THE "REC ROOM" PHILOSOPHY

A party to attend on Thursday; advocating Plaid; the principles of Furniture Mélange and Camouflage Of Sins; three options for REC ROOM décor

TODAY’s AGENDA:

THE REC ROOM, (1) … in history, (2) … in theory, (3) … in plaids, (4)… in objects

PLUS, a social event this THURSDAY in Los Angeles

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Dear Snoops,

We have been inspired to write about THE REC ROOM, a truly American domestic phenomenon, that has been all but lost for a few society-shaking reasons. And, we’d like to see it’s return, somehow, in some form – and we’re here to offer suggestions.

The reason we are writing about THE REC ROOM now (incl. a party to attend):

FOR SCALE Column Correspondent, Jake Rodehuth-Harrison of HUBBA HUBBA, is not only about Columns. He’s also a keen theoretician of PLAIDS. And that field of study forms the core of the inaugural exhibition of his downtown Los Angeles showroom, which is in fact an examination of the REC ROOM. BTW: here is the opening party invite. It’s Thursday.

New to the REC ROOM? They use to look like this:

A typical rec room of the 1970s including signature furniture arrangement: “COMPLETELY AGAINST THE WALLS”

Though each of us might not have the space to commit to a room of such secondary use as the REC ROOM, there are some core principles about its décor that we feel are absolutely of value for one and all.

We’ll get to that after a brief historical sidebar:

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Defining THE REC ROOM is to summarize a socio-cultural history of the domestic space:

“REC ROOM” is, of course, a colloquial abbreviation of “RECREATION ROOM”. They have always been INFORMAL SPACES FOR AT-HOME LEISURE. But, what THAT means has truly evolved over time, and are totally and utterly AT RISK. Here is a brief history that leads up to what is today’s REC ROOM MASS EXTINCTION (effectively):

EARLY 1900s: AN IDEA EMERGES → The REC ROOM was for the 1% of the time, and it was billiard tables and such. (Today, that’s almost tacky; though done well here care of MAX RADFORD)

An example of an early 20th-century-style “REC ROOM”.

POST WW2: BASEMENT PROLIFERATION → As part of a suburban housing boom, Americans are also introduced en masse to the ‘FINISHED’ BASEMENT. This is the birth REC ROOM as we care about it: the room where things kind of end up, that is hidden from visitors unless they are or will be drunk.

NOTE: the extreme range of colors and materials. This introduced into modern décor the “ANYTHING GOES” aspect of the rec room. We’ll explore that as a liberating force shortly.

1960s: WHERE TO PUT THE F*CKING TELEVISION? → The television becomes incredibly popular. Its placement is a perennial question, and the answer was often the REC ROOM. It was a natural home to televisions thanks to its use as "EVERYTHING ROOM”, and this immediately linked the rec rooms to a national infrastructure of CULTURAL SIMULTANEITY (the likes of which doesn’t really exist anymore)

1970s, 1980s: STYLISTIC DEVELOPMENT → Its use as the home’s “most disorderly room” was mirrored by equally chaotic décor: wood panelling on walls and shag carpet (also sometimes on walls) as examples

The some of THE BRADY BUNCH lounging in a rec room. One of few important mass culture rooms to have be introduced to us by ABC.

The basement of WAYNE’S WORLD (1993) evolved, of course, from a skit originating in 1987. (Via NBC, which was a major room-maker: i.e. Frasier’s apartment)

1990s and beyond: TECHNOLOGICAL COUP, SOCIAL STRATIFICATION → The great loss of the REC ROOM begins:

1. The REC ROOM is formalized through the fancy-fication of technology: the hyper-expensive gaming console, the absolutely huge HDTV, etc. It seemed silly for people to put $4K televisions in a room of junk (even though it’s actually VERY APPROPRIATE). But = is it really the REC ROOM we admire anymore? Absolutely f*cking not. The basement rec room because shrine to technology, and Suburban-ified “clean” aesthetics

2. WHO can afford a house with ‘spare’ rooms or a full basement that hasn’t been converted into a rental “unit”? In fact, you might live in what COULD BE someone else’s REC ROOM but is now your apartment.

The results of (1) are truly horrendous:

This is NOT a “REC ROOM”, it is a room décor’ed around a “HOME ENTERTAINMENT CENTER”. Built-ins to fit a TV that will last you probably until the next BLACK FRIDAY is a fool’s move.

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THE “REC ROOM” AS IT SHOULD BE

The REC ROOM can be, must be, utterly liberating. It must be a place where any and all décor pretensions and social expectations are set aside; it must provide for any number of uses, and ergo its arrangement must be totally fluid; it must accept spills and dirt with aplomb.

