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Showing posts with label small houses. Show all posts
Showing posts with label small houses. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Mirror, Mirror On The Wall...

I love the effect that a mirror can have on a room.  It has nothing to do with vanity, but more to do with the reflective qualities.  As you may remember from earlier posts I am also a big fan of small homes, so when a large mirror is placed in a smaller space, the entire space is transformed.  All of a sudden, there are sparkles and reflections that were not there before... the appearance of the room changes all day and as the sun sets, the room takes on a subtle glow.  And as all of us girls know, this is the best light ever.  If we could only walk through life with the appearance of a setting sun on our faces, wow.

Reassembled Mirror eclectic mirrors
eclectic mirrors design

You may think that this is entirely too much thought put into adding a mirror to a space, but actually all I am doing is putting words to something that we all experience everyday.  And as an artist, I am always noticing the way light plays on objects and creates shadows.

Elaina Mirror  traditional mirrors

Mirrors can create the illusion of more space or open up an awkward space in a home.  Not only can they add this type of interest but they add variety.  When you walk into a home and the walls feature a blend of 2 dimensional pieces, 3 dimensional pieces and  mirrors or reflective surfaces are present, then the home has a more dynamic flow.  This is completely separate from the style of a home of course, as this is a good rule of thumb for any home from the most traditional to the most modern.

Take a look around your spaces.  Do you have any mirrors placed  throughout your home?  Do you have anything 3 dimensional on your walls, like a mask or a wall sculpture, antlers or a wreath?

Also, if you do have mirrors, are they hung at a level where they can reflect interesting items and textures in the room? Are they hung as part of a vignette with cool items that can be reflected in the mirror?  I am asking because I am sure we  have all visited  spaces where mirrors are hung so high on the wall, that the effects are almost nonexistent.  This is just a lost opportunity because unless you have a fabulous ceiling, you probably don't want to stare at a reflection of builder's white.

Reclaimed Wood Mirror eclectic mirrors

Take a look at the images below.  Notice the impact that the reflective surfaces have on the overall room.  It kinda makes ya want to go out and buy some more mirrors, huh?

William Hefner Architecture Interiors & Landscape traditional dining room


Stylish Responsibility Dining area eclectic dining room


Heather Garrett Design contemporary dining room

I would love to hear from you about any great sources for mirrors, or even see photos of your home and your use of mirrors!

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Livin' Large in a Tiny House

I always loved small houses.  I am not sure why, I can only guess that it has something to do with my allergic reactions to heavy duty cleaning...More space, more allergies.  No, not really.  I have always lived in small homes/apartments/sheds/dorms etc.  I use this variety of labels for my former abodes because well, frankly I think I have lived in at least one of each at some time in my life.




All of these homes have one common theme...they are all small (and very home-y, but this is a post about small living spaces).  It is NOT that I don't like large houses....I always appreciate any size home that is warm and reflects the personality of the owner.  I just ADORE small houses and I will always live in one.

Just a couple of reasons that I believe small house living is the way to go:

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