in six years of doing this. I've spent a bit when I could afford it, yes, but the bulk of it is my figuring out how to DIY on the cheap. I always say that incremental progress is still progress, and I truly believe that. You'll be amazed at how quickly it adds up!
I like the "make yer own" approach, and it really makes it special when it's all your own! Especially the speakers! I did a similar, if much smaller, project involving the built-in Wet bar in our house. It had originally been done in the early 80's "shades of putty with mirrors" style (that nobody ever actually liked). it's a small space, but we leaned into the "island style" and it came out nice. I like to see all the creative touches that you used in your space.
The size of your escape doesn't matter, but rather the volume of escapism contained within! And I have to commend you on the wet bar aspect. Having started an indoor tiki space that has a dry bar, I am constantly reminded how much difference running water makes!
I love your thorough and thoughtful explanations of everything! Great work and it’s so fun to watch! Greatly appreciated!
My pleasure, Ben! I make the mistakes so you don't have to! 😉
I absolutely love the work you have put into the Lagoon of Mystery. There are many spectacular Tiki Bars packed with thousands and thousands of dollars of vintage and custom items that are basically out of reach for the regular person. What you have done is prove that a little ingenuity and some hard work and perseverance can pay off as nicely as you have accomplished.
My wife and I had seriously thought of moving to FL from NJ a couple of years ago. As a result, I kind of stopped working on the bar area in the basement, as well as the bar and the Tiki look in the backyard. Due to some family circumstances, and the crazy housing market in FL, we have decided to put these plans on hold for several years. My renewed interest is in resuming some effort to the basement bar area. I forgot how much of a great hobby this is and how a little work here and there can make a huge impact on the space. Because of living in Northern NJ, anything outside takes a beating between the fall and spring. Summer is also really short to invest too much time and money outside. With that said, the basement will become the focus. We have a 3 person pre-made all bamboo bar already in place. The space just needs some Tikifying. I planted bamboo several years ago as a screen between neighbors and it is heavily overgrown. I intend to make this a source of materials for the future. Also, time to put my router, miter saw, and Dremel to good use.
I am catching up on episodes and you have given me the inspiration I need to continue to create a Tiki space for the average guy. Mahalo.
You build your paradise where you can. I've always said to let the space dictate your tiki design, and in your case the outdoor weather dictates that your focus be indoors! Let me know how it goes--after all, incremental progress, no matter how incremental, is still progress. It all adds up!
@@LagoonofMystery Thanks for the encouragement. Watching Episode 52 right now and taking notes. I want to hit the lottery, quit work, and just work on these types of projects; I would be seriously happy.
@@glennkoenig6078 So say we all!
Love it! You've become a personal hero of mine. Thank you for the inspiration... one day when the Apocalypse Grotto is done, it would be an honor to have you as a guest!
I'd love to visit except there's one problem... no home tiki bar is *ever* really done! 🤣
Still working on mine and I return to your videos often.
Hey, I'm still working on mine! No tiki bar is ever finished! 🤣
The booth and bamboo wall with tiles is absolutely fantastic!
Thank you for sharing the process!
Thank you, Lena! It still needs a giant mask/shield/carving showpiece, but that will come in time!
@@LagoonofMystery you will know it when you see it!
Great video
Thank you!
Love your videos and congrats on 50 episodes! Question- you mentioned a giant clamshell mould for the sink. Any idea where to find one like the one you used? I can't seem to find one at all but the one I watched somebody use was smooth and not ridged on the outside like yours. I'm thinking of building a fountain and I'd like to use a big one like that for the base of it.
Goodness, I got that shell off Amazon in 2017 and it looks like they no longer stock it. I know the Toasted Coconut in Houston uses the exact same cement shells as sinks in their restrooms, so you might reach out to them (you could get lucky). I'm seeing several "polyresin" giant clam shells online with similar dimensions as mine although it doesn't look like an exact match. Resin's waterproof, so could work for a fountain if your intent is for interior use. If intended for outdoors, I'd be cautious. UV will degrade standard resin over time. Most of the giant clam shells on Amazon now are plaster (gypsum) which would degrade quickly in a fountain. The only other things I can suggest is to set up Craigs List alerts for your area and do a search of Amazon and Ebay on a regular basis. Products come and go and you may get lucky.
@@LagoonofMystery Thank you so much for the thoughtful reply! Was seeing those same resin shells and was thinking that might be the way to go... that you mention it should be good indoors (it would be) that is probably the route I will take when the day comes to make that call. Thank you again and keep up the great work :)
@@TheGuermoEnfuego My only other caveat would be to order one shell to start, coat it with a clear acrylic sealer and see how it holds water (and holds up) over an extended period of time. It may prove unsuitable, in which case you have a prop to use elsewhere in your tiki space. Or it may be exactly what you need, in which case you start buying up more of them when funds are available. And if you come across some concrete versions along the way, mix and match!
