Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
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Game Tables When clients ask interior designer Jenny Rapp at JCR Design Group to recommend a table for playing card games, like mahjong or bridge, the Swallowtail table by Theodore Alexander, available through KDR, tops her list. “Their tables are very cool because they offer pull out cup holders and tops that flip from plain wood to a chess board,” says Rapp. “We usually opt for the Swallowtail in a more traditional dark walnut finish, which I think looks great in a game room, but it is also available in different colors depending on your decor scheme.”
Chess Set
Chess Sets Interior designer Jackie Leisler recommends clients check out Q Boutique on Maryland Avenue for a variety of chess sets. “It’s part of the World Chess Hall of Fame and they have some beautiful sets. I love the Man Ray Chess Set—it’s elegant and understated and looks amazing in a traditional or modern setting,” says Leisler. The 2-inch Metal Staunton Chess Set is also a favorite. “It’s classic and beautiful with chess pieces of silver and brass,” she says.
Arcade Rooms
Arcade Games and Pinball Machines If clients have the space, budget, and interest, Andy Cohen of Kennerly Custom Homes will add stand-up arcade games in game rooms to impart a retro feel. “Arcades and More in Florissant has a giant warehouse filled with vintage arcade games that have all been refurbished,” says Cohen. “They have all the games we used to play as kids— Donkey Kong and Ms. Pacman and Frogger just to name a few.” Cohen filled one client’s game room with arcade games as well as shuffleboard and foosball tables from Amini’s in Chesterfield. “There are only so many places in town that sell, deliver, and install these pieces,” says Cohen, “and Amini’s is one of them.”
Alise O'Brien
Pickle Ball Court Having trouble getting court time at the local park? Consider having a pickle ball court installed in your own backyard. According to Justin Vaughn of McConnell and Associates, the company has seen a 300 percent increase in the number of installations in the past five years. “The average pickle ball court is 34’ x 64’, so space is a necessity,” says Vaugh. “We lay a concrete or asphalt surface and cover it with a sport coating and painted lines. Most homeowners opt for a 4 to 6 foot tall fence around the court.” Depending on the scope of the work and prep work needed, a court runs approximately $30,000 to $60,000.
Pool Table
Ping Pong Table Meghan Heeter of Castle Design recently discovered the Chenault James Ping Pong table by EJ Victor at Design and Detail. She’s partial to its walnut finish, maple inlay, and brass details. “I love when game tables fit in with the rest of the space and don’t feel kitschy,” she says. “I particularly like ones made out of natural materials like wood, leather and stone. Even though it’s a game room, it should still feel elevated.”
Movie Projector If buying a projector isn’t in your budget, you can now check them out at the St. Louis County Library. The projectors are perfect for outdoor movies or for gaming. Hang up a large bed sheet or use a plain wall as your screen. A valid library is required. For a more permanent solution, HD Media Systems in Brentwood will install a projector and screen to fit your space and needs. According to Aaron Black, a systems designer at HD Media, there are no one-size-fits-all solutions when it comes to projectors and screens. “We will come out to your home and measure and assess your space to ensure you install the right equipment,” he says.
Pool Table
Pool Table Interior designer Marcia Moore of Marcia Moore Design turns to A.E. Schmidt Billiards when sourcing a custom pool table for a client. “They have a lot of different designs to choose from and great customer service,” she says. “We especially like their mid-century modern style pool tables. You can customize the size, finish, and they have more than a dozen felt colors from which to choose.” Founded in St. Louis in 1850, A.E. Schmidt not only sells tables but they also repair, maintain, and move your pool table too.
Golf Simulator Do you love to play golf? A golf simulator will help transport you to a course in a warmer weather city any month of the year. Elisa Suarez, of Casa by Suarez, recently installed a golf simulator in the basement of a Clayton home. With its 13-foot ceilings and roomy surroundings to ensure a full backswing extension, the basement was built specifically for the game. “There are a lot of golf simulators on the market, but we chose MultiSport Gaming because their system offers much more than just golf. You can play football, baseball, soccer. It comes with a ceiling mounted projector, giant screen, turf flooring, and all the accessories you need to play the games,” says Suarez.
Alise O'Brien
Movie Room When designing a room for families to gather and watch television, Kim Taylor of Kim Taylor Design Group, relies on Walbrandt Technologies to provide the audio video components. “They either install a huge TV—typically over 80 inches —or a movie screen, projector, stereo and speakers for surround sound. They’ll work with us from the blueprint stage all the way to installation,” she says, ensuring that everything is in the right place and that the speakers, cords, and other equipment are painted or hidden.
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Photo by Kevin A. Roberts
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Photo by Kevin A. Roberts
Ice Rink It was her kids’ love of ice hockey that inspired homeowner Lisa Acree to install a rink in the basement of her Creve Coeur home. Acree, a mother of three, ordered the side boards and kick plates from D1 Hockey and hired the home builder Jeffrey Bernstein, of Jeffrey Homes, to install them. “We kind of had to piece it together, getting parts of the rink from various suppliers,” she says. “We used Crete Flooring to install an epoxy-like floor surface, then we added plexiglass around the rink to keep pucks from injuring onlookers. We bought the goals and synthetic ice from Pure Hockey.”
Basketball Court When a client asked home builder Bobby Slavin of Slavin homes to incorporate a basketball court in the design of their home, Slavin turned to AALCO Athletic Equipment, a local sports-equipment retailer. “They provided their wall mounted rectangular fiberglass backboards and also the wall padding for around the court,” says Slavin.
