I'm all revved up about making over the man cave. I'm putting myself on a deadline - 90 days or bust. It shouldn't be too hard - its only a few cosmetic changes in here - but I seem to be able to put off those final few things longer than any of it.
sources: wall color; faux wood tile floor; chevron rug; marble coffee table; console table; sideboard used as media table purchased used on craigs list; sectional; safety sign; globe; travel posters
I'm in love with this slightly askew chevron rug - its on backorder but I'm willing to wait. Also, I think I'm going to break down and replace the coffee + console table with this sleek round marble job. I've been back and forth on painting them but I know I think its too heavy looking AND I don't love the shape. And of course I have a few tricks up for some accessories to add personality. The first of which I'll be sharing in a tutorial tomorrow. I'd like to add a chair in the corner as well but I haven't found anything I really love so that will have to wait.
So what do you think? Suggestions?
And the real question is: should I put the coffee and console table up on craigs list? Both are solid Pottery Barn pieces so they should be worth a couple of bucks right? At the same time, I'm a little worried about being murdered by would-be furniture shoppers. Anyone want to weigh in on that pro / con?
I think the different coffee table will make a huge difference down there -- it will break up some of the wood and bring in a new shape. As far as the craiglist thing goes -- you're in NY so that might be a little different, but I have bought and sold so many pieces of furniture (and the same with my husband and guitars!) -- it's too good of a resource to pass up. Here's my rules: 1) don't give out your address until they've committed to a time/date for coming over, 2) try to have the pieces they're coming to see close to the front door so you don't have to take them through the whole house and 3) make sure someone else is home with you or knows about your visitors. Pretty simple and well worth the extra cash for more accessories or other furniture. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteThe new coffee table will make a huge difference. I'm glad you decided to get rid of those pieces - too heavy and too hard edged. I just replaced some furniture (a new TV, leads to a new cabinet, leads to new side tables... and so it goes), so I had a large pine armoire and some end tables to get rid of. I could have listed them, but I would never want some strange men coming into my house, so I asked around to see if anyone I knew wanted them and just gave them away. Sure, I could have made a few hundred dollars, but it wouldn't be worth the trouble. I figure, although I paid good money for them, I had my years of use from them and that's just how it rolls.
ReplyDeleteIf you go the CraigsList route, I genuinely think you can tell the crazies from the non-crazies based on emails. Agree on having someone else at home when you have the buyer arrive, and I always phrase emails as "we will be home between 5 and 6" to let the potential axe-murderer know that there will be two bodies to dispose of. Alternately, Furnish a Future (http://www.partnershipforthehomeless.org/programs.furnish.php5) will do pick-ups for large pieces and you'd get a healthy tax write-off.
ReplyDeleteLove the art and posters!! As far as Craigslist, I say go for it. I have a regular feature on my blog called recycle renaissance, and it focuses on selling pieces you own (on CL) to help fund your design adventures. There are ways to feel people out. And if you are wary, you can always move the furniture to the front of your house so people are taking the full tour to get to it. It will probably make them feel comfortable too. I have never liked going upstairs in a seller's house to buy something. Good luck!!
ReplyDeleteSell them on Craigslist! I meet up with Craigslist buyers probably 10x a year and I'm still alive! You get an instant sense of their creep factor when they contact you so there's time to decide prior to meeting up. I just wrote a post on the very subject: http://www.gohausgo.com/2011/11/how-to-sell-almost-anything-on-craigslist/
ReplyDeleteP/S: That marble CB2 table has been on my want list for a long time. Can't wait to see it in the man cave. It will look awesome!
Maybe a consignment shop will ease your mind selling furniture? Keeps the crazies out of your door.
ReplyDeletetotally almost bought that rug for my basement tv space too! it's so cute. i love that you snuck in a sexy little coffee table. looks great!
ReplyDeleteMancaves have been on my mind this weekend, after I purchased some desk lamps at an auction that just screamed mancave to me. I've been trying to figure out just how to stage them for photos for my shop, as a mancave is completely nonexistent in our home.
