Setting up an Africana themed Office / Man Cave

[NIGHTHAWK]

Yup, just put as much stuff that will fit, then stack it on top of other stuff, and then complain later that you need a bigger space... Then take other stuff down and put up new stuff, then get rid off stuff like TV's and paintings to make room for more stuff to hang on the walls... Also put life size mounts on wheels so you can move them around to make room for other stuff! Then take taxidermy stuff to your vacation house and hang it there, then put mounts and stuff it in guest rooms in your primary house...

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

Or Build a bar and name it Hatari! or Animal Head. Put all your mounts in there. Hang a nice poster of John Wayne above the bar. Bartend on the weekends and tell hunting stories….

Home

AN AMERICAN TRADITION SERVING QUALITY FOOD AND DRINKS SINCE 1933 Welcome to Foster’s Bighorn, a locally owned restaurant and bar where the sportsman is in his element-- surrounded by world class trophies! With a private collection of over 300 specimens from Africa and North America, our...

fostersbighorn.com

 

[Rare Breed]

Yup, just put as much stuff that will fit, then stack it on top of other stuff, and then complain later that you need a bigger space... Then take other stuff down and put up new stuff, then get rid off stuff like TV's and paintings to make room for more stuff to hang on the walls... Also put life size mounts on wheels so you can move them around to make room for other stuff! Then take taxidermy stuff to your vacation house and hang it there, then put mounts and stuff it in guest rooms in your primary house...

Oh I have so done that!!!!!

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

Oh I have so done that!!!!!

Then put skulls in the drawer of your file cabinet and forget about them. Then put skulls in plastic bins/containers, not labeled, stored near the fishing bins and forget about them for years. Or tell your taxidermist to hang on to that one mount after it’s done. Then avoid him for a year. Then when he calls and says come pick this up or I’m selling it, complain that he needs to be more understanding! Then when he tells you it’s a life size Waterbuck and you need to get it, tell him you sold your trailer, but you’ll rent one! Then stick it in your dad’s guest room when he is away for a few days… Then plan on building a Museum barndo that is 75% game room during the most ridiculously inflated construction era! And keep hunting and collecting every species of African PG and try to avoid shooting more of the same kind! Even if they are bigger, wider, different color phase. Then…

 

[JHT]

I have found the following “How To Decorate A Gentleman’s Study” link an excellent resource for do-it-yourselfers or others disinterested in hiring a designer.

How To Decorate A Gentleman's Study

gentleman’s study is his private sanctum sanctorum, a personal refuge hidden away from the prying eyes of the world where he can retire to relax or read in peace and quiet, host social gatherings, conduct business meetings and finish work projects, or jus

www.mreero.com

 

[Red Leg]

Then put skulls in the drawer of your file cabinet and forget about them. Then put skulls in plastic bins/containers, not labeled, stored near the fishing bins and forget about them for years. Or tell your taxidermist to hang on to that one mount after it’s done. Then avoid him for a year. Then when he calls and says come pick this up or I’m selling it, complain that he needs to be more understanding! Then when he tells you it’s a life size Waterbuck and you need to get it, tell him you sold your trailer, but you’ll rent one! Then stick it in your dad’s guest room when he is away for a few days… Then plan on building a Museum barndo that is 75% game room during the most ridiculously inflated construction era! And keep hunting and collecting every species of African PG and try to avoid shooting more of the same kind! Even if they are bigger, wider, different color phase. Then…

+1

Unless planning final retirement as a museum curator, everyone comes to that point. I now bring photography back almost exclusively. The best, friends and dead critters, go on the wall, the remainder into photo journals. The latter, unlike preserved dead fauna, may actually be of some interest to some future descendent.

The finest sable and only Kafue Lechwe that I will ever take at @spike.t 's magnificent Takeri reserve with Andrew Baldry and our own @PeteG .

The photo journals make a great read years after the adventure.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

He did say basement so I'm presuming a low ceiling (relatively anyway). Most shoulder mounts will not have enough space. Euro skulls may work depending on species. I have two kudu skulls and gemsbuck skull in my basement rec room and they are hanging low.

I prefer a general outdoors theme, not specifically African.

 

[spike.t]

Proper a bar with a footrail... ... joe most important item I have seen in any of the photos on this thread...

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

I counted about 50 mounts, not including birds. Embarrassingly random. Just need more space and time…

Truth is, you think you have this:

But, you really have this:

Couch gone to make room for mounts, but stuff is still on the floor!

Random mount in the hallway above the door not centered because the stud isn’t.

Random mounts stored wherever there is space:

Incomplete Springbok slam mount still on jig:

Random Gemsbok stuck on open stud wall:

Crock hide on felt, still rolled up!

Skulls stuffed everywhere:

Gemsbok pedestal drilled into a coffee table because I haven’t decided what pedestal base I want or combination of mounts to do! Been like that for 17 years!!

TV gone to make room for more mounts:

Guest room redecorating:

Piles of birds meant for a strap mount on an old door…

I’m sure the door is somewhere!

Don’t ask where Giraffe is!

