Over the years, many of my clients have expressed a desire to add a pool table to their recreation room.  Pool (or pocket billiards) is a game with a long history, and it has become quite popular as a family activity or to play with guests.  When one thinks of  pool table design, one generally thinks of a traditional style table, many of which are very beautiful.  Yet, when installing a table in a more contemporary setting, it is more challenging to find a pool table that blends well with this aesthetic.   A great source that I recently came across is Mitchell Custom Tables.   They fabricate many contemporary styles and will customize a table as well.   Their tables are available in your choice of woods and stains as well as faux finish metals and lacquers.    They are available in three different sizes (pub size, professional and tournament) so they will fit in almost any space.  Not only will these tables provide hours of fun and enjoyment,  but they certainly will make a major design statement in a room.   

Do these make you want to redesign your rec room?  Pool anyone?  Here are just a couple of the many styles available:   

There are few design decisions as personal as selecting a bed, a mattress and bedding.  There are so many options available for creating a bed that is comfortable, fits your lifestyle and also projects your design aesthetic.   In terms of how one prefers their bed to look when it is “made”, I find that people generally fall into two categories:  minimalists and those who think that “more is more”.

Minimalists don’t want to bother with fussy bedding and extras.  A simple coverlet or duvet, high quality sheets and sleeping pillows are adequate.  In some cases,  simple pillow shams with a large bolster pillow are the perfect accents for this clean lined bed.  This minimalism can be luxurious as long as the each piece is selected with care.

On the other hand, some people just don’t think  a bed is complete without layers of bedding and pillows.  For this group, a bed isn’t cozy without several pillows and shams to prop up against or layers of  blankets, duvets and bedspreads to add or subtract depending on the season. Decorative pillows, in various sizes, shapes and fabrics are a must.  The people in this group don’t mind removing and stacking decorative pillows when it is time for bed or reorganizing them on the bed in the morning – it’s a pleasure.

What is your bedding style?  In my younger days, I had a bed with loads of decorative pillows, pillow shams and such.  But these days, I’m definitely a minimalist.  My own serene, simple and clean lined bedroom retreat is pictured here.

The Gropius House is an incredible architectural gem located close by in Lincoln, Massachusetts. Built in 1938, it was the family home of Walter Gropius, the founder of the Bauhaus design school. He is considered one of the most influential architects of the twentieth century. The home was designed upon the Bauhaus philosophy that every aspect of the home’s design, its furnishings as well as the landscape, was planned for simplicity and efficiency.

The home used traditional New England building materials such as wood, brick and fieldstone in innovative ways. It also incorporated the latest in modern materials not normally used for residential structures.  The result was a home that was revolutionary in its modern outlook but also rooted in New England’s past.

The Gropius House is now a national landmark and is maintained by Historic New England.  Tours of the property are conducted year round. The tour provides an excellent introduction to Bauhaus design and the interesting lives of Walter Gropius and his family.

Here are the admission details from the Historic New England website.  (I also recommend a visit to the DeCordova Museum when you are in Lincoln.  In addition to the wonderful museum,  the sculpture park is lovely and is a great place to enjoy a summer picnic.)

Gropius House Tour Information
Wednesday – Sunday, June 1 - October 15
Saturday and Sunday, October 16 - May 31
11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Tours on the hour. Last tour at 4:00 p.m.
Closed most major holidays.

Admission
$10 adults
$9 seniors
$5 students
Free for Historic New England members and Lincoln residents

Location
Gropius House
68 Baker Bridge Road
Lincoln, Mass. 01773

New England Home magazine’s website has a great article on the Gropius House.  Click here to view the article.

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