NO PLACE LIKE HOME -- karen wight

A mirror hung in the right place in your home is like kismet, all the

elements coming together in an unexpected way to create a perfect union.

A mirror can do what other artwork cannot.

Though it can be framed like a masterpiece, a mirror reflects the other

beauty created in your home (or garden), lets light shine when there was

none before and creates a complexity that changes with every setting and

time of day.

Mirrors can be easy and difficult all at once. The easy part comes in the

beginning. Beautiful mirrors are relatively easy to find. Most stores

that carry home furnishings have an ample selection of mirrors. And

mirrors are inexpensive when you compare them with artwork, so you can

splurge without guilt.

They come in a great variety, almost any shape you can imagine, mirrors

can be plain or beveled, and whether you frame them or let their beauty

stand on their own, mirrors are a design element that have a place in

every home.

There are a few places where mirrors are requisite. An entry hallway can

always use a mirror. I remember in college that there were two large

mirrors in the foyer of my sorority house and believe me; those mirrors

saw plenty of action. Sometimes just a quick glance to make sure there

were no embarrassments waiting to happen and sometimes those mirrors saw

entire make-overs done in record time. Guys are right in there too, so no

snickering from the sidelines. I’ve seen that Fonz-like caress to the

hair from my male companions on many occasions.

Speaking of vanity, the back of a closet is another must-have. You need

to see all of you at once, not just half at a time. These mirrors can be

plain or you can live a little and get one with a beveled edge. I like

the look of a beveled mirror hung on its own, without a frame. This

functional mirror can be hung on the back of a door, on a wall in the

closet, or in a place in your bathroom that’s appropriate.

Now for mirrors of the decorative kind. Let’s start with the living room.

If you have a wall that is opposite a lovely view, that spot is your best

candidate for a mirror. To see a garden or a tree or an ocean view

reflected in a mirror can only double the amount of beauty. Be sure to

hang it so it fits into the scheme of your room and also reflects the

intended subject matter.

Another great area to place a mirror is in the back of a china hutch or

display cupboard, particularly if there is built-in lighting. A mirror

that fits in flush with the back wall will not only double the amount of

crystal or china displayed, it will increase the light reflections and

create a magnificent display and lighting source.

One word of warning when hanging your mirrors: try not to hang them in a

way that cuts up the subject matter too much (particularly if the subject

matter is you). There is something very disconcerting about looking at

pieces of you. Whether you call it common sense, feng shui or just good

decorating, make sure your mirror doesn’t cut you off at the knees or

leave you without facial features.

If you have a more contemporary setting, choose a simple beveled mirror

with an interesting shape and hang it with clear clips. If you choose a

framed mirror to coordinate with your decorating scheme, be sure to pick

a frame that will not be too washed out when your mirror is doing its job

of casting light and images back into the room.

Be brave and use a frame that is bolder than you might select ordinarily.

This is the time to stretch your limits and surround your reflection with

the grace it deserves.

I have seen mirrors used in the garden in inventive ways. My favorite

example is a mirror placed behind a square pond on a sheltered patio wall

that literally creates the look of a long reflective pool at first

glance. Vines that blur its hard edges and increase the ethereal feeling

of the garden surround the mirror. There is unexpected beauty on that

patio and in that garden where a limited space suddenly becomes unlimited

and its reach, quite magically, extends beyond our grasp.

Kismet.

* KAREN WIGHT is a Newport Beach resident. Her column runs Saturdays.