And I have 12 more coming from my last trip… a couple life size and 1/2 mounts…

I feel like I just confessed to a crime! Thanks for not judging too harshly. I’ll be retired in a year and get this “stuff” sorted!

 

[Altitude sickness]

It took me too long to realize I was having things mounted and had no room left. I rationalized it by rotating smaller or less quality mounts out to my shop, a friends hunt club, a friends pub, given to relatives.

And I still have a large Mule deer being finished. A whitetail will be relegated to the shop to make room.

It’s now only European mounts or the “Keepsake” app for framed pictures

 

[Franco]

Rugs - definitely rugs. Then skulls, guns, books, and artwork. Of course trophies if you have room - a basement might be tight for some mounts. (I have a half-body rhino arriving next week and am in the process of building a balcony and taking out a couple windows to get it in)

Since "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder", whatever you find interesting. A lot will depend on your sources and space; shields and masks hang nicely on walls and don't protrude too far into a room if you're limited on space. They make excellent accents around mounts if you have room to hang them.

Anything ivory works - with the obvious exception of piano keys and billiard balls.

As you can see from previous responses - more is better seems to be a common theme. I am in the process of stuffing 5 lbs into a 3 lb bag myself.

Good luck, I'll post some pictures of my progress - once i get started.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Rugs - definitely rugs. Then skulls, guns, books, and artwork. Of course trophies if you have room - a basement might be tight for some mounts. (I have a half-body rhino arriving next week and am in the process of building a balcony and taking out a couple windows to get it in)

Since "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder", whatever you find interesting. A lot will depend on your sources and space; shields and masks hang nicely on walls and don't protrude too far into a room if you're limited on space. They make excellent accents around mounts if you have room to hang them.

Anything ivory works - with the obvious exception of piano keys and billiard balls.

As you can see from previous responses - more is better seems to be a common theme. I am in the process of stuffing 5 lbs into a 3 lb bag myself.

Good luck, I'll post some pictures of my progress - once i get started.

@Franco I hope your move to Texas has gone well and look forward to seeing photos of your new build trophy room.

 

[Rare Breed]

It took me too long to realize I was having things mounted and had no room left. I rationalized it by rotating smaller or less quality mounts out to my shop, a friends hunt club, a friends pub, given to relatives.

And I still have a large Mule deer being finished. A whitetail will be relegated to the shop to make room.

It’s now only European mounts or the “Keepsake” app for framed pictures

We have discussed this before…I am starting with 3/4 inch plywood on all four walls then sheetrock so I can hang mounts anywhere without worrying about studs. Probably the most important thing I am doing

 

[Jason Miller]

Love these ideas and pictures, I purchased a small house in Texas to use as an office and wanted to go Colonial British style, like some of the pics in this thread I tracked down dark woods in furnishings, I went with the Hemingway edition furniture but regret it slightly as my house is very small and they furniture is very large.

Campaign furniture or Pottery barn would have probably worked better, I also have all my books on display plus a collection of antique african artifacts I have collected over the years. It makes for a conformable place to work and write.

I host cigar and whiskey nights a few times a year to hunting and explorer club buddies if anyone is close to Temple Texas you are most welcome.

 

[Franco]

@Franco I hope your move to Texas has gone well and look forward to seeing photos of your new build trophy room.

The move and transition have gone wonderfully - thank you. We have made many new friends and look forward to making more.

We had the horse barn converted to a shop, put in a pond, and are starting the trophy room - utilizing some unused rooms upstairs, adding a balcony to handle in ingress/egress of large trophies as well as enjoy the views of the properties and the occasional cigar.

Here's a few pictures of some elephant leg bones I had carved, they should make an interesting accent to the trophy room.

 

[Franco]

Love these ideas and pictures, I purchased a small house in Texas to use as an office and wanted to go Colonial British style, like some of the pics in this thread I tracked down dark woods in furnishings, I went with the Hemingway edition furniture but regret it slightly as my house is very small and they furniture is very large.

Campaign furniture or Pottery barn would have probably worked better, I also have all my books on display plus a collection of antique african artifacts I have collected over the years. It makes for a conformable place to work and write.

I host cigar and whiskey nights a few times a year to hunting and explorer club buddies if anyone is close to Temple Texas you are most welcome.



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Jason,

Very nice. I'm new to Texas and don't know where Temple is, but if you're ever near Bullard - there's plenty of cigars and whiskey available here.

 

[Flipper Dude]

Jason,

Very nice. I'm new to Texas and don't know where Temple is, but if you're ever near Bullard - there's plenty of cigars and whiskey available here.

I was in Bullard yesterday. I shoulda stopped in. And what are you doing up at 4:11 AM?

 

[Franco]

I was in Bullard yesterday. I shoulda stopped in. And what are you doing up at 4:11 AM?

Yes, you should have. You're welcome anytime. PM me and I'll send you the address.

To answer your question honestly - I was doing what every other 70 year male is doing - peeing.

Actually, I've always been an early riser - between 4 and 4:30 AM. I find I can tend to indoor tasks, read and respond to mail and email, pay bills, etc - before it's light enough to work outside.

You're up pretty early yourself.