Upon Reflection

Designer Mimi Williams admits that she’s had a fascination with mirrors since childhood. In fact, she says, it’s a borderline obsession. “What little girl doesn’t watch her mother at her dressing table? I love the look of babies’ faces the first time they see themselves in a mirror or of an animal peering into a reflective pool of water. It’s an Alice in Wonderland thing,” she says.

It’s no surprise, then, that mirrors figure prominently in her work. “I’m particularly fond of antique mirrors, especially mirrored picture frames from the ’20s to the ’40s -- they’re very high glam. Then there’s the crazy, funky ’50s and ’60s, with a more optical point of view.” But, she adds, a well-placed mirror can be so much more than aesthetically pleasing: “It gives you the ability to reflect beautiful art and sculpture and can completely open up a room.”

While Williams is drawn to antique mirrors, designer Renea Abbott likes them for their clean and modern characteristics, proving that this decorative element has true versatility. She agrees, however, that the right positioning is critical. “One of the best decorating lines I’ve heard was from a decorator in Monroe, Louisiana,” says Abbott. “When asked about using mirrors in a particular dining room, he replied, ‘You don’t have anything but junk, and who wants to see junk twice?’ It’s always best to reflect something beautiful.”

Likewise, Abbott has a few tips of her own: Don’t ever use mirrors that are attached with nothing more than plastic clips, and don’t overdo the aged look; it ends up looking too contrived. Do, on the other hand, trim out bathroom mirrors with wood molding for a more finished look. And if you plan to hang a mirror over the sofa, custom-frame one that extends from the back of the sofa all the way up to the ceiling trim; it will visually double the room’s dimensions.

Joseph Ireland and Julie Weber, principals of J.D. Ireland Interior Architecture & Design, often take a custom approach to mirrors. That way, they fit just as well in tight spaces as they do in expansive areas. “Mirrors add depth to a space and are a great tool to bounce light around a room,” says Ireland, adding that shape and frame are important. “We use large mirrors with simple frames to lighten dark areas. We might place tall, narrow mirrors vertically behind table lamps. This gives the lighting more impact and brings interest to the bare wall behind the lamps, which can become boring.”

Strategic positioning can also provide a change of perspective, says Weber. “Placing a mirror above a sideboard in the dining room -- low and horizontal -- gives guests a more intimate view of the room when seated at the table.”

Don’t think for a minute, however, that decorating with mirrors means working only with conventional forms. Mirrored furnishings, from simple picture frames and candlesticks to elaborate chests and even four-poster beds, can add the same kind of sparkle to a setting. Like their traditional counterparts, though, they should always be positioned to reflect something worth seeing twice.

One more thing: Mirrors need not always be silver-lined. Other lining materials, such as copper, can create surprisingly reflective and sophisti­cated surfaces. Now that’s something to reflect upon.
 

DESIGN ADVICE

• "If you're in need of a conventional mirror, visit your local framer and have one made," suggests Joseph Ireland of J.D. Ireland Interior Architecture & Design. "You'll get the exact size you need, and it's fun to select your own frame. Plus, framers usually have a quick turnaround time."
• "In lieu of traditional artwork, create a grouping of identical mirrors," suggests designer Julie Weber.
• "I get a kick out of mirrors that start life as something else," says designer Mimi Williams. "I have a mirror made of old wood staves from a French wine barrel."
• In the bathroom, mount a decorative mirror on a mirrored wall to create depth, says designer Renea Abbott. "You can frame the mirror in the same metal as your fixtures, such as nickel, or use a gilt frame with brass fixtures and silver gilt with chrome."

 

RESOURCES: Mimi Williams, Mimi Williams Antiques and Interiors, 404/355-0995, www.mimiwilliamsinteriors.com; Renea Abbott, Shabby Slips, 713/603-0066, www.shabbyslipshouston.com; Joseph Ireland and Julie Weber, J.D. Ireland Interior Architecture and Design, 202/986-4870, www.josephireland.com.