A perfect Games Table

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0q-nMjqkSTsWFOvjM7LeuZNsS5fUx-c-Ikr_TNKC_5iilGAcVBfPyxVQPAhpDF2fa_n0pxy6L3EugTKayMloUcUcEDMYEuQ2iUU-t7CtUARYtsDOUpBQYlAXJtRbu8xmDCrqjQiiStXya/s1600/theodore+alexander.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707516930574257090" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0q-nMjqkSTsWFOvjM7LeuZNsS5fUx-c-Ikr_TNKC_5iilGAcVBfPyxVQPAhpDF2fa_n0pxy6L3EugTKayMloUcUcEDMYEuQ2iUU-t7CtUARYtsDOUpBQYlAXJtRbu8xmDCrqjQiiStXya/s400/theodore+alexander.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 269px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a>The purpose of my trip to NY this past weekend was to shop for a project. One of my favorite furniture companies is Theodore Alexander, whom I have <a href="http://interior-design-pictures.blogspot.com/2011/11/theodore-alexander-miniatures.html">blogged</a> about many times in the past from my trips to Market (headed back this spring, who will be there? Let me know). In their showroom at <a href="http://www.abchome.com/">ABC Home and Carpet</a> (arguably my favorite spot in NY) I came across this William and Mary styled <a href="http://www.theodorealexander.com/productdetail.aspx?itemid=40820d39-4124-4c37-b067-72264bcd8286">games table </a>that really took my breath away. The standard Theodore Alexander high quality is there but the charm of the piece is what got to me. The fretwork on the cabinet, the practical drawers, the turned legs and the ogee x stretcher -could this be any cuter? The top has a sliding component with a chess/checkers board on one side and a gorgeously tooled leather top on the other: Underneath is a backgammon set. The 2 drawers are generously sized to hold a variety of other games. Put this one on my wish list, please! What do you think?<br /><em>No, this is not a paid advertisement but if Theodore Alexander wanted to send one or two of these my way I wouldn't argue!</em>

A perfect Games Table

The purpose of my trip to NY this past weekend was to shop for a project. One of my favorite furniture companies is Theodore Alexander, whom...

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Architectural wedding cake

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfkOaaxN6zEXN4TsLatj6NpsW5IYjWmTcffcDQyG9vUM8Fwf1092UBcoFlsZ-OayXhAB6f_Nt98xVOJsNGdYSfyIo5MqKwS5TaxGR6ZoLVfU8qs7lOLkjMdmIXbfQAqCXZjHT9VGMtTb3n/s1600/early+skyscraper.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707226306031774994" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfkOaaxN6zEXN4TsLatj6NpsW5IYjWmTcffcDQyG9vUM8Fwf1092UBcoFlsZ-OayXhAB6f_Nt98xVOJsNGdYSfyIo5MqKwS5TaxGR6ZoLVfU8qs7lOLkjMdmIXbfQAqCXZjHT9VGMtTb3n/s400/early+skyscraper.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 236px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> While in New York this weekend I came across this early skyscraper similar to ones you find all over the country in major cities. While the building type was still new, architects struggled with how to deal with these taller buildings in a traditional/ classical manner. Here this vaguely classical building resembles an architectural wedding cake with many different layers topped with a gilded cupola. Don't get me wrong -I love buildings like this but when you stop to think about them they are rather amusing. <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707226288570588290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPh9_7vAtV4Z-PbV-HGorixSsLCDZS3fj1ykDchoCquhe63CufBqx5M2WuSmiGD0cdn3N013Eucwjs-OGOrQeySGtGvCGuI0zc0GAsw0zwQP4g_4yr1fB56Zbq9wTtO6KWoV3vE9LZca6I/s400/Empire+cake.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 235px; CURSOR: hand" />On to <em>real </em>cakes; I passed this bakery, <a href="http://empirecake.com/">Empire Cake</a>, and was blown away by this wedding cake on display which reminded me of the building above. Daisies are my favorite flower and their informal use here on the yellow background was just too pretty to not capture on my camera phone!<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707226259609164770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqTJCenWJh4UUY4D9LsyFzuVdkSP1RLwqScN7J7tSwN-OSlszd9Lvtdb5ZQaBX2Etg9Rq57fbv_1lWNLMuZ6xWispyZxdJTOZZX_vzA2mJE4qtDgnUEVPQM_K7oKReyM4aHzC6G3x14In3/s400/wedding+cake.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 283px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" />New York always holds a few surprises for you.

