Sunday, July 8, 2012

Tiki Time: Polynesian Pops at the Tiki Apartments

After spending so much time scanning the horizon for the strange and exciting in this world, I feel like I have been blessed with a divining rod for the wacky tacky.  Sometimes we don't even have to search; led by some greater force, the wacky tacky is simply thrust upon us!  Such was the case this weekend when on a scenic drive through our coastal communities, we stumbled upon the Tiki Apartments in Redondo Beach, CA.


I have never loved apartment living.  There is something a little claustrophobic to me about shared walls, and something a little unnerving about footsteps on the ceiling.  The Tiki Apartments might provide enough Mai Tai magic to cure me of my phobia.


   
Providing a watchful eye over the tenants, these 
tiki gods line the walkway into the complex.

It came at the cost of several pedestrians (who should have known to jump out of the way when they saw us jumping the median), but I'm sure they were more than thrilled to make the sacrifice so we could manage throw the wacky wagon in park and get some pictures of this inspired island of Polynesian pop.  There was so much to love about this place - the outrageous, orange,  "Tiki" script, the lush landscape, the tikis themselves - but one of my favorite parts was the multicolor/metallic/iridescent mosaic tiles that created bold stripes on the facade of the building.

Surrounded by The High Tide, The Sea Gull, The Shore Break and many other ocean-themed apartments, the Tiki, and its sister buildings, prove that a little theming goes a long way in making a generic, mid-Century apartment complex something wonderful, wild, and wacky tacky.

Don't you just want to throw a lei around
 this tiki and get the luau started.

Imagine the parties!!!
I think if I lived here, I couldn't be stopped from throwing one giant, perpetual, Polynesian party!

Having grown up a very short distance from the Ala Moana Apartments, a fantastically tiki-styled building marked by an extreme A-frame entryway, there was no reason for me to be so mesmerized by the south seas theming of these apartments, but the Tiki is just so glittering and glamorous.  Although there were two people silently soaking in the sun poolside, from somewhere, probably drifting in on the ocean breeze, we could hear a hula. 

"Hawaiian Hula" - Ana Lani & Ray Kinney

Did we mention that this place is just a short walk from the beach?  Where's my muumuu, I'm ready to move in!!


Tiki Apartments
389 Palos Verdes Blvd.
Redondo Beach, CA


Cheers & Aloha!

Mr. Tiny

22 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. I am on the fence about themed buildings, but this one is done so well!

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  2. I love that wall and the signage. I couldn't get over the shared walls to live there, but I would surely attend a pool party were I invited. I went to a tiki bar last weekend. They had a dj spinning loungey music and all that. It was pretty keen. I am going to another one the end of the month in SF. They're the only two close.

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    1. I need to make it to the Tonga Room (SF) soon! I don't know if it is really in peril or not, but the word on the street (for the last thousand years) is that it is not long for this world. Let me know how your tiki bar hopping goes!!!

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  3. Replies
    1. Totally awesome!!! I looked up the apartments when we got home and I found out that they are relatively well-known. I had never heard of them and was happy that they found me!

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  4. OMG! The glittering stripes! The orange font! I don't think I could live in an apartment (I grew up on 6 acres in the middle of no where)But if I had to, this would be the one.

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    1. It's the stripes, isn't it? They are so cool!!

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  5. Awesome! My fella is a HUGE Tiki fan! I have to show him these pictures :)

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    1. And not too far away - next time you guys head down to the beach, be sure to check it out!!!

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  6. It looks wonderful, Mr. Tiny! I can imagine your excitement when you first laid eyes on the Tiki Apartments. I feel that way, too, when I see something so retrolicious I can't stand it! Thanks for the pix-I can appreciate from afar...

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    1. Thanks RS!!! I hope the photos bring you some retro aloha!!!

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  7. I wouldn't mind living in an apartment, but my husband certainly wouldn't want to...although I think if it was here, he would be packing his bags as we speak!! It's truely tiki-tastic!!
    x Molly

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    1. Isn't it funny how a few tiki statues and some stripes have us willing to change the way we live? I really think I'm ready for a luau!

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  8. They're fantastic! Only in sunny California, friends, could you find an island of kitsch with such sparkle. I love it!

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    1. Thanks Julie! I don't know, the Oregon/Washington border has some pretty swell stuff - neon signs in particular!

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  9. NO! This place really exists?! How absolutely adorable! I love it! It is endlessly amazing to me that a cute paint job and some awesome statues can transform a place so completely!

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    1. It is entirely for reals!!! Seriously, Southern California is overrun with 50's/60's apartment buildings but few of them put in the time and effort to maintain their cool design features. It just takes some paint, tile, and tikis!

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  10. Featured page 150 of Taschen Icons book: Tiki Style, Sven A. Kirsten

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    1. Thank you for your thoughtful contribution to the discussion, Charlie B.

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  11. I lived in the Tiki unit #1 back in the late 80's. The parties were as crazy as the landlord. The kitchen had the original aqua appliances and the bathroom was tiled in pink and hold with pink sink, tub and toilet. A retro dream!

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    1. HOW COOL!!! I wish I got to see some of those parties. Next time I'm in the area I'm going to see if we can get a tour of one of the unit!! Thanks for stopping by!

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