I have ordered one from Ballard Designs & trying to make a decision about where to put it.

Did you consider what the mirror reflects?

Possibly thinking about putting it here....bottles to be filled with wine corks.

Smiles:)

Timely question as I am on the hunt for a mirror to go over my new server (to be delivered on Thursday). It will be in the niche in my DR, across from a window. I like a mirror that reflects light and/or something pretty, not an awkward view of something best left not doubled, IYKWIM.

Glad you bought the armoire and it's serving your needs. Very pretty, too!

I use mirrors all over the place. I use them over sinks and dressers and in the closet, of course. But I also use them to open featureless walls, to reflect light, to add warmth, gleam, and sparkle to a room, to fill a space where I want something other than a framed image, to reflect things, to create illusions (widening a window or doubling a space), and to fill a particularly lovely frame for which I don't have a picture.

The only thing I don't do with them is put them on the ceiling. The seventies are over, and I'm not that cute any more...

Ruby, I think that mirror will look great over your server. You've got a great theme going on there with the wine storage, serving tray, and wine themed lamps. I think the squares in the mirror are a nice counterpoint to the curves in the chandy.

Hope I'm not hijacking this thread, but on the subject of mirrors.... Do you think one is the limit for a room unless they are in a grouping like the ones posted here?

Jan (loves mirrors as much as I love lamps)

Marybeth, yours turned out great....I remember your post - 3 is perfecto - love em'!

Bronwyn, how nice to be able to see the very mirror in use. Your room is beautiful and so classic - what my house aspires to be someday. Oh gosh, even when I was cute I sure didn't want those action shots in the reflection from a ceiling mirror - luckily I was too young in the 70's for that kind of action :)

Thanks, Kmcg!! I saw your post about your basement remodel.....I'll be back about some thoughts - everything looks sooooo nice:)

Jeannie - what a beautiful space you have. I really like the vibe you have going on - traditional with alot of glam!! Your mirrors are gorgeous:)

Terriks - your mirrors are so cool & how neat that you repeated the square design in the pillows.

Artlover - I am not sure of the design 'etiquette' about more than one mirror.....the little arch on this BD mirror might go in my bathroom so that would be 2 mirrors in there - reflecting each other - maybe others will weight in.......Yeah, we kinda enjoy wine & entertaining a good bit:)

Sweetie pie Teacats, I always appreciate your opinion - thanks so much.

I hope since it is broken up like a window the reflection will be kinda broken up also. I have always placed a mirror when there is a window around for the reflection.

I appreciate your thoughts and pictures. Keep the pics coming.....I sometimes think mirrors are easier (and cheaper) than art to use when filling a big space.

Smiles:)

You are right about the squares breaking up the reflection. I tried to make my own version and while I like the way it breaks up the reflection, mine doesn't look as elegant as the Ballard mirror and I plan to replace it.

Susieq - your mirror is really cute. It looks a lot more like a window than the one I made.

I only have the one in the foyer which everyone on here has seen 1,000 times.

Your new mirror will be perfect there-
enjoy~

About more than one...sure, you can use more than one if that's what works in the room. Loribee has shown that clearly.

If you hang mirrors opposite each other, it's usually fine so long as they are part of a composition, and the image, as several of you noted, is broken up. What you want to avoid is the endless-hallway-in-the-funhouse effect, which happens when big mirrors are set opposite each other, so that they replicate the reflection to infinity. That just looks weird.

And thank you for your nice comments..I think you are already there.

I love what Marybeth1, Jeanninepc99, and Susieq07 have done to create windows in the walls; and Terriks, that's a fine creative use. Loribee, your house is luscious...a great example of what discipline, restraint, and focused editing can do.

One note about the Ballard mirror that started the thread...the grid pattern is a one-piece overlay on a single mirror, rather than integrated muntins with separate panes, if that makes any difference to you. I didn't expect that, but it looks just fine.

Loribee - your home is beautiful - I love your colors, so very soothing!

