Who Is Better at Introducing Tiki to the Mainstream Tommy Bahama or Target? - General Tiki

T Thomas Member Lake Mojave Joined: Mar 15, 2005 Posts: 372	T Thomas Posted posted on Mon, Feb 18, 2008 9:02 PM I think there are two planes to this: the practical and the aspirational. I am redoing a basic home in tiki style inspired in large part by your books and innumerable great posts here on TC, many of them by you Bigbro, and I sure hope they continue. You and others have offered aspirational (inspirational) models for this. But practical constraints militate against any kind of immersive purism. Space, funds, time, the need to compromise (shared dwelling)... So, it will get toned down. Tiki and exotica will be tastefully referenced, but not dominant. There will be a good deal of more generic decor -- glossy wood wall paneling with bamboo dividers that evokes southeast Asia (for me at least); some generically tropical decor (no parrots!), etc. Anyway, if I share my efforts here, I have to admit I'll feel a bit concerned, even defensive, that it will be perceived as diluted or what have you. Surely that can't be an outcome that anyone here would want, though I think that sometimes that tone is INADVERTANTLY present here on TC. For me this is not at all about "who cares as long as it's fun?". It's more about softening the "ideal, pure" notion with an acknowledgement that intelligent, tasteful efforts that nonetheless fall short of the ideal due to practical constraints are also encouraged and appreciated. I need the ideal in order to fall short of it. Absent the ideal, I wouldn't even know where to start. On a final note, Bigbro, may I selfishly ask that you reconsider reducing your participation here? It's one of the highlights of TC for me, really and truly.

I think there are two planes to this: the practical and the aspirational. I am redoing a basic home in tiki style inspired in large part by your books and innumerable great posts here on TC, many of them by you Bigbro, and I sure hope they continue. You and others have offered aspirational (inspirational) models for this. But practical constraints militate against any kind of immersive purism. Space, funds, time, the need to compromise (shared dwelling)...

So, it will get toned down. Tiki and exotica will be tastefully referenced, but not dominant. There will be a good deal of more generic decor -- glossy wood wall paneling with bamboo dividers that evokes southeast Asia (for me at least); some generically tropical decor (no parrots!), etc.

Anyway, if I share my efforts here, I have to admit I'll feel a bit concerned, even defensive, that it will be perceived as diluted or what have you. Surely that can't be an outcome that anyone here would want, though I think that sometimes that tone is INADVERTANTLY present here on TC.

For me this is not at all about "who cares as long as it's fun?". It's more about softening the "ideal, pure" notion with an acknowledgement that intelligent, tasteful efforts that nonetheless fall short of the ideal due to practical constraints are also encouraged and appreciated.

I need the ideal in order to fall short of it. Absent the ideal, I wouldn't even know where to start.

On a final note, Bigbro, may I selfishly ask that you reconsider reducing your participation here? It's one of the highlights of TC for me, really and truly.

Post #362048 by Thomas on Mon, Feb 18, 2008 9:02 PM