SAVE $100 
by Lauren Busser The House Designers’ Editorial Director
Father’s Day is this week and there is no better way to honor dad than to find the perfect space for his very own man cave. Is your dad tech savvy like Modern Family’s Phil Dunphy? Or hands-on like Tim Taylor from Home Improvement? Or does he need a place to get work done like Cliff Huxtable in The Cosby Show? Whatever dad’s needs are, he deserves a place of his own and we have some tips on how to create dad’s ideal man cave.
Before you start designing Dad’s man cave you need to look for some space. The cave doesn’t have to be tucked away and hidden. Sure, you can build it in the attic or basement but you could also use the garage, an unused bedroom or even a good sized shed in the backyard. Any space you have to spare with adequate elbow room will do. Next, think about what dad likes and design the space accordingly. Here are some examples based around our favorite and familiar TV dads.
For Phil Dunphy from Modern Family
Phil Dunphy is a tech savvy dad. When the iPad® came out on his birthday it was his only wish, and we know he has wireless printers and noise canceling headphones at his disposal. So what would Phil Dunphey’s ideal man cave look like? Perhaps a home theater with SAVANT SYSTEMS Media Management System.
A SAVANT Home Automation system would be just the thing for Phil and we love the idea of a media management system so that Phil could dive into his favorite programming while five simultaneous and independent streams of audio channels play in other parts of the home. SAVANT is partnered with Apple® so Phil can use the iPad® he already has to control his movies, television, and other audio/visual materials from any room. You can even add Light Control and Climate Control for maximum customization and comfort.
For Tim Taylor from Home Improvement
For Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor there is no question that his ideal man cave would be located in the garage. Taylor spent eight seasons as the host of Tool Time while being the father of three sons. During those years we saw him as a 'dream big' and somewhat accident prone handyman, and one of his more memorable projects was building a hot rod from the ground up.
For dads like Tim Taylor we'd want to provide a great garage to work on his latest automotive project or hang out with the guys. We are big fans of California Closets® Garage Solutions and particularly their man cave solutions. Like the one pictured above, they make every effort to design a man cave according to Dad’s preferences. They realize that a man cave can serve as a multi-purpose space so, perhaps a two or three-car garage could double as an entertaining space for dad and his friends while they work on their next custom car project.
For Cliff Huxtable from The Cosby Show
Heathcliff “Cliff” Huxtable was the patriarch of a Brooklyn family. He was known for his playful admonishments, relentless teasing, and comedic antics. Surely a father like this deserves his own man cave. Taking a look at Cliff’s interests we can see that he enjoys listening to jazz, watching football and playing a monthly game of pinochle.
If we were designing a room based around Cliff Huxtable we would furnish it like a high-end home office, with a comfortable chair, a sitting area and a place for he and his friends to play cards. Shades from smith+noble® will bring the room together and give it a classic appearance.
When it comes to listening to jazz records, frequenting an antique shop and finding an antique record player could be the centerpiece of this room. And of course he'll need a quality TV and audio system for game time.
Whether your father's a technology junky like Phil Dunphy, a DIY tool man like Tim Taylor, or a work-from-home comedian who likes to listen to music, he deserves a space to call his own. So take a moment to think about what you think your dad would like in his space, and start designing a dream room just for him.
