The lost art of the bachelor pad

I do happen to drool over bits of vintage interior design, especially the elusive, well designed apartment/condo of the single 20-30 something male we've come to know as "the bachelor pad"

The bachelor pad should be something that speaks of a cultured adult male, not some dribbling oaf who requires a helmet on and off the field. hi-fi systems, slick furniture, art, babes, probably booze, or at least beer (proper beer, not some bottom shelf kegerator of natty ice.) Overall, it should also speak of good design, and the thought process that comes with it.

it should be more (60'S)PLAYBOY, and less MAXIM.
it should be more GQ, less ESPN.
it should be more Bang & Olufson, less Sony X-plOd

it should probably look something like this.>>>>>>



or maybe this>>>>>>>





I for one am quick to dismiss anyone who utters the words "man cave" in describing their hangout. typically i assume (correctly) that by this, they mean some disgustingly decorated dingy room painted in the colors of their favorite (american) foot ball team, stripes & decals included, full of hideously obese furniture that reminiscent of the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man's carcass turned upholstery for the tragically uncultured man-boy and his cohorts. A "man" cave is typically the underutilized space of a home where said man is delegated to his last refuge.

typically, i assume they're speaking of things like this.>>>>>>>>>

....I think this should speak for itself in the scale of awful that it radiates, but i have a hard time not exclaiming, "WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS."



Shit like this needs to die a harsh death. that place looks like if Guy Fieri was a room.





Good design is worth fighting for. enough is enough.


[EDIT:] i forgot to post these two articles along with the post. there are a lot of cool visuals on these two links. be sure to click through.>>

BACK TO THE FUTURE | A RETRO HI FI IN A DARK & COZY MAN CAVE
http://theselvedgeyard.wordpress.com/2009/05/25/back-to-the-future-a-retro-hi-fi-in-a-dark-cozy-man-cave/

The Bachelor Pad: Myths and Reality
http://inequalitybyinteriordesign.wordpress.com/2012/04/06/the-bachelor-pad-myths-and-reality/

The bachelor pad and man caves are on two completely opposite ends of the spectrum. Bachelor pads are owned by men who understand that after dinner/a show/ drinks, you need a completely innocent reason for a girl to come up to your pad to do completely flithy things.

Man caves are owned by men who want endless distraction. A place where you don't actually have to get to know anyone or entertain them with your thoughts or experiences.

StrawCity wrote:

You need a completely innocent reason for a girl to come up to your pad to do completely flithy things.

This is very well phrased. hahah.

StrawCity wrote:

Man caves are owned by men who want endless distraction.

This is truth. a wife/kids escape where they can sit under a beer brand neon and watch bullshit tv in the last sanctuary they have. maybe if their interests werent shit beer and awful decorum they could live in the rest of the home as well. #sad

truth to this. i think, as you stated, the key to having a classy dude domain is the requirement(loosely) of having a good combination of vintage/ classy furniture and decor with technology interlaced.

i think a great step towards this would be modding cheap tablets into wall mounted control systems to monitor/change media playing, temperature, lighting etc. perfect example of doing this on a smaller scale is the wifi thermostat system http://www.homedepot.com/buy/electrical-home-automation-security-home-automation-climate-control/filtrete-7-day-touchscreen-wifi-enabled-programmable-thermostat-with-backlight-182800.html.

an ideal situation is having a lady over and your place being able to speak volumes of your greatness without you having to brag or bring it up. show your art, show your interests, show your talents. pick em up, bring em home, let your awesomeness speak for itself.

Quote :

maybe if their interests werent shit beer and awful decorum they could live in the rest of the home as well.

the worst is when girls make shit beer and footbaall their interests too. it really bums me out when I see girls playing beer pong with their boyfriends and when the girls make a shot, her BF daps her up like one of his neanderthal bros.

edit: #startemyoung

As a bachelor with a pad I would like to add that it is not all about the level of class your place exudes but rather how much of your personality comes through your digs. Obviously I would like an antique globe that opens up to reveal a small bar, perfect overhead lighting over my easy chair, and a fire place I can turn on by remote, but those things are fantasy at this point in my life. For instance, my coffee table was free from a friend and is covered in stickers; those stickers have proven to be conversation pieces. This same table was falling apart and was easily fixed with the strategic placement of a ratchet strap.
Good as new, ~*freegan life*~

My place to me says resourceful, comfortable, and organized. Almost everything I own has a story behind it.

What do you think your pad says about you? why? cite examples.