Often we get asked questions about mirrors in general. Round? Oval? Square? Rectangular? Ahh yes, also lets not forget those less common shaped ones like hexagonal, octagonal, diamond shaped, etc…you see what I mean? The possibilities are endless! In addition should I choose a wooden frame, glass, metal, resin? Traditional? Modern? Ethnic? Contemporary? An antique? A flea market find? It sure gets confusing. The most important thing is loving it! Period.

When selecting a mirror think about where you’re going to place it. Above a buffet cabinet? An entrance? Over a sofa? In a bedroom above a vanity? On the ceiling above the bed?…we won’t go there, big lol! Hallways? Be sure that regardless of the shape you eventually choose  the proportion is right. You’ll know it just by playing around with ones you may already have just sitting in storage, lol. (My hubby was amazed at how many we had collected over the years after we recently did a massive cleanout of our storage space!) I love utilizing large mirrors in small spaces. It creates not only drama but makes a small room look much larger. Always have the mirror reflect or capture an object or multiple pieces that are very refractile and colorful. This brightens your surroundings naturally. The interaction of a mirror with beautiful things is aways a good thing. Not to mention checking ourselves out once in a while, lol! Well, for some people, several times a day!

So, walk around your home, assess the “dead” zones, especially ample wall spaces that may require a finished  or complete look. It is also not necessary to hang mirrors on the wall all the time. What we do in the store often is place them atop a large cabinet or console and lean them against the wall so it softens the total surface and sort of free floats on its own. We flank them with candle pillars, suspend really cool Moroccan lanterns in front of them to reflect more light, table lamps, vases with fresh flowers, and a plethora of all things from “in every corner” of the world. Trying to hang a mirror on the wall can be a challenge if the mirror is very heavy and it eliminates holes ( in my case, big holes) in the wall especially when you’re trying to hoist and carry one by yourself! Did you know that most handymen or guys and gals who do odd jobs around your town will help you hang up your mirrors and artwork for a very nominal fee? Trust me, its worth it especially if the mirror is oversized and weighs too much. They have all the nuts and bolts and things that you may not have to get the job done. Well, pardon me, but its time  to powder my face and touch up my lipstick…walking right now to my favorite mirror in the store:-)) Until next time..D.

Did you know that a buffet or console also makes a great dresser for storing clothes too? We recently re-merchandised a  buffet cabinet and instead of placing the obligatory serving bowls, trays, dishes, silverware, table linens, etc. we decided to place articles of clothing on the inner shelves and drawers. Any spaces that were exposed or open,  we put a lovely tray of candles or a handsome set of storage boxes that complemented the cabinet. As customers came in, they saw how we had utilized the buffet cabinet in a different way and some have now adapted this idea. One customer commented on how it forced her to become very tidy and orderly as opposed to shoving and stuffing all her dresser drawers and not being able to find anything! Lol.. I wanted to share this with you because a furniture piece doesn’t necessarily have to be used for what it was originally intended. Another example is a rectangular dining table. If you have a large area, whether it be adjacent to a master bedroom or in another room or part of your home, you can utilize a dining table as a large desk. A nice sturdy pedestal table makes a great alternative to a standard desk. If you work out of your home, you can place all of your pertinent accoutrements atop the table: books, files, laptop, desktop computer, a nice lamp, photos, etc…whatever you like. For those who live in small spaces, the table can certainly double as your dining table as well especially when entertaining guests. The typical height of a desk is 30-32″ as is a dining table, so the application works quite well. The cabinet shown above is called the Augustine Tall Credenza and is available now and can be ordered at the store. This is a beautiful cabinet and exudes an Old World Charm which can be infused in most design styles. It is made of heavy solid Acacia wood and the front panels are made of solid iron carvings. The table shown below is called the Santiago Pedestal table. Imagine this as a desk? It is 78″ in length. There’s plenty of room to add a comfy leather high back desk chair or whatever you like. 

At In Every Corner, we are here to give you these tips and ideas and to help you decide on how to effectively space plan your home. Whether you’re downsizing or expanding your living area, drop by our showroom, don’t be shy and ask us for designing ideas.:-)) Until next week….D.