ReplyDeleteIf you're not comfortable with CL, perrhaps if you look on Facebook, you'll find a local selling page. We have several for our county, tri-county, and city area.
LOVE IT! We just moved from Brooklyn out to the woods in CT and my husband is dying for a man cave!
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree with the other posters. Even in Brooklyn, we had great luck with non-crazies on CraigsList. And keep in mind - you're in the greatest (and most CraigsList-bountiful) city in the world... there are a million awesome things to find out there on CL.
www.hardlyhousewives.com
I love that sofa! What is the name or number of that style?
ReplyDeleteI love that sofa! What is the name or style number of it?
ReplyDeleteI emptied 3/4 of my house before an international move on a local e-board. So easy and no trouble from anyone. They are larger pieces but perhaps if you're really worried about the safety factor offer to deliver instead of having them come to your home for pick up?
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if its worth bothering at all but I have to deliver it, it would definitely not be. (I don't drive)
ReplyDeleteThanks Kari. Sorry, I don't remember the name or have the style number. It was part of some city sized collection when we purchased it a few years ago but they don't seem to have it on their website (they never did). You might find it if you go to the store.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you don't have a garage Mrs. Limestone, (or at least at the front of the house like we do!) but I usually put my craigslist items in the garage and providing the weather is good, pull them outside onto the driveway for the would-be purchaser to see. Perhaps you could put them in the 'rents apartment and pull them out to the ? courtyard to the left of your staircase to the house when a potential buyer wants to see them. I've never had any issues, but poster CT is right. Don't give your address out to anyone until they give you a definite time/date, and have someone else home. If it bother you that much to sell on craigslist, perhaps take pictures and show them to a local reseller. You won't get as much but it might make you feel more comfortable.
ReplyDeleteLove the rug and coffee table btw. Will food be downstairs at all? Just make sure that marble is sealed well because it does stain. We have it in our kitchen so I've witnessed it firsthand.
No garage but even if we did have one, it wouldn't really solve the problem of a crazed killer knowing where I live. :)
ReplyDeleteIm not worried about staining marble. I actually prefer marble that looks used. The fresh shiny kind doesn't seem right to me so I might have to etch this one myself.
Your man cave looks so similar to our new basement. We have a Murphy bed so that it can be an additional guest room when needed, like this Thanksgiving. We also added a small craft room for me down there. Love it. I am sure your man will spend many happy hours down there. And ditto on sealing the marble. We, too, have it in our entire kitchen, and you have to be careful.
ReplyDeleteLove the mood board! Though, I think it'll end up being a bit swanky and polished to be called a man cave. More of a man lounge. Or is it only the men in my life that are a bit more beer and Yankees decor oriented?
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't hesitate to list the tables on Craigslist. The previous commenters gave some good tips. Don't give out your address willy nilly. Make sure the hubs is home or a neighbor can be there with you. Make sure the tables are near the door. I've bought and sold tons of stuff on Craigslist without ever having to reach for a knife.
Can't wait to see this room come together.
True, Im hoping more for lounge than cave. I assumed that he would have done went crazy with sports or something else I would have hated but much to my surprise, he wants something a little more refined. Hooray for good sense :)
ReplyDeleteOk! I love to give my opinions! Green Poster re: work days - great and my favorite in this collection. Industrial console table - love as I am really loving industrial materials - metals etc and it is masculine! Yes on changing out the two tables because there are too many of the same shape and material. I like that you cut the airline posters to three, makes a nice balance. Rug is a YES. Pillows... those are the part I would nix. Sorry. Round table is terrific. Have you considered an ottoman? Love to put my feet up so I have no coffee tables in our house.
ReplyDeleteHa - if you don't like the pillows, definitely don't read my next post. I made them :)
ReplyDeleteTrue, but I never want someone taking inventory of what I have in the house. If they see the garage, they just think I'm some old lady who should be on hoarders. ;)
ReplyDeleteDidn't know if the possibility of marble staining would bother you. Water/wine marks from glasses would bother me. The stains on mine are lemon, tomato based. So it just looks like I cook. ha ha. I drool over your soapstone whenever I see it. We also bought ours from M. Texeira when we did kitchen remodel back in SF. (sigh) Soapstone is just indestructible and effortless compared to all the other stuff out there.
