So why is it that we all love tiki bar decor so much? It’s really quite ridiculous. I think it’s because we Americans just lurve to dress up. Halloween, for example, seems to be so much more popular here in the U.S. than anywhere else. The rest of the world watches our Halloween craziness and just scratches its much-more-restrained head. We are an exuberant nation. And maybe there was no single time more exuberant that post-World War II America. Heck yeah, I’ll have an umbrella in that mai tai. Life is good! Above: Brad’s “Junglero Room” — his own in-house tiki paradise. Yes, you can tuck a touch of tiki bar decor in most any mid century house. Our previous photo: Chad sells his Witco tiki bar and reader Ghost of Elvis buys it.
Readers, do you have some tiki going on in your house? Let’s see it! It’s easier than pouring some pineapple over some rum, get yer cameras started –>
Did you know we have a complete category called “Tiki and Bars”?
Update: Uploader is now closed. Thanks for playing, and enjoy the photos!
Tips to view slide show: Click on first image… it will enlarge and you can also read my captions… move forward or back via arrows below the photo… you can start or stop at any image:
J D Log says
The Tiki influence was across Polynesia. The word Tiki to mainland Maori people meant 1st man. You can see similaraties between Hawaii’s figures and those of the Maori in New Zealand. My bar is more of a mixture of African, and South American which seemed to be more of a influence over here in Australia in the 1950’s to 1960’s. Although Tiki is very in now.
Julia says
New tiki bar in Columbus, Ohio
http://www.facebook.com/GrassSkirtTikiRoom
hannah says
Tiki. To love or to hate? While I can say honestly I don’t hate it, I will say that my (UNINTENTIONAL) “Tiki feel” living room is not what I envisioned for the space when we settled in the house, 2 yrs ago this coming May.
But, the sofa and two chairs were only $250 and in superb condition, the Lane end tables and blanket chest have the weave (the Perception line) pattern and THAT lends itself to a Tiki atmosphere! All items were within my price range, and all happened to come to me at the time I was buying/waiting on the house. A sort of Tiki serendipity?? lol I’m living with it, but it’s not my dream living room *yet*.
Everyone’s pics are fab though, and I am totally in LUV with that glitter tiki thang!!
tammyCA says
In the Tiki Tiki Tiki Room…Of course, I love all the vintage tiki/Polynesian stuff but have none. I remember once going to Don the Beachcomber in the ’70s & thinking it was so cool…just now I had to google it to see if it still existed…ha, there’s one within driving distance! According to their website it was the owner who invented the tiki bar in the 1930s in Hollywood:
http://www.donthebeachcomber.com/history.html
audrey says
There is the Don the beach comber right in my back yard sunset beach ca 90742 great decor and fun place check it out!
Savannah says
I’m currently in the process of making my ’27 Spanish bungalow house..into a tiki house! Spanish isn’t my style, but the tiki is starting to mush well with it.. Next up, all tropical palms and bromeliads in the garden, and doing the patio as a tiki bar! I’m sure my neighbors will love/hate it! But I’m determined to have my own Enchanted Tiki Room at home!
In fact, Bahooka Tiki restaurant is closing here in LA, I’m going to try to buy some of the decor.. It’s fate will be..a Chinese restaurant. 🙁
pam kueber says
Sounds fabulous! Be sure to take lots of before, during and after photos that we can consider featuring on the blog!
Annie B. says
A recently scored set of six Siesta ware mugs has me in the mood to party in pastels with pineapple (plus).
There are quite a few Tiki-themed restaurants and shops where we live due to the proximity of the beach. Nothing quite as grand, though, as the Polynesian restaurant I remember from my 1950’s childhood in Memphis: The Luau. It had those Tiki God totems and flaming torches which scared my socks off as a five year old.
Perhaps the popularity of Tiki in the mid-century was partially due to Hawaii’s becoming a state in ’59 and the return of the GI’s from the Pacific Islands (the musical, “South Pacific”). And, Pam is right: we are an exuberant nation and the 50’s were high times. Nothing’s more exuberant than a grass skirt and coconut shell bra, right? Tiki is just plain happy. Can’t wait to see the photos this post produces.
