In the Billiard Room

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I was growing up, I used to play the murder mystery board game <em>Clue</em>. My family had an old 1950s version of the game that looked like this copy I found on eBay.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotRb9z9_fIbA6pdtzQwO7RzJoNUrUm5_p-OibJgTWqi-MyorNiObdppEBl3R3Igp9TjLgTZ0jm-pKsJ7klaCcGA0GEGXxaPC-wN7_ihxafIyngNtea8Ji2Qpblq6blxnql-DxqNGZw4U/s1600/il_570xN.312277284%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotRb9z9_fIbA6pdtzQwO7RzJoNUrUm5_p-OibJgTWqi-MyorNiObdppEBl3R3Igp9TjLgTZ0jm-pKsJ7klaCcGA0GEGXxaPC-wN7_ihxafIyngNtea8Ji2Qpblq6blxnql-DxqNGZw4U/s400/il_570xN.312277284%5B1%5D.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The game is set in a large country home. Players must determine the room in which the murder was committed (library, kitchen, conservatory, etc.), the weapon that was used (rope, lead pipe, revolver, etc.), and the character (Miss Scarlet, Colonel Mustard, Professor Plum, Mrs. Peacock, etc.) who committed the crime. <em>Clue</em> is perfect for fans of Agatha Christie novels, which I read in abundance when I was younger. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the rooms in the <em>Clue</em> manor is the billiard room. I imagined this space to be dark with wood-paneled walls, leather furniture, the smell of a pipe. The perfect place for mystery. Like the billiard room in <span id="goog_150440206"></span><a href="http://www.wrothampark.com/" target="_blank">Wrotham Park<span id="goog_150440207"></span></a>, the English manor where some scenes from the movie <em>Gosford Park</em> were filmed. The billiard rooms I have seen recently in decorating magazines are not exactly like the one I envisioned long ago. Some are rather beachy and most are full of light. Take a look . . . <em> </em></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaI9SYd7izAnDVVb4SNDDSJFJosjyKsFsxIzpRoxHglWXgvbfKmZ-lwRFmgXq2vCzN6OpdyyebsFztbhCgJx-uP-RtXPH_RvWFhahP1PXCHv-X4V4kwXxx7DN2G9kn0yt5TXGv9VcPydE/s1600/15-craftsmanship-familyroom-1107_xlg%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaI9SYd7izAnDVVb4SNDDSJFJosjyKsFsxIzpRoxHglWXgvbfKmZ-lwRFmgXq2vCzN6OpdyyebsFztbhCgJx-uP-RtXPH_RvWFhahP1PXCHv-X4V4kwXxx7DN2G9kn0yt5TXGv9VcPydE/s640/15-craftsmanship-familyroom-1107_xlg%5B1%5D.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A new house in Bedford, New York. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial;">Interior design by Jeffrey Bilhuber.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial;">Photography by Don Freeman.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial;">House Beautiful.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9cwmTU8mOj99fsexEm6rW6fboT-BFTYPLUG3390Pus-nQPqebpIMgvq-ZrbJbDoL6Pb0Lildm8AafGLT1CvSi3HVQQfluPTLzjJEQCpg-7XGVLLJ0mBzvFyDm855RkcNkxYx8TGGgB74/s1600/BlogBilliardRoomADSept2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9cwmTU8mOj99fsexEm6rW6fboT-BFTYPLUG3390Pus-nQPqebpIMgvq-ZrbJbDoL6Pb0Lildm8AafGLT1CvSi3HVQQfluPTLzjJEQCpg-7XGVLLJ0mBzvFyDm855RkcNkxYx8TGGgB74/s640/BlogBilliardRoomADSept2011.jpg" width="498" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Calabasas, California vacation home of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The pool room's alder-wood billiard table with nail-head detailing  was designed by Lance and fabricated by Blatt Billiards."</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Architect: Stephen Samuelson.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Roger Davies.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Architectural Digest (September 2011).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUSISJGJdxop-nj4P4ux6dMrLT7S9LGYsq5AZi3Vhi-LrajvefIQR70AlKRtK_yuiAcglAQ2n9jNvXdmLQd1KIYIut7wrUR5JTMJkAdjDAej8gLQb-55lcZfpFGx1QAiqXRe96UITQdfA/s1600/courteney-extra-wm-04-lgn%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUSISJGJdxop-nj4P4ux6dMrLT7S9LGYsq5AZi3Vhi-LrajvefIQR70AlKRtK_yuiAcglAQ2n9jNvXdmLQd1KIYIut7wrUR5JTMJkAdjDAej8gLQb-55lcZfpFGx1QAiqXRe96UITQdfA/s640/courteney-extra-wm-04-lgn%5B1%5D.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Custom made pool table in home of actress Courteney Cox.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial;">Flagstone floor. Painting by Arsen Roje.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial;">Chairs from Blackman Cruz.