Love your bar, and that’s a great story
Thank you! I never planned to get into tiki... tiki just kinda got into me! 😅
I appreciate your always wise words and advice!
You know what they say: You get what you pay for! 😉
I really enjoyed this walkthrough. I've always loved Rockabilly but over the last year or two I've also fallen in love with other mid century things like Tiki.
I personally prefer a nautical/Caribbean/Tiki mix instead of 100% time period accurate Tiki. (Apparently that's heresy to a lot of the Tiki community). If I ever create my own Tiki hybrid bar I will definitely come back to this video for inspiration. The ceiling especially.
I have to agree with that. I understand the tiki purists are being protective of the genre--nobody wants the bastardization of the 70s and 80s to repeat--but they forget the original Don's and Vic's embraced the "Beachcomber aesthetic." Tiki didn't become *tiki* until Stephen Crane made carved figures the focus of decor in his Luau restaurant in Beverly Hills in 1953. Before then, tikis made only an occasional appearance as decor. Some of these same folks argue PNG can't be used in tiki because that's not Polynesian (even though every Trader Vic's uses a LOT of PNG in decor) and reject Caribbean for the same reason (to which I say, fine, give me all of your non-Polynesian rums!).
Most of us agree that broad standards are useful but an obsession with purity sucks the fun out of something that inherently meant to be fun. 🙂
@@LagoonofMystery I like the sound of a "Beachcomber" themed home bar. Haha. I don't want to fight with the Tiki gatekeepers. (I say that jokingly of course.)
@@perceivedvelocity9914 Me, too. I ascribe to the beachcomber aesthetic. I like traditional tiki with bamboo and lauhala, but add nautical elements whenever I can. I've yet to have anyone accuse me of having a fake tiki bar (although, given the interwebz, it's only a matter of time). 😅
Aloha!
Happy New Year. Your video is very useful, because I'm going to make a tiki bar in my apartment. Thank you.
Fantastic, Demetrio! Keep us updated on your progress!
What’s great about your videos is they’re extended studies on really niche aspects of a tiki bar but this one is awesome because you point out so many projects and give the “how it was made” back story. Would love to see even more like this for the pieces that may not warrant an entire video!
Thank you! I'm not sure I'm able to tell whether or not a project warrants a stand-alone episode or not, as they all become all-consuming for me! The biggest takeaway (I hope) is that building a home tiki bar may seem daunting, but any amount of progress, no matter how incremental, is still progress. Looking back, it took me 14 months of off-and-on weekend work to finish out the first section of the Lagoon--roughly the bar and backbar area through the skulls (although the skulls were a later addition). I began the backbar build in February '17 and had the shell sink operational in May '18. That was a long time, but at that point any sane person could've stopped and had a perfectly serviceable tiki space for a modest monetary cost that was spread out over the period. It's not all that different from eating an elephant--you do it one bite at a time! 😅
What a great job. Inspiring. Greetings from Spain
Thank you, Diego! I understand that Spain has a number of vintage tiki bars. Someday I hope to visit!
Congrats on episode 50! That's awesome! Enjoyed this video of how your tiki bar evolved into what it is today, and I'm sure it will continue to evolve. 🗿
Thank you! As they say, no tiki bar is ever finished!
Great!
Thank you!
If you're ever going through Caldwell, let me know! I'd love to show you our little tiki bar and the projects I learned on your channel.
I passed through Caldwell back in early November. I don't get that way often, but next time I do I'd be happy to check out your digs!
Another great episode! Which model of light do you use for your ceiling water effect light? I’m not super happy with my current one that I use for the same purpose.
Also I got my first jade tile ordered, any advice on trying to wrap in rope and bamboo? I’m having difficulties finding instructions online
Whoops, I see you sent a light link on another reply. Thanks!
@@godzillathehun1395 Yes, I like the ripple effect these produce and they run on straight AC power, which means I can hardwire them into my home grid. There are others that use a DC inverter which work just fine, but not for my purposes.
Where did you get the lights that make the water affect
Have you checked out my tiki bar on my channel
The first ones I found were on Amazon, then Ebay. The styles have changed so much that my latest purchases have come via Aliexpress. Sadly, these lights only last a couple of years outdoors before the motor goes out. These LED projectors seem to only come in super-cheap or super-expensive high-end pro models. There's nothing in midrange that is long-term durable (at least not that I've found). Note that there are quite a few variants that do essentially the same thing in the same general price range: www.aliexpress.us/item/3256802139963629.html
"587 steps" 😆
Give or take... 😅
Have you checked out my outdoor tiki bar that I have built in my backyard
I have now! 😉
Do you buy your shirts online?
The Aloha shirts I wear I mostly find in thrift stores. The vintage tiki bar shirt I get (mostly) from Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club online. 🙂