You are not a caveman.
You don’t start fire with flint. You don’t speak in grunts. You don’t walk with your shoulders hunched over and hair on your kneecaps.
So stop calling the room where you spend the majority of your leisure time a “cave.”
What you need is a den: a stately, handsome place to watch games, sip Scotch and best friends in table games.
To help you achieve it, we scoured SoCal’s best design and furniture stores to find 13 items that’ll transform any man’s living space.
Remember the names. Because everyone in the neighborhood will ask where you got ‘em.
The Ping Pong Table: Mackenrow
Found at: Jory Brigham, San Luis Obispo
California woodsmith Jory Brigham takes the ping-pong table, which was first conceived by off-duty military men, and elevates it to an art with the cleverly dubbed Mackenrow. Made of solid walnut, even the net is meticulously framed in wood, and there’s an orange accent on the side.
The Couch: The Chester Bay
Found at: Houzz
A tufted brown leather sofa is a mainstay in a masculine room, and this one is on sale right now for 73 percent off. So if you’re in the market, look no further. There’s plenty of room to lay down and it’ll fit several dudes. Gets better with age, too.
The Reading Chair: Gentleman’s Library Chair
Found at: Obsolete, Culver City
This English chair from the 1800s has been gorgeously upholstered in forest green. It’s soft and reclining, the ideal spot to read the paper, study the tube or listen to music.
The Bar: The Sterling
Found at: Jory Brigham, San Luis Obispo
Bars don’t necessarily need a long stretch of pine. A cabinet like The Sterling by Jory Brigham will add a lot to the room. Jory makes his out or walnut and teak, with a Dutch weave in the wood and a peg that serves as a lock to keep the kiddos out. Inside, there’s a wine rack and plenty of storage.
The Tumblers: Sugahara
Found at: Tortoise, Venice Beach
An interesting tumbler is a nice touch, a subtle detail that separates your den from the rest, and it looks great on your coffee table. Sugahara’s are multi-toned in blue and amber, and they hand-blow each unit.
The Hooch: Bar and Garden
Found at: Bar and Garden, Culver City
Bar and Garden is a new purveyor of small-plot wines, craft beer and small-batch liquor. Visit them in Culver to stock up The Sterling. They’re open late and do tastings.
The Barstools: Stanyan
Found at: Fryn, San Francisco
Fryn makes sustainably sourced wooden chairs that are very easy to assemble at home. The Stanyan is their barstool. Grab a couple.
The Arcade: Polycade
Found at: Polycade, Downtown Los Angeles
Tyler Bushnell loves games. He grew up in a house full of them — such is life when your dad is the founder of Atari and Chuck E. Cheese. But his girlfriend had other ideas for their house that didn’t include remotes lying around, so Tyler made something a little more artful. His Polycade looks like a vintage arcade cabinet, only it can be built into your wall. And he can customize them to include a raft of classic games, from Mac Man to Mortal Kombat.
The Light: Westinghouse Pendants
Found at: Obsolete, Culver City
Edison bulbs are out (for now). Frosted bulbs are in. These Westinghouse Pendants are from the same era as Edison bulbs, and even come in their original green paint. The frosted bulbs will keep the room feeling softly lit. We also suggest adding HUE LED bulbs to these so you can program a timed dimming effect.
The Stereo: Modern Record Console
Found at: Symbol Handcrafted Audio, New York
Stop listening to Bluetooth sound. Step it up and start collecting vinyl. The richness is even sweeter through a tube amp like the Modern Record Console by Symbol Audio. Plus, they make them with the same walnut that’ll match your ping-pong table and bar.
The Sculpture: Folk Art Scissors
Found at: Obsolete, Culver City
Every room needs a little something to set it apart, and these folk art scissors are equal measures fun and historic: they were part of the signage for an old-school tailor shop.
The Art: Goran Djurovik
Found at: SLETE Gallery, Culver City
SLETE Gallery is part of Obsolete, and it’s home to art that leans macabre but always very interesting. The current show is for Goran Djurovik, a German-based artist whose work is strange and beautiful. SLETE represents many similar artists as well, from Ethan Murrow to Adam Dix.
The Coffee Table Book: Bowie Unseen
Found at: Arcana, Culver City
You need some coffee table books, and Arcana stocks a truly exceptional supply of them. This one, of never-before-seen images of David Bowie, is of special interest.
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