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial;">Light fixture by Hivemindesign.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Elle Decor.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQ8UltNIqtEC1Cdkx4FG-m-AXcPXIOTeoVZNBCwJQ0KTsHMNM4JpYry6H3wyrFh3q_uLk7o_RuAyJjKNxmIP6_oZdf48xlzSb0_YFLurOPygSpSVUhEKy9Iw8RWFgO6B431nrBmlixpU/s1600/item3.rendition.slideshowHorizontal.steven-volpe-lewis-butler-04-lounge%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQ8UltNIqtEC1Cdkx4FG-m-AXcPXIOTeoVZNBCwJQ0KTsHMNM4JpYry6H3wyrFh3q_uLk7o_RuAyJjKNxmIP6_oZdf48xlzSb0_YFLurOPygSpSVUhEKy9Iw8RWFgO6B431nrBmlixpU/s640/item3.rendition.slideshowHorizontal.steven-volpe-lewis-butler-04-lounge%5B1%5D.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A restored circa-1915 pool table from Blatt Billiards.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also, a pair of 1940s French chairs by Marc du Plantier, a black marble mantel by Axel Vervoordt and twin '50s floor lamps by Gino Sarfatti.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Interior design by Steven Volpe.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Renovations by architect Lewis Butler, Butler Armsden Architects.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Photography by Pieter Estersohn.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Architectural Digest (November 2011).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMIfMlP-cvscoz2eVPOYpV1bCUjxw4H0tKVQ19V5OMpLUk5eKlpWHX7lWy_EjgtF4vYQ4NJf-ISLmOEKGTtO6teDYiESzwL13BTDZIRYD86mcwNk0zVzbOmD076PDGnLeuUvBDJAvaznM/s1600/item3.rendition.slideshowWideHorizontal.frank-greenwald-03-family-room%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMIfMlP-cvscoz2eVPOYpV1bCUjxw4H0tKVQ19V5OMpLUk5eKlpWHX7lWy_EjgtF4vYQ4NJf-ISLmOEKGTtO6teDYiESzwL13BTDZIRYD86mcwNk0zVzbOmD076PDGnLeuUvBDJAvaznM/s640/item3.rendition.slideshowWideHorizontal.frank-greenwald-03-family-room%5B1%5D.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hamptons home of architect Frank Greenwald.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Interior design by Mary Foley and Michael Cox</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Photography by Scott Frances.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Architectural Digest (July 2012).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiakD2WR5X5X934otExUnlocLZZYmoSOWGl13QbElCyNtLYHjOG-OUOana65uBgNBfv8OEz9kZWxGd-oRjIXRW9f9-HBss3n5ySWC0cXnJCI-Z4n-0TsWEDiUHhAwUa8E_0hOW5eGgXZjA/s1600/item5.rendition.slideshowWideVertical.leroy-street-studio-hamptons-house-10%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiakD2WR5X5X934otExUnlocLZZYmoSOWGl13QbElCyNtLYHjOG-OUOana65uBgNBfv8OEz9kZWxGd-oRjIXRW9f9-HBss3n5ySWC0cXnJCI-Z4n-0TsWEDiUHhAwUa8E_0hOW5eGgXZjA/s640/item5.rendition.slideshowWideVertical.leroy-street-studio-hamptons-house-10%5B1%5D.jpg" width="492" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pendant lights by Tom Dixon.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Hamptons home created by <a href="http://www.leroystreetstudio.com/" target="_blank">Leroy Street Studio</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Interior design by <a href="http://www.kennethalpert.com/" target="_blank">Kenneth Alpert of KA Design Group</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Photography by Adrian Wilson.</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Architectural Digest (June 2012).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDuxG2eAzywnHk4oCWYNV0I1vOIy5PF__Oq_HzSyowrrS6IrqkMNRVak7LuzBZ6rTHNo9_lUWzdDpZNr95V_AjHoMUSZpwHVCx5JY6P0nhMajsmKFrEhpuUcuvlqfpY8drqjsIWAeeF3g/s1600/item08.rendition.slideshowVertical.08_martyn-lawrence-bullard-vacation-home-mexico%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDuxG2eAzywnHk4oCWYNV0I1vOIy5PF__Oq_HzSyowrrS6IrqkMNRVak7LuzBZ6rTHNo9_lUWzdDpZNr95V_AjHoMUSZpwHVCx5JY6P0nhMajsmKFrEhpuUcuvlqfpY8drqjsIWAeeF3g/s640/item08.rendition.slideshowVertical.08_martyn-lawrence-bullard-vacation-home-mexico%5B1%5D.jpg" width="590" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A custom-made light by Reborn Antiques hangs from a thatched ceiling in a Punta Mita, Mexico beach home.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Interior design by Martyn Lawrence Bullard.