Banana Cabana

This post is about how this cabana came to be. To see more pictures of it, click here, and to see more of the yard it is in, click here.

Can a cabana change your life?

Well, maybe not really, but this cabana has had a big impact on our lives. We added this in 2020 and moved straight in to full time residency.

In our initial plans for the yard, I had intended to put a small hammock chair in the east corner, with a structure that would hold towels etc. That didn’t happen, and we ended up putting up an old metal gazebo we had from Costco, and using that for several years but we wanted a more permanent structure. We had no idea how much time we would end up spending in the cabana, as a family, and as a friend hang out.

Placement

Figuring out exactly where we wanted to place the Cabana was key, and what shape it would be. I bought a queen sized bed and metal frame that I continuously moved around the yard looking for the perfect view, and let’s be honest, to cover our neighbors boat house. Below are some befores of how the yard originally started, and how it looked before the cabana went in.

Contractors came in to pour the cement footings and put the structure together. The final shape ended up filling in the space perfectly. We added a “headboard” and my husband and I painted the wood black and added slats against the back wall. This not only created a cozy space, but again, covered up our neighbors boathouse.

Once the structure was in place, I could see better how to design the bench seating around. A small drink ledge was added, and storage benches wide enough to hold a cooler, were added to each side. These benches have since become a gathering place in the summer. A custom waterproof Sunbrella cover keeps the mattress dry year round.

Lighting

When our yard was redone, I had asked the contractors to run the low voltage wires a little further in cases we wanted to add more lighting later - and it turned out we had just enough wire to wire up these pendants. They turn on each night with our other outdoor lighting and provide the perfect glow. The lights themselves were purchased from eBay (link is to same lights). Two of the shades were from Cost Plus World Market 1, 2 . I sprayed them both with a clear protective coating, and the third was a wire target lantern I took apart to make work.

Making shade

Since the structure is so tall, we added roll down shades to the south and west sides to get the exact level of sun or shade needed depending on the day and time of year. Curtains also provide full shade when wanted. Because this house is south facing, the sun pattern is perfect for maximum sun. Since the nearest trees to shade us are across the lake, the cabana sits in a golden sunlight glow until Eight O’clock at night on summer nights. There are few better places to get a respite from the summer sun, or curl up with a blanket in a fall drizzle than this dreamy cabana.

pillow, lumbar pillow