Architectural wedding cake

While in New York this weekend I came across this early skyscraper similar to ones you find all over the country in major cities. While the...

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Repurposing

<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706839150449785842" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhquL5rZg2D40rasoPWXRkK3gR_auCf4PxvHiuNoqoxJmOHx9SlDJ3T39ZRjDSgA4YYL4cjpnRjwox9e9rVlaAVcqsfxgqs1Bl6hujnOVYExobABJd2gF_1cyLQtgu2s1OhUa1QOz2-OyNH/s400/decorative+ceiling.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 269px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" />While in New York this past weekend, I stopped into a grand building at the corner of 8th avenue and 14th street.<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706839158980542290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE4DJRuqmUmYvOb2j73wAGWUhN6X5WYs4C9rnqVaFIJ76cXWGlxPeR4-tzpjAUym5Ipw6-a5pjDDz98Ky8-Q_JBw6347OkuA2Pla-KXRJiNSxl_MRExzDtSXsyF_DwIeyrXcHhGLJKA9u4/s400/cvs.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 290px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" />The building in question is now a <a href="http://www.cvs.com/">CVS</a> pharmacy but started life as a bank. This type of repurposing has become common recently as churches become restaurants and banks apparently become pharmacies. You may remember my recent <a href="http://interior-design-pictures.blogspot.com/2011/12/ornate-ceiling.html">POST </a>on the Gordon Biersch restaurant here in DC in an old bank as well.<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706839136819918978" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYkA6-AnJVFM7jb56JCPtFwl2ftgz-bwMQiKy9qpUHAcHxVzlTCJGy9s-Cm7jHKcLoM45SFt5dApYffvep3DGcGm1z5LsgyR7Jx01vHwHXv5mCno-FgF2DjRdLf1zDDMZLmX9jFwD9kqci/s400/dome+interior.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 250px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" />While I'm glad to see beautiful old buildings getting a 2nd life rather than meeting with the wrecking ball, I have to question the number of bland branch banks (every street corner in many cities including here in DC) when beautiful old structures sit vacant.<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706839127488431458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPgvmLq8HsYZUW4joVYzSQS6U7NADBFN86myvgXu1-MHceAl11dTM-MvBAeOzQeaSBeAv6PQfSeWLemiYUdSQ4PBot5-kRU_E_HOJBqpB2FtFI4nUcNZzaY5ToW_dIYj3gNAj7HMFJ3_3P/s400/wall+clock.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" />This definitely is the most beautiful CVS ever built and even had great new lighting. What examples of repurposed buildings are near you?

Repurposing

While in New York this past weekend, I stopped into a grand building at the corner of 8th avenue and 14th street. The building in question i...

