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…….

 

What I was struck by was his prolific use of mirrors in a room.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........

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………..

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.

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……..

A matching trio.

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.

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.

 

via Athropologie

via Mod nest

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

Via the Lennox, another favorite blog of mine!!

 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

What Should I Paint The Letter “P?”

Opinions Wanted Please!!

I have been sharing the progress of my playroom for awhile now. It is still in progress, but moving steadily along.
My most recent purchase was the big two foot letter “P.”

 

As you can see it is yellow. I love yellow, but not in this particular room. When I ordered the P I knew I would be painting it.

Here are the main fabrics that will determine how the P should be painted.

I have a couple of ideas and thought I would pass them by you all to see what your opinions are. In blog land we all love to give our opinions!!

Sorry that the pictures are blurry, but these are the only letters I could find with stripes and I needed to show you examples.

Option #1:

Simple and all white

Option#2:

White front and navy edges

Option #3:

White with horizontal stripes in navy but wider than these stripes.

Option #4:

White and navy stipes on  the diagonal, again with wider stripes.

Option #5:

White and Navy vertical stripes.( Sorry I could not find a P only a B!)
These stripes are more accurate of the width I would use.

Or do you have another option for me that you would like to suggest?

“Enjoy the Process” Of:

Finding the perfect option to paint my letter “P!”

Kathysue

What is Old is New Again!!

Have you all noticed how much gold metal is being shown in magazines and throughout blog land?

So many are claiming it as a new love. To them it probably is a new love because we were so inundated with silver and nickel metals in home decor in the recent past. Even silver jewelry was claimed as a new favorite of many.  I think we are looking for something different, so we naturally turn to gold metal as a new/old look.

I am enjoying the new/old look of gold in home accessories. I find that they have emerged in a sophisticated manner and also sometimes in a whimsical manner.

All white with gold, and then grounded with the black floor and night stands, is stunning.

So many have painted gold frames in all sorts of colors, but you can see if a classic simple frame is grouped with other frames it makes for a wonderful vignette.  Will there be regrets by those that held a can of spray paint?

Sarah Richardson used this darling gold bamboo table to give this room a sophisticated look.

This is a vintage lamp and yet it looks fresh and new. Why is that?

I personally think it is because of the great drum shade that was used, but mostly because of the stunning and current looking backdrop of wallpaper.

Just look at this amazing light fixture! Now that would give any room a new fresh look.

Simple gold frames above a lovely antique side table. Using brass nail heads is another way to add a touch of gold to a room and look chic.

These lamps look vintage to me as well as the bamboo stools. Both are made to look new and current. The stools are painted in a current pop of yellow.

Using brass lamps on a mirrored parsons table and sitting it in front of a grid patterned wallpaper make for a very current look.  By adding a starburst mirror in a silver finish makes for a nice contrast.

It is becoming very obvious to me, in order for gold metals to look current and not like a throw-back of the 80's, one must be careful with what they pair it with.

 

Simple and elegantly done by Jan Showers.

Phoebe Howard has done an amazing job using such a wonderful mix of styles and eras of furniture here. The mirror with its pediment and shell motif is so classically beautiful. It appears to be paired with a Danish modern coffee table with a few gold accessories on top. Not everyone could pull this look off and do it so well. Leave it to the amazing Phoebe Howard.

Gold frames, brass light fixture, and the feet of the table are covered with golden caps. Again classically beautiful, truly a timeless look.

Gorgeous!!!!

I love the small gold metal bench that can slip easily under the black lacquered hall table. To repeat the gold metal look it is used on the brass door knob and back plate. Just a touch here and there keeps it new and fresh. So un-like the 80’s where brass was everywhere you would look in a room.



Have you taken on  any gold in your home decor? Is it a new love or one that is just revisiting you in a new way?

“Enjoy the Process” Of:

Adding a little luxury and elegance to your home with a touch of gold!

Kathysue