Amy lives in a 1916 bungalow that was renovated in the 1950s, including, golly: This fantastic basement hideaway that she has christened, “The Naughty Pine Lounge.” But. Oopsy. Methinks those gashes in the wood suggest it’s pecky cypress not knotty pine. No matter which: The Naughty Pine Lounge is more than Nice!
Amy writes:
My house is a 1916 Chicago bungalow and I’m only the 4th owner – 3rd owner lived there for 64 years and did the cool renovations… Here are photos of the basement bar and adjacent bathroom.
I think it is knotty pine, but it might be pecky cedar — you would know…
- This photo from Cypress Cracker Sawmill seems to nail it
- See all our stories on pecky cypress — which we usually see kind of “bleached” out — here.
Amy continues:
So you walk down the basement stairs (also paneled!) to get to this fabulous retreat…
I installed a vintage Schlitz light…
Left the original beaded curtain in the glass block window…
Readers, want New Old Stock beaded curtains made to order? See this story / source.
- It has great built-in display shelves and cabinets — with my collection of mold-a-rama wax sculptures and vintage Schlitz cans I found in the attic…
… And the awesome wet bar with original Formica counter, swinging door, and sink with metal edging.
I love the real swinging door!
The quality of the built-ins is amazing – check out the cabinetry with angled and straight paneling details…
I have a great collection of vintage glasses from thrift stores and from my grandparents…
A friend even made “Naughty Pine” coasters and glasses.
Original horsehead hook and old fashioned phone jack…
Original sconces…
Right next door to the bar is the paneled wood bathroom…
The bathroom originally had a rusted out metal shower that we had to replace – replaced with a shower tiled in slate to keep that rustic vibe – did keep as many original details as possible, though — like the metal magazine rack with ashtray (!) that was in the bathroom.
Fell in love with the “Hustle!” door knocker on the bathroom door…
The door is almost 2.5″ thick!
The bathroom has a funny little mirrored vanity area with the original counter top…
I made barkcloth curtains with vintage fabric…
Oh! And forgot to mention that I got the red velvet barstools on Freecycle. When I first contacted the woman she said that a lot of other people were interested in them, and I needed to write a story about why I deserved them! I guess my story won…
This fall after lots of flooding, I finally had to have the basement floor redone – had a speckled epoxy coating installed that I love – before I moved all the furniture back in I actually roller-skated in it…
A pesky pecky question
The “NPL” is the big social hangout of the neighborhood – recently had a crazy 50th birthday party… My friend Craig DJ’d – made a playlist of songs from 67, 77, 87, 97, 07, 17…
Yeah, my dad thought it was pecky cypress or cedar, but we’d have to come up with a different name for the bar!
- It’s not a big, but who else on the interwebs has a whole category on Knotty Pine and other less-discussed midcentury wood products? Oh and a whole little website.
MARTHA says
Whether it’s a Naughty Pine Lounge or The Peck-A-Boo Bar, it’s brilliant and so is your enthusiasm.
Amy says
Martha, you rock! I may need a new sign now! Love, love, love “Peck-A-Boo” – brilliant!
MARTHA says
Haha, You are more than welcome!
Eartha Kitsch says
Oh YES! I loooooooooove it. You’re a lucky gal, Amy! I’m so glad that you found it and that it will live on.
Kathy says
Retrotastic and such good craftsmanship. Roomy too, and love the sectional as well.
I do hope at least a bit of the original Craftsman is mingling with the 50s upstairs and outside. Looking forward to Part II.
Dave says
The grain appears to be cypress but those are bigger pecks than usually found these days.
Julie says
Awesome–love it! Interested to hear how the epoxy floor holds up. Can we pretty please get a story on retro basement flooring options?
Barbara says
O’me…Irish drinking whiskey, Jack Daniels, would be added to your AMAZING, “pine,” collection. Nothing like taking the nip out of the air once-in-awhile!
Oh…I’ll bring my roller skates, you know the ones that attach to your shoes and my go-go boots too. Just say the word!
I love your basement bar, Amy!
I love reading these stories that make you feel like you are standing right there in the room. No wonder why you won those beautiful chairs. You had the story AND knew how to tell it.
ENJOY would be putting it lightly, in that amazing time capsule basement bar.
Susan Halla says
The mirrored area in the bathroom is to die for.
Actually. the entire basement is swoon-worthy!
Thanks for sharing, Amy!
Justin says
It appears that it is Pecky Cypress. It is beautiful. Pecky Cypress is not cheap either. I have looked into doing a wall with it, but having difficulty finding it at a reasonable price.
One bit of information. The original Perry Mason from the late 50’s and early 60’s had the office paneled with Pecky Cypress.
Carolyn says
I would imagine that after tossing back a few, attempting to say “pecky cypress or cedar” would cause a few issues but no doubt hilarity would ensue.
Except for the disco party house, do we have more information about the WWII GI’s basement bars? I’ve got snippets of “Come as you are” parties where the hostess would catch her friends unaware at the crack of dawn and that’s what the guests would have to wear to the party. And dance parties where they’d move the furniture, roll up the rugs, and fire up the record player with 78’s & 45’s by Frankie Yankovich.
Yep! Mr Boston Barkeeper’s Guide – gotta have that! Somehow or ‘nother, my dad was able to buy the Hamm’s revolving bar sign with the Hamm’s bear and canoe. Talk about high tech!
AND I’ve been with realtors who pointed out “you can just tear that out” of stuff that made the house unique. That’s when you hear the needle scratching across the record, then dead silence as your brain scrambles to make sense but all that comes up is “Wha’?!”
Amy, you’ve done a great job cleaning up, preserving and enhancing the place and can’t wait to see more! I’d also like to than the previous 2 owners who kept so much intact.
Jay says
Wow! You could never recreate that today – such attention to detail and craftsmanship. I bet there are production companies out there that would love to film a commercial in there. Must have seen some bashes back in the day. You are a lucky homeowner and a steward of something wonderful. Great choice for the floor. Thanks for sharing!
Amy says
That is so nice of you to say – thanks!
Retroski says
So retroliscious, yes! And in the City of Broad Shoukders! Love the local touch of the Mold-o-Rama figures probably from Brookfield Zoo, another Chicago based retro business. And I recognize the street name on your Polkaliscious(?) concert poster “Western”! So the local touches are great too.
Amy says
Sharp eyes! Yes, saw the Polkaholics one NYE at the Dank Haus on Western Avenue. Mold-A-Ramas are from Brookfield Zoo, Lincoln Park Zoo, Museum of Science & Industry, and one really old one from Grauman’s Chinese Theater in the 50s from my dad…