Thursday, March 3, 2011

How Many is Too Many???

While doing a little blog hopping the other day, I went to visit a blog I follow, Delight by Design.

 If you have not seen this blog it makes for an inspirational read. Please hop on over and take a peek and tell her that Kathysue sent you.


Now, back to what I was going to talk about…… When I read her post about mixing vintage, chic and Ikea I was struck by the interiors she was posting,designed by Jeff Lincoln…….

jeff lincoln design via delight by design (650x488) 

What I was struck by was his prolific use of mirrors in a room.jeff lincoln design via delight by design.bmp2 (650x488)Notice that even the sideboard has a mirrored front. The only mirror I would have moved is the white mirror that appears to be in an entry hall. I might have moved it farther away from the console table vignette.  Too many mirrors? I personally don’t think so.

When I was working I would often times suggest more than one mirror in a room. Almost inevitably my client would ask, “ Is it alright to have two mirrors in one room.” I would always answer, "absolutely."  Sometimes I would use my own home to get my point across........

mirror (478x640)
table (478x640)
liv3 (478x640)
In my living room I have two mirrors, two sconces that are mirrored, and my table is mirrored, How about a total of five mirrors in one room. Is that alright? I think so.

Look at my dining room………..
dining (478x640)
Two matching floor length mirrors on each side of the window with lamps in front of them. Four mirrors on the paneled door and not pictured a mirror on a small wall as you enter.

Right across from the dining room is my kitchen where the back wall of my glass front cupboard is mirrored and I also have a black framed mirror in the corner on the counter top.
kitchen (478x640)
Shall we count them? If you count each panel mirror as a mirror I have a total of nine mirrors in my kitchen/dinette area alone.


I have always admitted I have a slight obsession with mirrors. Not for the use of seeing my reflection but for the amount of light that they bring into a room. We all know that they also make a small space look larger.

So when a client or a friend ask me, "How many is too many?" My answer is, "Whatever you like that looks good to your eye!!!"


Here are a few images that show some fun ways to display multiples of mirrors……..

1 (600x800)
A matching trio.


3 (600x400)
I love this! Just look at how the mirror-less frame becomes sulptural next to the sculptural  hat stand. No matching here- just a random yet, balanced vignette or mirrors.


5 (388x388)
I did a frameless mirror arrangement quite similar to this for a client several years ago.  I think it still works. It is so reflective and pretty.


6 (550x550) 


anthropologie (590x393)
via Athropologie


via Mod nest (450x600)
via Mod nest


2 (450x600)
This is just amazing!! Black and white stripe, silhouettes and mirrors all in one setting! Be still my heart!!


via the lennox (360x460)
Via the Lennox, another favorite blog of mine!!


master bed and bath 015
Master Bed and Bath 2 010 (785x800)
 In my master bedroom I have two matching mirrors above the nightstands, a mirrored armoire next to the vanity sink mirror, and a mirrored closet door. A total of five mirrors in one room. Too many?????

What do you think? Do you like one mirror in a room or can you handle more?

“Enjoy the Process” Of:

Adding more than one mirror to a room for light and reflection.

Kathysue