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Suggestions for our tiki bar top? |
albino tiki
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Jun 24, 2008
Posts: 26
From: Chicago
|  Posted: 2009-01-29 1:18 pm Permalink
Numatiki has an old bar that he bought when he was about 18 years old. It has gotten a little banged up over the years and didn't seem stylistically appropriate in his home bar, so he asked me to tiki-fy it.
Before:
After:
We refaced the front and sides of the bar with various materials including some carvings by the mid-west's own, Lake Tiki!
Now, we're trying to decide what to do with the bar top and edge. The plan is to remove the existing red tile and make the top a solid rectangular shape (eliminate the recessed area). We may refurbish the padded arm rest or eliminate it altogether. I'm leaning toward the idea of making a glass mosaic top with classic tiki images on it, but we'd love to hear any suggestions you creative folks might have or please post photos of what you have done with your own bar tops.
Existing top:
Suggestions, please?
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Mr. Pupu Pants
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 06, 2008
Posts: 332
From: Edmonds, WA
| Posted: 2009-01-29 1:30 pm Permalink
WOW!! I love what you did to it. What a work of art. Seriously. Nice.
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TikiMango
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jun 17, 2008
Posts: 798
From: Satellite Beach, FL
| Posted: 2009-01-29 4:40 pm Permalink
Great rework of that bar! I personally enjoy padded bar tops (you don;t see them anymore), and I think the red tiles would fit in any decor. I say it's done as is.
_________________
Pupule Tiki!
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GO TIKI
Grand Member (5 years) 
Joined: Feb 21, 2004
Posts: 603
From: SURF CITY HUNTINGTON BEACH
| Posted: 2009-01-29 4:48 pm Permalink
I'd agree with TikiMango, Leave the tile top, Easy clean-up and has nice vintage look.
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Ohana Since September 17 2002, Member #434
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BambooLodge
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Feb 09, 2003
Posts: 509
From: Just up the road from Chef Shangri-La
| Posted: 2009-01-30 07:41 am Permalink
Looks great! Totally agree with the tile, leave as is. We have a tile top on our bar here at BambooLodge and love it. Easy clean up, and easy to maintain.
Great Job!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Gooberfreek
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Mar 24, 2008
Posts: 38
From: Manchester, England, UK
| Posted: 2009-01-30 2:24 pm Permalink
That is awsome, Im very Jealous...  I too would leave the top as it is, you dont want to spoil the padding aroud the edge...
_________________
Gooberfreek (Freek by name Tiki Freak by nature)
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Mr. Pupu Pants
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 06, 2008
Posts: 332
From: Edmonds, WA
| Posted: 2009-01-30 3:00 pm Permalink
Yep...and the tiles have a nice exotic, tapa-like look to them.
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Tipsy McStagger
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 21, 2004
Posts: 3388
From: HELL
| Posted: 2009-01-30 4:49 pm Permalink
..i suggest you invite us all over for a drink and we can stand around the bar discussing what to do about the top of it.  .....it's easier to come up with solutions when the problem is right in front of us.....rum helps too!!
_________________
" I may not know karate..... but I do know crazy !!"
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albino tiki
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Jun 24, 2008
Posts: 26
From: Chicago
| Posted: 2009-01-31 3:00 pm Permalink
Thanks for all of your kind replies. The general consensus seems to be "leave the tile top as is" and we probably will, at least for now.
Tipsy, come on over to Numatiki's bar. He lives in the 'burbs so it's a bit of a trek but he'll set you up with some mai tais and you can help us brainstorm.
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Swanky
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 03, 2002
Posts: 4807
From: Hapa Haole Hideaway, TN
| Posted: 2009-02-01 5:33 pm Permalink
Is that bamboo or PVC made to look like bamboo? We just put a bamboo footrest in our bar...
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Mai-Kai Memories Series Custom ceramic mugs!
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hala bullhiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 26, 2002
Posts: 570
From: champaign,illinois
| Posted: 2009-02-02 08:43 am Permalink
that bar rules, wow, nice work!
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albino tiki
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Jun 24, 2008
Posts: 26
From: Chicago
| Posted: 2009-02-02 11:29 am Permalink
Swanky,
The footrest is real guadua bamboo which is very strong. I wanted to use the black bamboo that was used on the rest of the bar, but it just isn't strong enough to support any weight.
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Mr. Pupu Pants
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 06, 2008
Posts: 332
From: Edmonds, WA
| Posted: 2009-02-02 11:43 am Permalink
Hi Albino, you could torch the footrest to darken it. I did that with the tall vertical poles on this wall and it worked pretty well.
You could test it out on a scrap piece to see if you like it.
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albino tiki
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Jun 24, 2008
Posts: 26
From: Chicago
| Posted: 2009-02-02 11:55 am Permalink
Thanks, Mr. Pupu, that's a good idea! I've been watching your progress on Hula Sue's and your work is very inspirational!
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Lake Surfer
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 21, 2002
Posts: 3311
From: Milwaukee, WI
| Posted: 2009-02-02 2:56 pm Permalink
Beautiful work and craftsmanship!
Thanks so much for letting me be a part of it!
I now remember the patterns you brought with you last Spring when you were picking out pieces.
Very cool to see it all together!
See you at the Chef New Year party!
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