PRINCIPLES:

1. PRIVACY
   Part of the vapidity of the HOME ENTERTAINMENT CENTER is how designed it is for company. The Rec Room mustn’t be thought of as public. N.B. this is NOT a “man cave”, it is just a cave.
   WHY? Décor is an outward projecting of our psychological state, and we believe strongly that it should, therefore, also contain mess. (See the library for “PSYCHO-DECORATING” or “HOME-PSYCH”)

2. THE CONCEPT OF “FURNITURE MÉLANGE”
   It is unconscionable that a rec room be too put together. It should be a repository for (mainly) discordant, hand-me-down furnishings.
   WHY? The ‘furniture mélange’ creates a unique “REC ROOM MOODINESS” that unleashes a sense of acceptance, comfort, and infinite possibility. When everything belongs, everybody can belong. We stand by the rec room as THE ONLY truly democratic domestic form.

3. “MIGHT HAVE BEEN FREE”
   Top tier REC ROOM furniture looks as if you probably got it for free. No further explanation needed.

4. THE CONCEPT OF "CAMOUFLAGE OF SINS”
   Certain aesthetic elements are key to accommodate total chaos, which include aforementioned wood panelling and shag carpet (which can hide quite major debris; must be WALL-TO-WALL). Others include: Already Ruined Furniture; Cushions that can be flipped over (ALSO IMPORTANT FOR FORT-MAKING); Plaids

And, it is on that very last aesthetic note that we shall continue our investigation:

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THE CRITICALITY OF PLAIDS

Plaids are the REC ROOM’s most important fabric. They are not only a METAPHOR for the Furniture Mélange, but they also functionally provide for the Camouflage of Sins.

PLAIDS are in focus at the HUBBA HUBBA / JAKE RODEHUTH-HARRISON thingy this week. Jake apparently has a big plaid surprise planned, but what we DO know is that many anonymous sofas have been recovered (in all senses) and are now PLAID. Here are some examples from what you’ll see Thursday:

FOR SCALE super pal Jake finds a very sensible middle ground between his INTERIOR DESIGNER tendency to a fully-polished environment and the mania of Several Plaids At Once.

If you’re unwilling to commit to the “fully disheveled basement” décor, may we suggest PLAID CLASH on “MUST FEEL COLLECTED” furnishings as Jake does beautifully here.

ALTERNATE UPHOLSTERY SUGGESTION BY JAKE: Denim.

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NO BASEMENT? THREE OBJECTS TO HELP INTRODUCE “REC ROOM” INTO YOUR DOMESTIC LANDSCAPE:

Ok, so of course we’re not asking you to move somewhere with a basement, if you don’t already have one. We’re asking you to integrate some of the spirit/principles of THE REC ROOM into your existing décor. Some thoughts on how:

1. GAMES TABLE

This one - by JOE COLOMBO for Zanotta, 1968 - has secret little ashtrays, which we would of course just use for snacks (as an alt. to smoking, which is highly deadly).

It is impossible to successfully “DECORATE” a games table, It can’t really work with “vase of flowers”, which is a key to its REC ROOM aura.

This one is for sale by CHICAGO’s exceptional “CAREFULLY PICKED”. (Trigger warning: RARE “GIF” USE!)

2. BED THAT IS ITS OWN UNIVERSE

This is the ZATTERA BED, circa 1970. It’s essentially a REC ROOM IN ONE OBJECT, in which its accessories kind of neutralize it as “bed” and make it to “ENTIRE HOUSE, IF YOU WANT”.

Meaning: it has the use-neutrality and un-preciousness of the REC ROOM. It doesn’t care what you use it for.

It includes: 3x table lamps, 2x stuffed pull-out bolsters, dressing table with mirror, pouf, television set board, 2x switch boards with 3x buttons each, bottle compartment (FUN!), nets (?!), and of course a mattress.

We were introduced to this bed by another FOR SCALE Super Pal, GEOFF SNACK, who is in possession, in fact, of an old brochure of this bed. (And is selling said brochure, we believe.)

3. FULL BODY CUSHION (THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR)

We love SUAY, which is a shop in LOS ANGELES that has a lot of incredible dyed fabrics made into various things for home and wardrobe. ASIDE: they regularly do these “community dye baths” where you can include your Whatever You Want in their dyeing (or maybe they are special dyeings?)

ANYWAY, they have this very large pseudo-mattress, mini-futon-adjacent pillow that is also a very simple piece of almost-furniture that is perhaps today’s “BEAN BAG”.

Excellent for “undetermined types of lounging”.

N.B. that it also comes in some very forgiving fabrics, such as that above, which also means it can endure the wear of REC ROOM-style living.

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Okay, well, as ever we feel like we have about 80 more things to say but no more time. So, we’ll sign off now, and hopefully SEE YOU ON THURSDAY at Jake’s.

Love and good luck,