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How to design a non-tacky man cave

Clients’ antiques, paintings, and books inspired the lodge-library look in this Vermont design project.

MATTHEW NIEMANN/Matthew Niemann aberdeenstudios.
MATTHEW NIEMANN/Matthew Niemann aberdeenstudios.

Two men and their two dogs needed peace and tranquillity away from the frenzied pace of daily life in Manhattan. A three-bedroom home they bought in Vermont is the perfect weekend chill-out spot. They spend much of their time relaxing and entertaining in the “lodge-library,” complete with a custom pool table, fireplace, mounds of books, and leather swivel chairs. Surprisingly, this sophisticated yet cozy space was once a ladies hair salon, circa 1990, with track lighting, laminate floors, and a shampoo sink. “My goal was to create a warm and welcoming man cave that exudes masculine appeal as soon as you walk into the room,” says Vermont-based interior designer Holly Hickey Moore, hired to revamp the space. She drew inspiration from her clients’ antiques, paintings, and books, creating the atmosphere of an inviting lodge that suggests enveloping cigar smoke and the layering and texture of winter clothes.

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1. The walls are painted Sherwin-Williams Cyberspace. The dark color “immediately creates a mood when you walk into the space,” says Moore.

2. The custom shades are of Ralph Lauren for Kravet fabric in Brookhill Plaid, which has the feel of classic menswear, says Moore.

3. A fireplace was a must for her clients, and Moore found a gas model that fit the spot perfectly. She had the surround painted Cyberspace, like the walls, but in a glossier satin finish.

4. The leather swivel chairs are from Restoration Hardware. “I like using swivel chairs in rooms that clients entertain in because they are great for conversing,” says Moore.

5. “In a room with a lot of hard elements such as built-ins and wood floors and ceilings, I like to add a nice mix of soft goods, including window coverings, rugs, and textiles,” says Moore. They also help with sound absorption, she says.

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6. Moore had the Pergo flooring replaced with smoked and hand-stained engineered wood floors by Bella Cera. “Engineered floors are more stable than solid wood floors,” she says. “We chose oak, a hardwood, to withstand the scratching of dog claws.”

7. She had custom wood paneling and beams added to the ceiling to give the room a feeling of depth and a cozier, more closed-in ambience.

8. “We could not use typical canned lights because there wasn’t much open space above the ceiling, so we used flush-mounted LED lights that look like recessed lighting,” Moore says. The choice is energy-efficient, too.

9. The bookcases by Four Hands provide much-needed storage for the clients’ collection. “We made the bookcases look more built-in by removing the base behind them and securing them to the wall,” says Moore.

10. The pool table was another must for Moore’s clients, and she planned other elements around it. “We needed to keep the depth of the requested fireplace and shelving in check to assist with the flow around the pool table.” A tan felt top gives the piece distinction.