Dan's Papers - June 22, 2007 - A Player's Paradise

Think about 1920s flapper glamour, and then picture renovating that parlor you've been longing to revamp since you moved in. Dark, rich wood paneling on floors is a must. Vintage wood is often overlooked and shoppers go straight for the new, white wood, but the nice stuff is often from that ratty barn on the back of your neighbors' property. If you can combine any of these old pieces of wood with your freshly wallpapered and finished room, you will achieve a great vintage-meets-modern look, and you'll be able to channel that 20's glamour so sought after.

If you can't access vintage oak or maple (a great choice for its deep hue - after finishing), try a dark red wallpaper, or check out Lucy Rose Design (lucyrosedesign.com 773 278 2282). Lucy offers an exclusive line of fine interiors imported from England. Her collection features oriental inspired designs from Celia Birtwell, muse of David Hockney and partner of Ossie Clark who dressed the Beatles, Rolling Stones, and Twiggy, among other novel designers.

Keep flooring dark and simple. Hard wood floors are always my pick, but if you're renovating the basement, and all you've got to work with is cement, a lush carpet will be just fine. Try a thin, oriental rug, or go for a deep hue. Avoid light color; that brandy spill won't be complementary.

Now for the fun stuff. Imagine never needing to leave you're house for entertainment, With billiards, darts, and chess all right in your salon, you won't want to. The best games for two, or just a few, are Othello, Scrabble, Mancala, and Lost Cities. I'm sure you've heard of the first three games, but Lost Cities is a great addition for couples. With nothing to set up, it's a great after dinner game. Plus, the longer you play, the more strategies emerge. Here's how to play: you score points by playing as many cards as you can in each suit, laying them down in ascending order. You can skip some cards as you go, but you won't be able to play the skipped cards later if you draw them, so you must balance the benefits of waiting to accumulate the best cards against the need to get your cards down before the game ends. Great games for small groups and children are twister, Clue (a classic and a must have), and Uno. The coolest party games are those funny word/charade games. Cranium, Apples to Apples, Scene it? And Ticket to Ride are all great games to keep on hand.

To keep your salon looking chic, pick up a great antique chest or cabinet and stash these games when you're not using them. Keep a chess set on display, however, for this intellectual thriller is aesthetically pleasing in its own right. An antique set is ideal, but if you can't find one, go for a marble set available from QualityChessImports.com.

A grand billiards table should be your centerpiece. Now if you can find a solid wood, antique table, the room will be greatly enhanced. There are wonderful options from auction houses such as Sotheby's and Christie's, but the frequency of such a novelty item appearing on the market is unpredictable, so e-bay is a great site to peruse if you're not having luck with the other auctioneers. You can also purchase a modest, new table, but the likelihood of a brand new piece imitating a vintage style being a successful piece of furniture is not high - imitation antiques, we all know, are offensive.

Now for the finishing touches. A leather sofa and ottoman will provide an intimate and comfortable setting to play one of those games you have, and a glass or wooden coffee table is a great idea! A neat idea for a coffee table is to take your children's drawings, letters, and photographs and frame them underneath a glass counter-top.

Enjoy your refurbished salon - a rainy day won't be drab anymore in a dreamworld of classic elegance and fine entertaining for you and the children!