The Sacred Mantuary

There comes a time in every man’s life where he stops thinking about the best place to head on a Friday night when he instead realises that he would far rather stay at home with a glass of whiskey and ponder themes of politics and philosophy over an acclaimed read from Amazon. This momentous occasion in a man’s life usually throws a few key considerations into the fray, that haven’t previously been realised:

• He doesn’t really like whiskey yet… (he will, in good time).
• He doesn’t have Amazon Prime, so he’ll have to wait a few extra days for that captivating read.
• He doesn’t have anywhere where he can actually sit down and relax…he needs a man-cave!

Now I’d like to firstly start by stating that I’m not particularly fond of the term ‘man cave’, though I understand why it came to be. Yes of course we are men, but to suggest that a fine leather interior and a sixty-inch television constitutes as a ‘cave’ is quite frankly, offensive.

In this piece, I will instead opt to use the term ‘mantuary’ (think ‘sanctuary’, but for men – NOT to be confused with the lesser known ‘manctuary’, which is a safe haven for people from Manchester).

I have realised that I am now at that stage, where the thought of a dimly lit nightclub and subsequent kebab evokes apprehension. It really is time that I started planning my mantuary.

It needs:

Leather

From Bond villains to footballers, all men can appreciate the sophistication a subtle leather interior exudes. In fact, I’d go as far as to say that leather interiors are a necessity in any mantuary. There’s nothing more comforting than coming home from a long hard day of work and relaxing back in a leather settee with a classic vinyl record on in the background.

Though with that said, many of us would find the same enjoyment when surrounded by a group of friends in front of a Champion’s League final, or the Olympics. Nothing says comfort to a guest better than leather.

Home Cinema System

Of course, there’s no way you’re enjoying the World Cup, or the latest episode of Game of Thrones without an encompassing surround sound and home cinema system. Years ago, a home cinema system would make a significant financial dent, but nowadays even top of the range models are affordable enough to compliment a modestly sized television – which of course, is another essential ingredient in creating the perfect mantuary.

Better still, if one were to connect to their cinema system with a Chromecast Audio or similar, then the mancave turns from a secluded area for reflection, or the scene of full scale cinema battles into the inner circle of a live music performance. Who needs to spend money on going out to the bars when you can bring the party atmosphere home for friends to enjoy?

To Be Underground

All those nights spent in, instead of out are going to look great on your bank statement at the end of the month, but what will the neighbours think of your midnight television binges? The answer for many, would be to invest a little and soundproof their mantuary. But, we’re talking about designing the dream mantuary here. Let’s dig deep and think outside the box.

In fact, let’s dig deeper and think outside the house (or underneath to be precise). Undeniably, the best place to hide your mantuary from prevent prying eyes and ears is underground. I’ve been watching documentaries and programmes like Grand Designs for years, where they’ll feature a mind-blowing new basement underneath an existing property.

It never ceases to amaze me, just what they can do with the additional space. Nightclubs, home gyms, cinemas, bedrooms and even swimming pools are common place in some of the high-profile developments in Kensington & Chelsea. In fact, there’s a basement company in London that I’ve already scoped out for my dream conversion. I’ll definitely have to work hard to afford one, but in this current property market, it seems people are even making their money back and adding value on top of their property after the conversion is finished.

Artwork

Nothing screams insecurity like a room without artwork. That's because a man without artwork, is a man without taste. Unless minimalism is your taste, in which case…anyway. In my dream mantuary we’ll be featuring classic artwork from even classier artists.

Pieces from Banksy and David Shillinglaw will adorn the walls of my mantuary. Are there any artists you can recommend?

Whiskey

We’ve come full circle. What’s the point in having a luxurious basement mantuary, complete with home cinema system, swimming pool, artwork and leather interior without anyone a nice glass of whiskey to enjoy it with?

The answer is: there is no point.