I LOVE those big round mirrors but don't have one anywhere in our home. Hmmmm maybe I should change out the mirror over the mantle . . .

tina

Scoobyruby, sending you good mirror placement karma.

pup

And Bronwynsmom, lol on the ceilings!

I have a mirror similar to the one hanging over Loribee's mantel. Mine was a wedding gift to my folks from my aunt. I had it over my FP but my FP is elevated, so nobody could look into the mirror and it looked stupid up there. So it's in the DR just hung on the wall. Loribee, yours looks so pretty and I love your FP! I hate my FP.

Thanks pupwhipped, the wall color is BM standish white.

Thanks for the compliments bronwynsmom & tina, very kind of you!

I know that some don't like brass, but I consider it classic. I always research what I buy, if at all possible, and got a huge bargain here. This mirror is made by Decorative Crafts, Inc, and they import hand made furniture and accessories. This one is 20+ years old, and their mirrors today sell for between $1350 and $5000+. See them at the link below.

I also have this Ogee mirror that I paid approx $14 for from eBay. I added the gold touches with Rub N Buff.

And this one from CL for $30. A three mirror 'mantle wardrobe' for under $100!

Can't forget this beauty from eBay - hand carved gilded wood sunburst.

And this from eBay - hand painted. Along with many more!!!

They're having a sale that ends today.

Here are some of my favorites:

Foyer

Mirror @ Christmas

Back Stairs

Close-up

Bathrooms

Most of you remember this mirror (I was advised on this board that it didn't look right over my cooktop but since then, my family and friends have convinced me to keep it up. I have received several compliments on the unusual idea.)

And the big change that mirrors made inside my Butler's Pantry cabinet.

Before

After

Newhomebuilder, you have exquisite taste. All of your rooms are beautiful.

My3dogs not only do I need you as my personal shopper, can you come to my house and tell me where to hang it and what to put with it? Seriously, I don't know what your profession is, but you really could be a decorator. I'd hire you.

I have always been artistic, and love to paint, sew, re-finish furniture and garden. So decorating is just a natural part of that to me, although I don't profess to have a clue as to what I am doing. I just do what I like, and in many cases, it's probably very 'wrong'. I should reply to the post about using multiple patterns in a room, because boy, do I!

My3dogs - HOOWW do you score so many pretty mirrors for such great prices! All the ones I ever see on ebay are really are expensive! You have a gift!

He handed me this huge box, that he had never opened. His late wife bought these hand hammered copper trays, and she died, before she even opened them. That was 5 years ago, and he has lugged them from San Diego to Maine, and now he is moving back to CA again. He said that he just can't use them and is getting rid of as much as he can.

They are a set of 2, and they are very heavy. The small one below is 13x13, and the large one is 28x14! That is one big tray! I have no idea what I will do with them, but he wanted me to have them, for 'helping' him by buying the mirror. I could have cried....

And the mirror is SO heavy that it's going to take some real hefting to get it up above the mantle. I need to plan what I'm going to put with it before I get it up there. It already looks more at home, just being near the mantle!

I have an antique hammered copper tray w/ tea set that belonged to my grandmother. The finish needs to be restored as it is very dull looking and the kettle is slightly pitted.

Love the mirror, BTW.

Everyone's mirrors look sooooo nice in your homes - I love that you all shared!!

I got my mirrors - Bronwyn, you are right, these jokers are heavy!! I didn't realize that by placing this mirror adjacent to a window made it seem like there would be another window there - an added bonus!

I placed the arch above my tub in the MB so I do have 2 mirrors in there now - and it works, too. I have a nice shot of my tushie when I get out of the tub but that keeps me motivated to keep doing my squats up the driveway after my walk:)

Xoxo, I made the lamps. I wanted antique demijohns but couldn't find 2 that were the same size that were in my price range ( they are expensive) so I found the vessels at Tj max & lamp shades at Tarjay.

Smiles:)

I can't wait to see the mirror above your mantle with accessories in place, I'm sure it will be striking!