Love the pillows in the photo. The globe too. Saw a great use for one the other day. Someone split it in half and used it as bowls.
Craigs List... I used to do a lot of buying from the Nickle. I went to people's homes. I think I was too brave & naive especially when one guy wanted to know if I was nursing my son & he told me about the gun shot holes in his ceiling. Eeek. You can put the photo up. If it wasn't so cold you could set them on your back porch and have someone view only when your husband is home.
ReplyDeleteI JUST did my first inspiration board on Friday and guess what it was for? A MAN CAVE. :) Great minds and all that. And though my inspiration board was very simple, I'm hooked. Love it.
ReplyDeleteI know. I am dying! I saw that then edited my note. Can I change my mind about them? I think I should rethink them as I am OFTEN wrong. You can't slap me from there so I can do it for you.
ReplyDeleteDon't be silly - you are allowed not to like them! I didn't take it personally ;)
ReplyDeleteIt is a man cave! They should be masculine! I am still dying!
ReplyDeleteAND the colors are just right to pull the posters in.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, it's ok it you don't like them. I promise I'm not mortally wounded. I can take some criticism - not much - but some ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks! We have a store nearby I just couldn't find it on their website either.
ReplyDeleteI adore that coffee table! And oddly enough I just added that same rug (found at overstock.com) to an ideabook on Houzz today! Great minds... :)
ReplyDeleteLove all of the ideas presented!! especially the pillows.. my husband would want a space theme man cave!!
ReplyDeletecheck these out!! http://www.diynetwork.com/decorating/8-man-caves-from-rate-my-space/pictures/page-4.html
I like your choices for the mancave. It was a little too woodsy and if you can sell them do it. Otherwise donate them to the Salvation Army.
ReplyDeleteLove the rug-- definitely worth the wait! I would CL the pieces; lots of gals do it safely, but I would get some advice on how to. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteYou do see how funny all of the talk of the crazed killer is considering your lunatic asylum for the criminally insane was just last week? That is funny. Just give them a tranquilizer in the backside!
ReplyDeleteI was just looking at that rug today for myself, but on another site. FYI, it's a few hundred dollars cheaper over at overstock. I just checked on it and it's still there. check it out. Hey, even a women can enjoy a well designed man cave.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jess. I see it there for such a great price but they only have it in brown. Bummer. But it seems to get good reviews so thats a plus.
ReplyDeleteI think you should keep and paint the Pottery Barn pieces! You're very crafty and good at that stuff. Right color paint and maybe some decorations would look great.
ReplyDeleteI purchased some desk lamps at an auction that just screamed mancave to me.
ReplyDeleteThis is pretty amazing stuff and this combination delights
smile and happiness.
Hi Mrs. Limestone,
ReplyDeleteI like that coffee table and am in Staten Island. What's the name of it on Crate and Barrel?
The marble one? There is a link to it in the post.
ReplyDeleteI've not been murdered yet...from selling on craigslist.
ReplyDeleteI do, have them email me - they ask their questions, I answer, then I have give me a time/day they want to come pick the item up. Then I request they call me to confirm. Only at this point do I give out my address. And anyone who sounds the least big 'odd' doesn't get the address.
You can totally sell those.
No the one you were thinking of selling on Craigslist.
ReplyDeleteOh, the coffee table (and console table) aren't from CB - they are from Pottery Barn. They don't sell them anymore so I don't have a link.
ReplyDeleteHi! First of all congratulations, you are such a source for incredible ideas!! I am looking forward to my next trip because I just moved to my new house and I couldn't find the pillows I was looking for!!! Besides, I would like to know where I could purchase the "universal safety" poster shown above, which I totally love.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for your time and Happy New Year!
Got it at Brimfield Antiques Market. Posted about it here: http://www.brooklynlimestone.com/2011/09/brimfield-flea-goodies.html
ReplyDelete