I’m back on the Mahalo Lounge wagon, trying to finish. It’s slow going, I’ll tell you, because it’s all about the itty bitty details — and there are A LOT of them. Mostly, at this point, I’m focused on: the ceiling. The biggest news: I made a decision on where to install the second of two vintage Orchids of Hawaii lights, which came out of my local Luau Hale, a longtime vintage extant tiki bar and restaurant. I put the light, swag style, dead center on the third of the five beamed sections that comprise my 30′ long living room-dining room.
The first one, as you can see and may recall from previous stories, is at the far end above the peacock chair vignette. I belabored the decision — as I belabor so many big decisions — on where to put the second one, knowing that it was a huge statement piece, literally and figuratively.
I have only two, and even numbers are hard to work with. In this room, I am aiming for balanced asymmetry. For the longest time, I was thinking I’d put #2 at the far end of the room. It finally hit me: Dead center of the main seating area — but at a different height, about six inches higher, closer to the ceiling. This isn’t very clear in the photo angle I’ve shown). Importantly, the higher position of the this second, centered pendant light enables your eyes to flow past to take in the rest of the room, including the big matching light beyond. And functionally important, the higher position means we can see the TV from the sofa.
So: The centered light reads more like a ceiling fixture, while the one in the peacock chair reads like a pendant. Once I had it up, I knew it worked!
Then, Dear Husband (DH) came home and Loved It. He is really good with spacial and visual decision like this, so that was the best possible praise.
I picked up these other vintage Orchids of Hawaii products — volcano bowls! — on ebay recently. Weebit is coming home this weekend, and I asked her to pick up a bottle of Lemon Hart 151 to pour into the volcano and light up. DH and I tried regular rum, but it would not light. So we are gonna try it with the higher proof. I guess I’ll google it first, that stuff is not cheap.
Oh, but then we had to drink it. This is one HUGE tiki mug!
On a Sunday, I got crafty and painted and wallpapered and fabricked a couple of shadow box thingies for some smaller tiki items. Crafting makes me so happy, even if I have a pretty slack amount of patience and often have less-than-perfect results.
I picked this up at the Restore. Have an idea for it, for the Lounge. Stay tuned!
- Read all my stories about my Mahalo Lounge project here.
Christine W says
Your room looks amazing Pam. I was totally surprised you showed any of it – what a nice surprise. You’ve done a great job.
meb says
Wow!
Hey, Pam, did you make another post about the acquisition of the pendant lights? I searched, but didn’t get any hits, and I’m curious if they were mentioned in the body of a different story, and missed it. Can you fill me in on them? Thanks!
MARTHA OBRIAN says
Hey Meb, if you go back to her story where the pic is of the peacock chair, you will see the bold words “previous story”. Click on that and it will take you to one.
Pam Kueber says
I think I’ve written about them a couple of times. They are vintage Orchids of Hawaii lights. I bought them at a local antique store a few years ago. I was driving by… glanced in the big picture windows as I was driving … just about crashed slamming on the brakes so hard … did a U-bee … bought both of them, stat. They came out of my local, longtime extant tiki lounge, the Luau Hale, here in Lenox, Mass. The dealer told me they had been above the bar (Critiki, linked above, has a photo of them there circa 2009), but were taken down some years ago because they were too large. They are quite large. I forget what’s there now. I paid some real dough-re-mi for them — I’m thinking, $850 for the pair. But I was willing because such things are so hard to come by… they had local provenance… I could put them right in my car — to buy them from afar and then ship would have been, ugh. They were, in effect, the start of my tiki lounge. The next big item I then needed to find was: Fabric for my draperies. Story on that/those here and here
Carolyn says
Speaking of your drapes – they turned out really well to make a background when open? closed? I imagine they will transport your guests to an island during the doldrums of Feb & Mar. instead of focusing on slush outside.
Can I add some stress with another key element, that of the soundtrack? I don’t recall posts of Don Ho, Elvis, or (insert famous orchestra conductor of the time such as Harry Simeone). Hiding tiny speakers in conch shells?
Pam Kueber says
Thanks, Carolyn, yes, the drapes were chosen specifically for the backdrop effect.
We have a stereo system that was also installed — we play Exotica. I’ll ask my husband, who curates the music, and do a story. I am also a superfan of Yma Sumac.
MARTHA OBRIAN says
My Lord, Pam, I have to tell you that I did like the Orchid lights when you showed them to us, But I had no idea the impact they would make once put to electricity. Green is my jam, so seeing those fabulous lights lit up with all the glowing green goodness has set me off. I know you have worked tremendously hard in that room, but the lights, for me, are going to be the best!
Tisha says
I don’t know if you’ve seen them, but Williams Sonoma has tiki ice cube trays! They are super cute (and might take up some space in those volcano bowls)!
Karin says
Well done. The lounge looks great. Lighting is a key element in tiki style, so I get that placement of the lamps was a tricky decision. Cool score with the volcano bowls. They look like fun.
Carolyn says
Oh the sacrifices you must endure to bring us this blog – thank goodness DH was there to help you empty that volcano bowl!
I’ve had issues lighting flambes in recent years also even tho’ previously I had the farmer match blow out of my fingers and singed the hair off my knuckles (I was unaware I had knuckle hair before then!) I allowed time for the alcohol fumes to gather since those are what ignite but still no go.
Out of the blue I received a Montgomery Wards catalog last week and they have a bistro set along the same lines as yours.
Pam, while you have a lot of awesome-cool tiki stuff in your LR, what I like is that your houseplants are being put to better use than just sitting in the windows. I imagine,come January (hopefully NOT April again!) you and your guests will appreciate that bit of tropical greenery even though they are usually seen as run-of-the-mill houseplants.
And, so far as the minute parts – remember, the Devil’s in the details.
Pam Kueber says
Yes, my husband is caretaker of the … jungle … which is now much more purposeful!
Going now to google: Lighting rum. A whole new twist on: Renovate Safe!
Julia B says
I would refer to Smuggler’s Cove! He gives some great tips on lighting tiki drinks!
JC says
I’m impressed that you could still take photos after finishing off that huge drink!
Love your room.
Lynne says
Be careful, 151 rum will light YOU up!
Jay says
WOW! That is so cool – the first picture, really sets the mood of the room with all the accent lighting. If it was in B & W I would swear I was watching an old Perry Mason episode which I’m hooked on because of the sets. Those bowls are neat, I thought they were centerpieces and not to be drunk from. The room is beautiful. You can sit back this holiday weekend and take it all in.
Steve H says
Wow! That first photo looks sooooo atmospheric!