Get Your Game On
by habituallychic
03 . 13 . 10
We’re expecting rain and high winds here in New York all weekend so that has me thinking about what I can do that doesn’t involve leaving my apartment. Other than reading and watching television, board games are a another good rainy day activity. I grew up playing backgammon but haven’t played in years so I think I may have to buy myself a board. Some of them would actually look just as nice sitting out as they would being played and it looks like a few other designers appreciated that fact as well!
Geoffrey Parker makes some of the best backgammon boards including this pretty blue leather attache option.
Looks like Ivanka Trump is also a fan of backgammon.
This backgammon board by Geoffrey Parker features William Morris paper and is my absolute favorite!
This old House Beautiful cover from 1935 illustrates the long popularity of backgammon!
Bamford and Sons also offers an elegant backgammon board.
In case you’re bored or it rains while you’re staying at the Parker Palm Springs Hotel designed by Jonathan Adler.
Artist Ara Peterson also makes beautiful and colorful backgammon boards.
Interior designer David Hicks featured an needlepoint backgammon board in one of his projects many years ago.
I wonder if Jonathan Adler was inspired by David Hicks when he created his own needlepoint backgammon set.
Seems Jonathan Adler is a big fan of backgammon because this green acrylic board is featured in another one of his design projects.
The elegant Swinford Backgammon set from Ralph Lauren Home is part of their spring line but is not yet available online. That gives you a little extra time to save up for it!
Emmanuel David wasn’t content to just create a backgammon board instead he made it into a table.
The best part about backgammon is that if you buy a travel board like this one from Aspinal of London, you can play anywhere.
I would love to be playing backgammon in an Acapulco pool like these two in this Slim Aarons photo from 1978. That would definitely beat playing at home on a rainy day!
23 Comments
Acapulco backgammon – I like that cool style!
Monopoly may be on the agenda, too. Looks like a typhoon outside.
Great pictures. I played backgammon a lot as a child and I have no clue how to play anymore. Perhaps I need to find a board and play with my boys with boards this awesome. 🙂
I love Backgammon! I want a board like Jonathan Adlers and I want to play it in a pool!!
maybe we’ll get a game or too in poolside during your visit! (not *in* the pool mind you- too chilly still for that!)
Hello Heather,
Backgammon is a great favorite of ours at Darlington House. Boy and I play regularly, and never tire of it. T. Anthony has attractive sets, too, in orange and olive green. Asprey has a gorgeous backgammon set, too, but it’s breathtakingly expensive!
Reggie
i am absolutely obsessed with backgammon….fantastic post! i want every set…..
GREAT POST!
Board games are so much fun!
Love the RL board, along with the David Hicks needlepoint. Not a bad idea!
Teresa
Fantastic post! LOVE Backgammon!!
oh I wish I had one of these, i love Backgammon and looks so cool!
We played backgammon all the time as kids… and I just gave my nephew a nice game in a leather case. I never have played in the pool though… but would like to try!!
I am thankful to this day that this was my dad’s game of choice when I was growing up. Whenever I visit, I’m always up for a game with him. These are all beautiful boards and a post that brought back a lot of great memories. Thanks!
WOW. Literally just yesterday I finally got around to reading my back stock of glossies and came across the William Morris set in Vogue and promptly wrote Geoffrey Parker down as a potential post topic. Great minds think alike! My favorite? The perfectly appropriate Slim Aarons photograph you found…talk about the good life! XOXO Katie
Backgammon in the pool..in Acapulco- now that’s the life!
I love this ancient game, and really enjoy seeing the photos here. They bring a bit of nostalgia to my morning!
My son and I take a bag of black stones and white shells and big red plastic dice from Las Vegas to the beach her in Santa Barbara and he draws a ‘board’ in the sand… 😀
Heather – when is your trip out west? The forecast here is 70 – 80 degrees for the next 2 weeks!
Fun post. Glad that you decided to stay inside–it really looked nasty in Manhattan yesterday. Mary
The Geoffrey Parker board is my fav too! Was supposed to be in NYC this weekend and postponed. So glad I did because the weather looks yucky!
Love this picture! I can picture myself just sitting there enjoying the sun and the temp. of the water, playing backgammon! le serveur, cocktail please?
Fun post! I’m going to go dig out my board right now!
Love this post on backgammon boards! My mother has a cute needlepoint board where the points are carrots and asparagus. Its so cute, and I think her mother made it! Backgammon boards really are decorative art at this point.
I’ve included backgammon boards in a few rooms I’ve done…and I’m only just now learning to play! these are all great inspiration, thanks for posting!
http://mylittleapartment.blogspot.com/
I have that travel roll up set! Its great for the beach.
Cribbage was my Dad’s game of choice. Any cool cribbage sets out there?