For centuries, people have enjoyed and feared mirrors at the same time. At one point, there was the belief that seeing your image means seeing the reflection of your soul.
I was reading Dorothy Draper’s book Decorating Is Fun!, in which she discussed a case study of a timid lady who lived with her elderly mother who decided to redo her living room after her mother’s passing. After a failed first trial, she redesigned the whole room with soft colored walls and curtains, reupholstered the furniture, and added crystal lamps. She also had the wall opposite the windows partly covered with mirrors. After the room was done, she passed by the mirror and caught a gloomy glimpse of herself, which she didn’t like. She saw a tired soul.
Since she loved her new living room so much she decided to change herself. Draper wrote: “If the room didn’t fit her she would fit herself to the room.”Changing her surroundings pushed her to change her look, her attitude and her life.
I was reading Dorothy Draper’s book Decorating Is Fun!, in which she discussed a case study of a timid lady who lived with her elderly mother who decided to redo her living room after her mother’s passing. After a failed first trial, she redesigned the whole room with soft colored walls and curtains, reupholstered the furniture, and added crystal lamps. She also had the wall opposite the windows partly covered with mirrors. After the room was done, she passed by the mirror and caught a gloomy glimpse of herself, which she didn’t like. She saw a tired soul.
Since she loved her new living room so much she decided to change herself. Draper wrote: “If the room didn’t fit her she would fit herself to the room.”Changing her surroundings pushed her to change her look, her attitude and her life.
Designers have always used strategic placement of mirrors in interiors to expand the space visually and multiply light. Well- designed spaces always contribute to our sense of well being.
The mirror is the focal point of this bedroom designed by Billy Frances, photography by Peter Vitale
Floor to ceiling mirrors help enlarge the space. The wall seems to keep on going... courtesy of House Beautiful, photography by kari Haavisto
Mirrors are also used to cover surfaces sometimes to hide imperfections, and sometimes merely for aesthetic reasons. I think the use of mirrors requires careful planning and should be done tastefully or in an expected way- otherwise it could defeat the purpose and turn the room into unsophisticated space.
Designer Juan Montoya added mirrored interior walls which affected the view and the light coming from the windows in addition to reflecting the paneling. Photography by Bill Cunningham
Designer Geoffrey Bradfield hid the flat screen TV behind the mirrored panels. Photography by Durston Saylor
Perfection! designer Alessandra Branca, photography by Thibault Jeanson
Notice the mirrored faux window! Designers Richard Hallberg & Barbara Wiseley, courtesy of Veranda, photography by Victoria Pearson
3 comments:
THESE ARE BEAUTIFUL IMAGES. I CAN'T GET ENOUGH MIRRORS IN MY HOME.
HAVE A NICE EVENING.
TERESA
Dear PoE, I do like to use mirrors throught the house as they reflect the light and give a dynamic effect to any interior I think. My latest mirror project is to collect together enough hand mirrors to cover a large portion of wall above a daybed in my bathroom. hopefully this will add interest, reflect the light but not give too much of a reflection of me climbing into or out of the bath!!
beautiful images!
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