JEI August Newsletter

Mirror, mirror, on the wall, how should I place thee? A mirror is not just where you preen your do anymore. Given the various styles, shapes, finishes, colors, and uses for mirrors now, the possibilities are endless!

Ok, not endless, literally. But we're not mathematicians here, we're designers. So the metaphor will have to do. The point is, you can transform your interior design with simply the addition, subtraction, or rearrangement of your looking-glasses. We would like to introduce you to some of our favorite approaches.

Art Reflects Life

Or does life reflect art? Either way, we know that reflection can create art. It might not occur to most people that the clumping of mirrors, or creating shapes on the wall with them, can be art itself, particularly when close attention is paid to the other elements in the room. The wall below was used as a canvas for a geometric "puzzling" of varying dimensions. You'll notice that the room, itself, is a composite of differing patterns. But, with the mirror placements on the wall as a featured element, the whole makes sense. Pretty attractive sense, we think.

sooch spare bedroom penthouse

The Other Dimension

In Renaissance times, the mirror was thought to be another dimension into which the soul could cache and be safe for all eternity. We can't promise you're going to get eternal soul protection from your reflecting glass, but we can stand behind the additional dimension part.

You may already know that adding a mirror to a wall will "open up" a space. But it's also an interior design formula to use reflective imaging to incorporate depth and additional color. Yes, color. That reflection not only triggers an expansion of your room parameters but will actually add new colors and hues to the area. A mirror won't simply echo the shade that is cast onto it. It will also transform, and even, at times, distort the palette that is already there... in a beautiful way if done well.

In the project below, a mirror with texture was added to entire back surface of a large niche to add depth to the dining room and a rich evening reflection for drama.

Pulling Out All the Pops

Using enhancing accents is not only for Claudia Schiffer's make-up artist. Interior design will often implement this technique, as well. While we may not be aiming for "cat eyes", we, too, will incorporate additional features to emphasize a look that is already there, or to articulate a new mood altogether.

In the "French Living Room" below, we used the addition of a bold gold sunburst assortment to turn a "pretty" main room into a "wow" setting to entertain your guests. See? Pop!

Instantaneous Essence

When you live in the heart of the Texas hill country, or anywhere so gorgeous that it constitutes a mandatory morning joe on the porch, you can, no, you absolutely should use mirrors inside and throughout your home to bring that beauty within.

Achieving the atmosphere you desire inside may be as simple as looking out. If you can find the right places to add this component, you'll find that, not only has your environment illustrated your artwork for you, but you have also opened your indoor space to the world outside. And sharing this space with your surroundings will "open up" the structural walls around you to a harmonious existence with nature. Or it will just lok darn good. Either way, you're happy.

The Hill Country bath design below focused on channeling the outdoors in, using the appropriate complementary colors and precise placements of reflection.

Our final thoughts... before you rush out to dramatically change the color of your dining room, or overwhelm your office with artwork, consider the transformations that the placement of a mirror or a few could compose.

Or, alternatively, if you still feel that it's the wall pallette inside that needs a make-over, then check back next month for our September article on COLOR!