Just over a year ago, I began one of my most creatively fulfilling projects to date—transforming an unused carriage house in Atlanta into a vibrant guest suite and immersive home tiki bar. My clients wanted something unique, so I leaned into global tiki bar inspiration to create a fully themed retreat. Key design elements included mood lighting, tropical textures, and real bamboo and Tahitian thatching. While the downstairs bar is bold and layered, the upstairs guest suite strikes a calmer note while tying in tones and textures from the main space.

Home Tiki Bar Design

Before & During Renovation

After Renovation

This previously unused, narrow room once held only a poker table from the previous homeowners. Careful spatial planning helped us maximize guest capacity and create a fully functioning wet bar. The space was painted in Sherwin Williams Naval, and a custom island with Tahitian thatching anchors the center of the room. The back wall includes integrated cabinetry with a sink, wine fridge, and refrigerator drawers, while ship-inspired lighting and bamboo paneling reinforce the theme.

Coastal Attic Bedroom Design

Before & During Renovation

After Renovation

In the upstairs guest suite, the space was unfinished before renovating. I had the ceiling raised to accommodate recessed lighting and a bubble glass chandelier above the bed, and added a row of cabinetry to the stair wall with a retro-style mini fridge. The walls are painted Sherwin Williams Alabaster, with Mountain Air on the ceiling – a subtle reference to breezy Southern porches. At the foot of the navy velvet bed, I placed a cream boucle channel-tufted sofa, flanked by a pair of buckled armchairs and a striped ottoman. I also added a powder room to the space, while preserving storage behind the side walls of the room.

It was such a fun challenge to work on this tiki-themed space and coastal bedroom design, and so satisfying to see unused areas become my clients' favorite new place to relax and entertain. From the custom banquette to the rope knot hardware on the cabinetry, every design detail was thoughtfully layered to bring this playful project to life.

xoko