The purpose of a cabana is to be sumptuously pampered. Imagine an exquisite resort-style cabana getaway —  reserved and available anytime — just for you.

Timber frame ShadeScape® cabana kits are the elite in luxury protective living shelters serving numerous avenues for home, business, and recreational avenues. It is engineered with wood-to-wood connections and a state of the art design called The Dovetail Difference® — creating a shelter that is unsurpassed in strength and durability.  

Girl Relaxing Beneath ShadeScape® Cabana Kit

Around the world, the word "cabana" can mean several things. Cabana is a capital city in Peru, a municipality in Cuba, Honduras and Spain; an ancient lake in South America, and an island off the coast of Portugal. It is also a brand of cigar, fast-food restaurant chain, passenger train, servant, server, prison, museum, as well as a U.S. warship. Cabana is even a surname. Generally, cabanas refer to a secret hideaway, romantic getaway, airy sanctuary, or a cozy kiosk.

Based on its Spanish origins, a Cabana or Cabaña is a cabin, enclosure, hut or shelter traditionally built of wood. Wood is beautiful but it also the best material for bodily comfort. Solid wood has an inherent built-in natural thermostat, warming up in the cold and cooling off in the heat. The larger the dimensional scale of the wood the better it can regulate a thermal equilibrium for the amelioration of temperature.

Interpreting the identity of a cabana — particularly here in the United States — can be as abstruse and as fascinating as our journey through the differences of gazebos and pergolas:

A gazebo can have an open pergola-style roof and yet still be an authentic gazebo.

And if that isn't curious enough

—  a pergola can feature a domed gazebo-like style roof and truly be a genuine pergola.

Discover the beautiful, weird, and unusual purposes as well as the architectural compositions, diversities, and process of construction for luxury timber cabanas.

ShadeScape® Cabana Kit #CabanaOutdoorLiving #DIYCabanaKit

Cabanas are the ideal for traveling on an ocean liner, enjoying a beach, a swimming pool, lake, or ponds. These open-fronted huts or cubicles can be a temporary or permanent free standing shade structures. The walls are fixed or changeable, partitioned roll-up curtains, drapes, hinged or folding screens.

#ShadeScapeCabana #OutdoorKitchenCabana #DIYCabanaKit

Although, cabanas are most often used for recreational purposes, here are a few of the many ways in which homeowners, businesses, travelers, and vacationers enjoy the sanctuary experience of a cabana and cabana living.

#DIYCabanaKit #CabanaChristmasShop ShadeScape® Cabana Kits

Cabanas (also sometimes referred to as kiosks) are a fun way to shop for souvenirs and such. Listed are a small representation of kinds of stuff sold or rented from Cabana shops:

The first thing that comes to mind with a cabana is a recreational module for relaxation. There is a generational shift in the future of earning a living as many work environments are moved outdoors.  Companies utilizing outdoor space to work in —and/or take a break in— are seeing an increase in employee happiness, productivity, health, and innovation. Cabana modules with amenities and accommodations are a wonderful way to mix business and fitness.

Anything from a remotely operated louvered roof to wiring for embedded lighting, fans, misting systems, WIFI, monitors and so much more, a cabana work module can be equipped for your dream job.

#OutdoorKitchenCabana   ShadeScape® DIY Cabana Kit

The capacity of a standard ocean liner is around 3,000 guests. Larger river cruise ships carry an average of 150 guests. Many cruise liners have turned to cabanas with attentive service to give their guests personal space and help them feel like a VIP. Luxuries might include, minibars, massage tables, sectional sofas, chilled towels, games, Wi-Fi, iPad with music, and most of all: privacy.

For some ocean liners, the spaces are exclusive so they have to be booked early, in advance but many passengers feel it is way worth the splurge. On other liners, cabanas are complimentary, exclusive to guests —available as first-come, first-served.

There are cruise ships that stop at private islands where you can book a beachfront cabana ahead of time. The accommodations vary but some amenities might include such perks air-conditioning, ceiling fan, refrigerator, table, chairs, water, drinks, snacks, and a misting shower on a private deck. With some packages, a dedicated server is close at hand to take orders for food and drinks.

You can also rent or book an island cabana without being a guest on a cruise ship.

ShadeScape® Bath-House - Pool House Cabana Kit    #DIYCabanaKit

Pool house cabanas work well to store things such as pump/ filters, piping, pool toys, shop vac, pool chemicals, extra bags of salt, and anything else pool related. Cabinets, furniture, potty, sink, towel racks, changing benches, hoses, and more. Putting a commode in the cabana reduces inside traffic significantly. Adding other amenities such as an outdoor kitchen, bar, a big screen TV to view the games from the kitchen or anywhere from the pool.

A beach hut is usually a wooden beach shelter that sits just above high tide. They are most often used as a windbreak and shade covering, changing in and out of swimwear, and storing personal belongings. Some beach huts are equipped with electricity and are a place to prepare food and other necessities.

A daybed cabana is a perfect way to enjoy the sun rays in your personal resort retreat without the cannonball rowdy swimmers. Most of our cabanas with daybeds have been installed for backyard residential settings.

