From House To Home

Q: Dear Christopher: I’m seeing all these huge, heavily-framed mirrors everywhere now. Why is that? Leila in Chesterfield, VA

A: Dear Leila: It used to be that the only mirrors you could buy at mass market were wardrobe mirrors. Even then, they were narrow, plain and designed to affix to the back of a bedroom door.

Today, mirrors measuring up to 9’ high by 4-5’ wide are now readily available. These large-framed mirrors have become the rage for several reasons. They originally showed up in hip hotels, restaurants and other cool public spaces. One of the first places I saw one was as part of a Philip Stark interior in the Delano hotel in South Beach Florida. Its frame was silver leaf and it was simply leaned against the wall creating what appeared to be another room beyond. We showcased it on one of my early shows in the 90s. They were not yet available in mass market and had to be custom built. But because of their memorable debut in these fashion-forward destination points, companies like Crate & Barrel and Pottery Barn got on the bandwagon too. Now they can be ordered online at Target--who knew?

Mirrors create the illusion of more space, can transfer light from an opposite wall’s window or door along with the view and are non-gender specific. That means that unlike artwork which can be very subjective, expensive or skew male or female tastes in subject matter, mirrors simply reflect the best part of a room doubling everything in its path. The frames add tremendous architecture much like molding does because the frame is molding. But it’s molding that’s not built-in and can be moved wherever you go.

These mirrors can be used leaning up against a wall with a table in front of them, or in a small nook a dining room table can be pushed up to the glass thus making a small table look twice as big. They can be hung on large walls in narrow spaces because they take up no more than a few inches of footprint. But I think the best thing about a huge mirror with a fabulous frame around it is that it’s safe in almost any interior--who doesn’t like an amazing mirror? And now with women and men wanting a say in how the home looks, oftentimes the mirror is the one thing they both can agree on.

Q: Dear Christopher: Is it just me or is everyone now selling shells and coral both real and fake? What’s the deal there? Aileen in Jackson, MS

A: Dear Aileen: Shells were considered for the beach bungalow only. If you wanted them you had to find them yourself or get them in remote specialty shops via the mail. Today, shells have become icons that are growing more popular as I write this. The shore attitude seems to remind people of freedom, romance, tranquility and nature. But it’s all about scale.

Small shells in lots of colors do not sell well, but white shells and bleached starfish are hot. Part of their appeal has to do with the new designer color schemes. High contrasts of dark walls and white objects are very much the rage as they were in the 1920s and then again in the forties. The bigger the shell, the greater the impact. That’s why many manufacturers are actually reproducing them larger than they can be found on the beach. Shells and corals are classic--if used sparingly--and therefore will remain forever timeless.

At this moment, with “going green” on our minds, these organic elements are and will become increasingly popular and more mainstream much like the evolution of bamboo. But remember, less is best and the art of restraint will serve you well. Otherwise a room could easily turn out looking like Captain Bob’s clam shack!