Everyone's use of mirrors in their homes is lovely and has made me reconsider the placement of many of mine to take better advantage of what they reflect - thanks to all for some great ideas!

I have the same trays....bought them at Costco some years ago - love them. I use them for serving ALL the time - the clear coat has come off of my big one & has a great patina going on. We entertain a good bit.....so DH will do a big beef tenderloin - then I will add double stuffed potatoes & grilled asparagus or such right to the platter. All the food looks so pretty on the platter & I put it in the center of the table & everyone can serve themselves. Easy clean-up, too.

Smiles:)

Scooby, your new mirrors look so nice there, and you're right, it's like having another lovely window with all that green outside. You did great!

Golly, scoobyruby. You do know that lovely verdigris patina is toxic?

> verdigris: a green or greenish-blue poisonous pigment resulting from the action of acetic acid on copper and consisting of one or more basic copper acetates b: normal copper acetate Cu(C2H3O2)2·H2O

There's a reason copper pots and pans are always lined with another metal.

From answers.com:

>Never buy unlined copper pans, which can produce potentially toxic reactions with acidic ingredients like wine, lemon juice and tomatoes.

Jeannine, where'd you get your cool chandelier?

I am glad you all like the mirrors.

Smiles:)

I love mirrors. I have several new ones purchased from Pier 1, TJMaxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods, etc. I have a number of vintage, mostly found at garage and estate sales. Shipping is usually expensive on a mirror, so I just look locally. And if you find one, you need to buy it without worrying about the eventual location. Most every mirror can find a home, you just may need to move something else. And keep your mind open to finishes. If it's silver and you don't like silver, but the frame is lovely, then just get some Sophisticated Finishes or Rub n' buff or craft paint, and put the finish on that you want. Be careful, too, when hanging one. You really need a cutout of the mirror to tape on the wall first, that way, you don't have to redrill holes and put in anchors.

Red

Scooby - I really like the mirror there. Very pretty.

My3dogs - Great story and love your new mirror and copper trays.

For the twin mirrors for our master bath, I found some tapestry fabric that I had them insert. All the fabric inserts are under glass, BTW.

This stained glass framed mirror was made for us by my cousin who's a stained glass artist. I hung it here in our family room to reflect light from the window wall opposite it.

I once had this "great" idea to hang a collage of old mirrors where this painting is now in our MBR. I quickly realized that I did NOT like waking up to 20 reflections of me and my bedhead in the mornings! I'm now much happier waking to this lovely Santa Fe view.

Lynn

Be careful, too, when hanging one. You really need a cutout of the mirror to tape on the wall first, that way, you don't have to redrill holes and put in anchors.

To expand on what Red said, I have a very large and heavy mirror hanging on 3 OOK triple hangers spaced evenly behind the mirror. No anchors needed. Love the OOK hangers, they can hold a lot of weight with minimal holes in the wall. I put clear bumpers on the bottom rear of the mirror frame so it hangs straight, not at a tilt. Saves wear on the paint that way, too.

Natureperson, I bought these on a whim b/c they sent me a email about them being on sale- instead of of the set being $499 my total before shipping was around 300 - I also used a 15% coupon. Here is one for you to use on an order over $200 or more CJ9TY152 . Maybe if you call & speak to someone & say you were about to order the mirror when it was on sale & life happened - would they still honor the sales price?

Also, for anyone else interested in ordering from Ballard - I signed up with them on their website - placed items in the cart - life really did happen & couldn't complete the order so they sent me via email a 15% off coupon for my next order!! Recession shopping!!

Smiles:)

Newhomebuilder, your before/after butler's pantry pics should be in a textbook. Amazing, clear difference caused by one element. Almost like a lab experiment.

All of these are so beautiful. Does anyone have convex mirrors? (Did I miss one being posted? I checked all the round mirrors but maybe it wasn't clear) They're my personal favorite for decorative mirrors.

Jan