Poolside cabanas are the perfect way to dive into an unforgettable vacation experience. Cabanas are the standard for luxurious relaxation by the pool especially when the shaded-oasis comes complete with electronics and refreshments. Some of the amenities that are offered might include chaise chairs, sofas, a complimentary basket with sunglasses, fresh fruit, drinks, and towels. At some resorts, you can order food from a menu or and schedule private poolside spa treatments.

Some hotels have poolside cabanas equipped with a safe for personal belongings, television, refrigerator, scented towels, sunglasses, fruit, snacks, cooled drinks. Ever so often a cabana boy will offer services such as a magazine, cocktail tasting, or sunglass cleaning. For families with children, some amenities are extra helpful such as sofa seating, daybeds, ceiling fans, food and beverage service, television with cable programming, and free tube rentals.

#OutdoorFireplace  #OutdoorKitchenCabana #DIYCabanaKit

Ships, hotels, and beachside resorts use cabanas as a casual bar. Some offer full-service menus. An example would be food items such as sandwiches, seafood, and salad. In colder seasonal regions some cabana bars also feature heaters and are open year-round.

Cabanas restaurant dining is the best. It can be formal or in a laid-back atmosphere. There you can enjoy a full menu with refreshing cocktails and in some —live entertainment.

Commercial kitchen cabanas can have cookware, a microwave, ice and coffee maker, fridge, toaster, oven, and dishwasher —also complimentary items furnished such as trash bags, paper towels, and detergent. 

In the age of sail, sailing ships signed on "cabana boys" to be regular members of a sailing crew. In most cases, cabana boys were teenagers but an adult man or woman sometimes signed on to serve as cabana boys. A cabana boy was just a title also known as ship boys, cabin boys, powder monkeys, and midshipmen. A position onboard meant the opportunity to travel, with meals to eat and a place to sleep.

Some of the duties of a cabana boy were helping the cook, delivering meals, running errands, carrying messages, helping the crew to stow sails, watching at the helm, and cleaning.

Today, a cabana boy is all part of the VIP welcoming experience —a dedicated personal concierge who serves guests from a nearby cabana for a hotel, private estate or ocean liner. Cabana boys help fetch drinks, snacks, and towels and often at luxury vacation spots, a cabana can be assigned to an individual guest or party of guests.

Somewhat like a hotel, beach and lakeside resorts advertise self-catering cabanas. In other words, there are no "cabana boys" to run errands at your beckoning. Instead, the cabana is supplied with complimentary items. A few possible examples would be things such as magazines, towels, sunglasses, fruit, snacks, drinks, and chilled bottled water. The cabana might also be supplied with chaise loungers, a lockable storage box, mini-fridge, etc. —most everything you may need to make your stay comfortable— but you self serve yourself. If you prefer a more secluded experience, a self-catering cabana may be the way to vacation.

Whether you are self-catering or being waited upon —traveling or at home— cabanas are at the pinnacle of being pampered just the way you want it. Cabanas can be as open or as enclosed as you like it.

Back in the day, cabanas were built with grass or thatched-style roofs and were typically located near a natural body of water. Very often they were open on one or more sides to allow the inhabitants to enjoy the coastal or lakeside breezes.

The roof is what most often characterizes what type a shade shelter is. Unlike other shade shelters, cabanas are defined more by how and where it is used than by its style of roof.

A cabana can be a composition of several outdoor shade shelters styles. The distinct characteristics or visual expressions of a cabana are at times less distinguishable when integrated with other types of structures. Some beachside cabanas have attached covered decks and extended sheltering. Hardscape cabanas can be as simple as a box to as grand as a beachside cottage/house.

This is a gazebo integrated with a pavilion. Connie, the owner of this ShadeScape® structure affectionately calls it her "gavilion." She plans on installing a pool by it. With a pool, this structure could technically be classed as a cabana.

It is exciting to see the beautiful new ideas built with timber in old-world craftsmanship that continue to be imagined and built. But even without integrating shelter types, attaching or installing free-standing edifices together creates some beautiful outdoor living spaces.

Back in the day, cabanas were built with grass or thatched-style roofs and were typically located near a natural body of water. Very often they were open on one or more sides to allow the inhabitants to enjoy the coastal or lakeside breezes.

Island Tuscany Style ShadeScape® Cabana Kit

Cabana comes from the Spanish cabaña, with its Late Latin root capana, meaning dwelling, hut or cabin. Primarily it referred to an "indigenous hut" but is now considered more of a "recreational structure".

We usually think of buildings as a solid, stable structure; not a moving object. However, we actually live in a fluid environment. The earth is seismically moving in waves up and down as well as side-to-side in an ongoing micromotion. On top of that, wind loads add another factor to the moving force.

ShadeScape® kits are not just about refashioning for a new look but as a whole new way of living life every day. What is different about these kits is that it is not a pre-made one size fits all kit. They are only a kit in the sense that they come to your door ready to assemble. Every piece is cut and built to match homeowners' requirements for a perfect fit in their backyard. Doing a redo such as a deck and a pergola kit featured here today is a simple process that can be done in person, over a phone or via email. After the kit is delivered, hassle-free, right to the front door.

A backyard cabana can extend your outdoor living time, creating an inviting area to gather year-round with family and friends.

#DIYGazebo #DIYPergola #HowToBuildGazebo #HowToBuildPergola #DifferenceBetweenPergolaAndGazebo