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NY in miniature

<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657024393327864274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTODW6iw6usFdTBmyVlV0_MVzt1XqACnvPnANGHc_XfwmNeHiWbPu2ln4a-tIOEk02-V6BzsaGu-v6ifbSxTY4PDqZmprSKkVgrHRuNNIkHGu38xk03nfWaagBiY-pQhnX2QeA-zZTPIQ/s400/nyc+buildings.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 222px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" />While in NY this past weekend, I had to run an errand with friends at a Toys R Us and had a pleasant surprise; famous NY buildings in minature built of my favorite childhood toy, legos!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ZOWWFNc_-GDBnJHpOB3NPRhpZciKOXkKNnhvUPAL5dRPohOjyNK5czSqwp1RgKRTLAPhL93olqy1pxMx3_fDmPRLtIgjO_7ftFPq1QOIbmrZBGT7HeWcUe_2q7F0kOMqp9dZrTlelcs/s1600/statue+of+liberty.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657024400040162594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ZOWWFNc_-GDBnJHpOB3NPRhpZciKOXkKNnhvUPAL5dRPohOjyNK5czSqwp1RgKRTLAPhL93olqy1pxMx3_fDmPRLtIgjO_7ftFPq1QOIbmrZBGT7HeWcUe_2q7F0kOMqp9dZrTlelcs/s400/statue+of+liberty.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 239px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> The scale of the buildings was dead on and it was amazing how no detail was overlooked with the little bricks.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXN4JlFwGzWbgL7FA-dtGYu9vuTu_JkjyaDVbEkUYT4mpxUgVEFVjPNU-_Dg6Ixa92UjK16cQ50psHYbFCh_CvJrTBqPxQbO32aap4RIHXinbA7JLPZHbcukgyvKfjk9spHKGAjLnwl00/s1600/statue+of+liberty+detail.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657024395597553746" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXN4JlFwGzWbgL7FA-dtGYu9vuTu_JkjyaDVbEkUYT4mpxUgVEFVjPNU-_Dg6Ixa92UjK16cQ50psHYbFCh_CvJrTBqPxQbO32aap4RIHXinbA7JLPZHbcukgyvKfjk9spHKGAjLnwl00/s400/statue+of+liberty+detail.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 239px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a>I loved the context of the buildings next to one another, the Statue of Liberty next to the Empire State Building.<br /><br /><div><br /><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657023916229338338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2hTusAuubqI_ESFkWByCBquB59V7-KoK0CN2n5ExgoUWE-CoP8ujjzY-kDjiizdHSdOHLqRCB7cxCJTsGpNybognpXylFKhFTl9i2mnFahA0bmwLUk5cGFG-Ap-_DF5MZtvU32lAG9w/s400/Chrysler+building.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 239px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" />The beloved Chrysler Building was also included.<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657023930558130962" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgR-Jt56qEd1DzhUvJPb_P3EMy83hr2muBI_4_GHzWcVL4b5b4Ifwu7xnhvo0cfujZHU_iW3MYijkPJPuqqUI8q_WxgLripVoM2r62ckMhtOX78wmw5JpC5v3E8wVJkCAWyNpb2hv5K9w/s400/King+Kong.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 233px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" />Even King Kong wasn't forgotten on the top of the Empire State Building!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBj9mkTXRTSQA-D3n_cmnpC91N7JsMc1thP1j8HjEPF4ySu-wQB4fMT3qJ7vj9wx8Hon6HPI8JhW3rmW5VSfBCAHPZKRa0dMVHQOcGpU-Vshco62xzGQwoQKNvcb1m1nw365nloj6xSqg/s1600/lipstick+building+detail.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657024389937405394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBj9mkTXRTSQA-D3n_cmnpC91N7JsMc1thP1j8HjEPF4ySu-wQB4fMT3qJ7vj9wx8Hon6HPI8JhW3rmW5VSfBCAHPZKRa0dMVHQOcGpU-Vshco62xzGQwoQKNvcb1m1nw365nloj6xSqg/s400/lipstick+building+detail.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 239px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a>It was interesting to see Phillip Johnson's Lipstick Building at such a small scale but maybe a smooth curved building facade isn't the best out of clunky legos?<br /><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657023919179886514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinwY7NXrWsb0QxfqSSgCSGlIrGFPdlbSjzYzlDRPH4tdRSuLnrf_P1gkWjJUxIVpK0jZmScd-Jy3V_6k8MPry6Q1Ouf2xW1XxUQ9etHuVVewMunKLxaS5URA_FFZIGXIkxdA1XNR9g1DI/s400/IMAG0941.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 247px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" />If you're in NY and find yourself near Times Square (AKA tourist h*ll), stop in Toys R Us at 1514 Broadway to see the sites (or at least stop by candyland for some treats!)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpr2047PZmqCrB-eHaLQQeIKf-K7-I9idc1QntnV81tU9fJ3kwDRALsuHI4K5UKbn1CbErjW_3egcwUC4UVNqeENUMlVB9XxZOQclDhhTYEoYbOQMYypTMx11QTvWXfliY_2K5ITfu_p4/s1600/IMAG0943.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657023924830879954" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpr2047PZmqCrB-eHaLQQeIKf-K7-I9idc1QntnV81tU9fJ3kwDRALsuHI4K5UKbn1CbErjW_3egcwUC4UVNqeENUMlVB9XxZOQclDhhTYEoYbOQMYypTMx11QTvWXfliY_2K5ITfu_p4/s400/IMAG0943.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 239px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div>

NY in miniature

While in NY this past weekend, I had to run an errand with friends at a Toys R Us and had a pleasant surprise; famous NY buildings in minatu...

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