The Man Cave project begins

[ptsmith109]

 

Well, I've decided to begin work on my man cave project out in my detached garage. It's broken up into two areas - a more "finished" area where I park my old convertible and another that has been kind of a "catch all" for junk. Now that I've identified the space, the work begins. First - with de-junking. I've got to do that before I can adequately measure the space and come up with more than the plans I'm kicking around in my head at the moment. 

I'm shooting for a rustic feel...think ice house meets cigar lounge. 

I'm going to be taking my time in working on this project...because honestly, I want to do as much of it as I can myself. 

I've got a 20-yard dumpster showing up tomorrow to aid in the process of de-junking, and I'm in the process of burning the branches my lawn guy put on the concrete slab on the side. Hopefully by the time I leave town next week, I'll have the inside thoroughly de-junked and the outside brush burned off. 

That concrete slab in the photos measures 12x20. Looking at a Domi 12x20 hardtop gazebo to cover that space, and underneath I've got a hot tub I'm going to put in there. The goal is to get some rocking chairs that look out over the pond (great spot to sit and enjoy a stick) and some other appropriate furniture for the "front porch" to the man cave. 

But this is the beginning.

 

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[El Presidente]

What a fantastic location. I can picture it already  

[Greenhorn2]

A fire pit, rocking chair, cold beer and a fishing rod at the edge of that pond, and you've got the best mancave in the world. Save your money.

[ptsmith109]

Burned off a little bit of the brush tonight, but decided not to wait to enjoy the space. Fired up a Romeo y Julieta Cedros de Luxe with a red beer from my local brewery. Cool breeze going, bullfrog croaking in the pond.

It’s a good night.


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[ptsmith109]

The man cave project continues to take shape. Hosted the family out here for a crab boil earlier today, now they have gone inside and I am enjoying a 2017 Montecristo No. 5 from a recent BR auction win.

Anthony Bourdain is on the television, and the door is open to anyone who wants to come by. I bought a Virgin Islands flag to mount to the front of the building, and when that flag is out, the oasis is open.

I picked up a kegerator off of Facebook marketplace today, and have a vending machine coming this weekend - an old school Coke machine for the canned beverages.

Cleanup continues to move along, much of my trash has made its way out to the dumpster. Still a long way to go before my vision is completely realized, but the most important thing to me is that I am able to use the space immediately. Regardless, I can’t help but be pleased with the progress and excited about what the future holds for this space.

If you ever find yourself in the Kansas City area, let me know, and if I’m at home, I’ll put the flag out to let you know that we are open for business.

Cheers, friends.


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[Ford2112]

What kind of fish are in the pond?

[ptsmith109]

What kind of fish are in the pond?

Wish I knew! Some of the neighborhood kids are out there fishing all the time. I’ll have to ask them.


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[ptsmith109]

Had the family out again today to grill out on my Blackstone. Tonight, relaxing with a Cuban as my clean out phase near its completion. I will be done tomorrow.

All this is left in my clean out is pulling another shelving unit out of the wall, and I have a vending machine showing up during the day tomorrow. Just in time for me to head to Florida for a week. I have a box of 2018 Cohiba Behike 52s (a BR buy) sitting in my tupperdor in the house and I’ll be pulling my first stick out of it tomorrow to celebrate the milestone.

After I get back, the building projects can begin in earnest. I’m looking at building a portable bar - it’ll be about 10 feet long and on lockable casters - decided against a permanent install because I have an attic stair that cuts into my real estate when it’s opened, so in the interest of still being able to use it, a portable bar is the way to go. Also building a 6 inch riser to go back in the “nook” area - I’ll be putting curtains in front of the shelves to conceal my storage - for live music/karaoke purposes.

One more chair is coming from Facebook marketplace for my cigar lounge area, and as I move forward I’m looking for some old arcade games to fill the wall space alongside my vending machine.

As for the walls, I’m going to be putting in some distressed corrugated paneling down low and then using old pallet boards to cover the walls going toward the ceiling. For the ceiling, I’m planning on taking lattice and painting it white, then nailing it up to the studs.

Have some ideas on how I’m going to upgrade the lighting, but when all is said and done this will be a perfectly homey and “divey” space…a true sanctuary for this aficionado.


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[KCCubano]

On 5/31/2025 at 12:22 PM, ptsmith109 said:

The man cave project continues to take shape. Hosted the family out here for a crab boil earlier today, now they have gone inside and I am enjoying a 2017 Montecristo No. 5 from a recent BR auction win.

Anthony Bourdain is on the television, and the door is open to anyone who wants to come by. I bought a Virgin Islands flag to mount to the front of the building, and when that flag is out, the oasis is open.

I picked up a kegerator off of Facebook marketplace today, and have a vending machine coming this weekend - an old school Coke machine for the canned beverages.

Cleanup continues to move along, much of my trash has made its way out to the dumpster. Still a long way to go before my vision is completely realized, but the most important thing to me is that I am able to use the space immediately. Regardless, I can’t help but be pleased with the progress and excited about what the future holds for this space.

If you ever find yourself in the Kansas City area, let me know, and if I’m at home, I’ll put the flag out to let you know that we are open for business.

Cheers, friends.

I am in the KC area-SE burbs!

[CigarCulture09]

Looks awesome. 👏😉🔥

[ptsmith109]

Enjoying a night in the man cave. No new construction updates, but… my box of BR 109s showed up. This is a FANTASTIC stick.

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[ptsmith109]

It’s been a while since I’ve updated! Spent a week in the USVI with my son. Got back to work after returning home.

The distressed wood gets a little bit higher. I bought a Glance Scroll ticker that I’ve mounted (you can see part of it here) and my wife’s best friend added the “man cave” sign as a “cave warming” gift.

The tin at the bottom - wood at the top theme is starting to take shape. Here you’ve got a better view of the Glance ticker and the new TV mount. The cords are a little wild right now - I’ve got an electrician coming soon to add some plugs for me.

Soda machine (currently waiting on a replacement part) and a working beverage chiller. Eventually, the distressed wood will climb up this wall too. Needing a few more pieces of barn tin from my source - he’s cutting them down for me so I’ll have them soon, then I can get to work on finishing this wall.

My cigar lounge sits in this corner. I have signs, photos, license plates, and cigar boxes going up.



The box from my Petit 109s is actually functional as well - I’m storing cedar spills and lighters in it.

Outside - it’s too dark to photograph right now, and my wife is currently in the hot tub… but there’s a hot tub along with some chairs under a gazebo - the gazebo can be screened in completely or walled in so we can enjoy the hot tub with privacy.

In my cigar lounge area, I’m actually enjoying a smoke from a local cigar maker - Bad Ash Cigar Company - the “Broad”, a 7x70 Gordo that halfway through the stick makes me feel like I could defend some small Northern European country from a fascist invasion if necessary.

It’s a beautiful night in northwest Missouri and I have a Habano on deck. My box of Bond Roberts Linea D No.1s just arrived today, and I’ve got them sitting in my newest humidor resting for a bit before I take a sample.

Have a good night, my friends.


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