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Photography by Tim Street-Porter.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Architectural Digest (August 2011).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShdQrSwUiu3Wi94MfNRI_xce3Gz5KhNwhzQxTeM3kSkXhcZBbTWMCmAfGkmyVrAzza3mnv4B1DOAFxHhW52jmc5DByhq__bF7Fv8t-v_OHOctrlN_lbRCs7Yy0Y2fYHLqrQ324GFHphE/s1600/item08.rendition.slideshowVertical.couturier-08-billiard-room%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShdQrSwUiu3Wi94MfNRI_xce3Gz5KhNwhzQxTeM3kSkXhcZBbTWMCmAfGkmyVrAzza3mnv4B1DOAFxHhW52jmc5DByhq__bF7Fv8t-v_OHOctrlN_lbRCs7Yy0Y2fYHLqrQ324GFHphE/s640/item08.rendition.slideshowVertical.couturier-08-billiard-room%5B1%5D.jpg" width="590" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Marshcourt, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a country house 75 miles southwest of London.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The billiard room's Zaha Hadid sofa for Sawaya & Moroni and pair of vintage Italian armchairs complement a reproduction by Lutyens Furniture & Lighting of the original billiard-table light."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Architect: Edwin Lutyens.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Interior design by Robert Couturier.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"My natural tendency would be to look at Lutyens's books and think you have to have Elizabethan or neo-Gothic furniture here. But then it would become very boring. We soon realized that contemporary furniture would jolt the house to life."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Photography by Tim Beddow.</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Architectural Digest (September 2011).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0wbKUY0LpwPNPuuqLuNd3FwUHSEKFkStSzFbm06nZraTkl5WvKe0XiRoVD9oXPix4RBBAGH2oqWHJNyrznjK-Jr2z4dnK1U2vlnaQtBfXagyZvod0LMgI_GHZ2H5MlUacZkUBQtiGakE/s1600/item01.rendition.slideshowHorizontal.couturier-01-marshcourt-exterior-facade%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0wbKUY0LpwPNPuuqLuNd3FwUHSEKFkStSzFbm06nZraTkl5WvKe0XiRoVD9oXPix4RBBAGH2oqWHJNyrznjK-Jr2z4dnK1U2vlnaQtBfXagyZvod0LMgI_GHZ2H5MlUacZkUBQtiGakE/s640/item01.rendition.slideshowHorizontal.couturier-01-marshcourt-exterior-facade%5B1%5D.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">External view of Marshcourt (pictured above).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Built in England in the early 1900s.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Architect: Edwin Lutyens.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9OdJS5GNeeJe7ay81NmOyKYldeUccy-HUSqPxs5Oj-dyOR0A1w3eIYGSVlV2dmXS7mSXsoZaC4WqN9wsosRo_oWoERDtRReIFyXG6cKjqTOImxls-JiNXJtGoiSXjOJFLBmGUILQp7_E/s1600/p_101451410%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9OdJS5GNeeJe7ay81NmOyKYldeUccy-HUSqPxs5Oj-dyOR0A1w3eIYGSVlV2dmXS7mSXsoZaC4WqN9wsosRo_oWoERDtRReIFyXG6cKjqTOImxls-JiNXJtGoiSXjOJFLBmGUILQp7_E/s640/p_101451410%5B1%5D.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The classic burgundy of a pool table's felt is the inspiration for this billiard room. Fiery reds appear in the grasscloth wall covering, Kilim-covered George Smith club chairs, and the geometric folding screen. The round mirror above the mantel takes its 'cue' from the billiard balls."</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Traditional Home.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5hUKjugsTCh0ZrWlVaz9kimD0_mOk6aj4OXbDnN99yFvVw_8erL3T8VEh1TsycrTnovlUzfPHptIWZGnYH7BbzYFVQEF-2tr1TQ2Sq3PNJHvjZG9ZxVUuLbAo3owPFID_Mbg5nfOWg0w/s1600/ss_101945403%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5hUKjugsTCh0ZrWlVaz9kimD0_mOk6aj4OXbDnN99yFvVw_8erL3T8VEh1TsycrTnovlUzfPHptIWZGnYH7BbzYFVQEF-2tr1TQ2Sq3PNJHvjZG9ZxVUuLbAo3owPFID_Mbg5nfOWg0w/s640/ss_101945403%5B1%5D.jpg" width="592" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bel Air, California home of actress Sela Ward.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial;">The map behind the bar picks up the colors of the billiard balls.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Traditional Home.</span></div>

In the Billiard Room

When I was growing up, I used to play the murder mystery board game Clue . My family had an old 1950s version of the game that looked like t...

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