Chutti says
I love the Tiki vibe, but have found it comes in and out of my life at intervals. When I was setting up my first apartment lo yon many years past, I was obsessed with gathering thrifted Tikiana. I had an awesome homemade turquoise sparkle fiberglass coffee table, the requisite black pleather couch, and the item I’d LOVE to have again: a RUBBERMAID plastic faux wicker clamshell bucket chair in avocado, filled with barkcloth pillows.
I’ve always thought the barbeque and Tiki trend of the 50s and 60s had a lot to do with returning servicemen. Most of our vets then pretty much kept their stories between themselves, and didn’t burden their families with details. I know my Dad (WWII) really didn’t want to talk about combat (but could still play Sargent pretty good if you were in the doghouse!). But at the same time they wanted to share all they’d seen overseas with their loved ones.
I feel Tiki and barbeque culture provided a way for Dad to contribute his experiences in a limited and positive way. There is a sweetness to that which I find really touching.
Hannah- Nice to see your living room so filled out. I see those grapes that started it all. Love the colors….
Our current 1920 Spanish Bungalow doesn’t really lend itself to Tiki Decor, so the cocktail goodies come out for entertaining, and go back in the cupboard. I loves me some good barware!
hannah says
Hi Chutti!
I couldn’t help but go on a feverish Google image search at the mention of your RUBBERMAID clamshell chair. I didn’t zone in on anything with the term Rubbermaid in it, but did come across this. Is this what it was like – only in avocado??? How cool would THAT be to have!
http://0.tqn.com/d/cruises/1/0/h/E/6/Carnival-Liberty-1360.JPG
Chutti says
OMZ—now I got obsessed with finding an image of this chair. And-bless the internet gods-I did. Further blessing-it’s already sold-whew!
This is the chair. Wacky, ain’t it??
http://www.etsy.com/listing/81841961/vintage-hoop-saucer-chair-green
amy pie says
Oh! I went to the Mai Kai in 1978 and I have fond memories. It’s my tiki dream. They have dessert cocktails made with ice cream, which probably have 40,000 calories. I haven’t got a tiki bar yet but plan on finishing my basement when I can afford to, complete with tiki bar. I keep seeing vintage ones on ebay and thinking “someday, you will be mine” :).
John aka AtomicHipster says
Hi Pam, I don’t see the uploader this time on my IPad. Last couple times it did work and I was able to upload pics.
Thanks,John
pam kueber says
oopsy, i had the code in there incorrectly. should work now! sorry for the error!
ann says
here’s a link to the ultimate tiki experience…still going strong since it opened December 26, 1956!! The Mai Kai….The Grand Polynesian Palace of Tiki !!! http://maikai.com/
Kate says
That place looks super fun — much larger than my local tiki bar, which probably will hold 50 people (not all sitting!). If ever I’m in Ft. Lauderdale, I’ll have to go. 🙂
tammyCA says
That place looks so cool…and, the menu sounds delicious.
Mike S says
I’ll always remember the Kahiki Supper Club in Columbus, Ohio. Wow, was that a cool place, with the photographs of all the celebrities who ate there on their walls, the bar with globe fish lamps, and the “rain booths”. I heard it was torn down to make room for a drug store (of all things). Yes, Tiki is way cool, and ridiculous at the same time. Tiki ROCKS!
julie s says
My husband used to go there all the time when he was a kid. It was one of the first places he took me to in Columbus after we were married. That place was awesome! Such a shame they tore it down.
Scott says
Mike and Julie, you are not alone in lamenting our lost Kahiki! I’m so glad I at least moved to Columbus in time to get to experience that place but sure wish it was still around.
I always wondered what the wrens who called those rain booths home thought of the perpetually changing time of day and weather. 🙂
oohlalacosette says
I celebrated my 21st birthday at the Kahiki – oooohhhhh so many years ago and then took my daughter there for her 21st…..
Growing up in the sixties in West Virginia, going to the Kahiki was like Disney or Epcot!! Aquariums and fish on one side, rain forests on the other and a Tiki God as tall as the roof with fire in his mouth?!??!?!!!! We’d never seen anything like it!!
Yes, I’m the girl with the Kahiki Memorial Tiki Room on the SW coast of Florida – Long Live TIKI !!!