CasaSugar

Shopping For: Floor Mirrors

Elka Karl — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 05:00:44 PST

Every girl needs a full-length mirror. Without one, how can you efficiently gauge the success of an outfit, or decide whether or not a party frock is the right dress for the evening? Many times in the past, when I've gone without a full-length mirror, I've had to resort to standing on chairs in front of a vanity mirror, risking a turned ankle to ensure that my ensemble was up to snuff.

Of course, another great reason to add a full-length mirror is that it helps to visually expand a small space. Turn one on its side and use it over your fireplace mantel. Prop one against a wall to make a tiny bedroom appear more expansive. Or, place a full-length mirror opposite a window to reflect the light and open up the room.

If you're on a very strict budget, check out Young House Love's tutorial on framing out a door mirror. Their very thorough directions show you exactly how to turn a big box store mirror into something more customized and unique-looking. However, if you don't want to go through the trouble or lack the time, I've rounded up some gorgeous options. Check out a variety of floor mirrors, from reasonably priced, handsome pieces to some major splurges, below.

Psst, love the photograph in this post? You can buy it here.

Quick Tip: Add Antique Elegance to Your Home With Distressed Mirrors

Elka Karl — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 05:00:52 PST

While some homeowners may interpret a distressed, antique mirror as one in need of restoration, using a mirror that's lost some of its silvering can actually add a beautiful sense of history to a wall in your home.

Houzz has eight great ideas for decorating with distressed mirrors, which are definitely worth checking out. My favorite idea? Using distressed mirrors as a backsplash in a kitchen.

To get the look in your home, check out one of the options below.

Etsy Finds: Mirror, Mirror

Elka Karl — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 13:00:36 PDT

Mirrors are one of those taken-for-granted home accessories that you don't really think about until you need one. Case in point: we just replaced our closet doors, which were mirrored, and while I hated the dated look of the sliding mirrored doors, having a full-length mirror was very convenient. Now, it's time to upgrade to a more handsome full-length mirror for our home.

Whether you're looking for something large or small, rustic or modern, Etsy has some great choices from its stable of artisans. Let's take a look at some lovely looking glasses.

Roundup: Circular Mirrors

Elka Karl — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 09:48:07 PDT

A friend of mine has a fabulous collection of original art that's in a stack against her dining room wall. Why? Because she hasn't yet found the perfect round mirror to arrange her collection around. Adding a mirror to a gallery wall is an excellent way to add depth and light to a room, especially if you're working with a room that has too few windows. Whether you use a round mirror as part of a larger collection of wall art or choose to display it on its own, there are plenty of pretty choices on the market.

My current favorite is the Basswood Mirror ($300, middle row, left). The mirror's frame is covered with hundreds of end-cut basswood branches ranging in size from one-and-a-half inches in diameter all the way down to 1/16 of an inch! Each branch used has been cut by hand, sanded, and individually glued to the frame beneath.

Another favorite is the Williams and Sonoma Porthole Mirror Collection (on sale for $80-$100, middle row, center). Crafted from mango wood each mirror's frame is accented with an inner rim of brass.

To shop the rest of the mirrors, just click on each image!

How to Hang a Frameless Mirror - Tips For Lauren Conrad!

Julia Millay Walsh — Thu, 19 May 2011 10:20:00 PDT

Lauren Conrad recently shared this devastating photo on Twitter, writing, "Mid-meeting three mirrors fall off my wall and explode all over my office . . . for no reason at all." What a bummer!

I noticed that two of her mirrors are frameless, which can be trickier to hang than framed ones. Before y'all wind up in the same situation - poor thing! - I thought I'd give you the lowdown on how to hang a frameless mirror. This style is very common for the full-length mirrors many of us keep in our bedrooms and dressing rooms, so I hope these tips will come in handy.

Supplies:

A frameless mirror
A frameless mirror hanging kit (with mounting brackets, drywall anchor bolts, and screws)
A pencil
A Phillips-head screwdriver
A hammer
A measuring tape
A long, thin flathead nail

Continue reading to learn how.

Before and After: A Quick Mirror Makeover

Casa Community — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 04:45:01 PST

Here's a post from CasaSugar Community member h2urHome from the Su Casa group:

I found this mirror months ago and didn't know quite where to put it, but I'm a firm believer to buy what you love and what speaks to you, and it will all fall into place.

The picture doesn't do the ugly justice, if you look closely you'll notice gold specks all over the place. I'm not sure why everything in the '70s had gold speckles but they do!

When I started on my dining room table and sideboard I knew instantly where I was going to put the mirror, and all I had to do was paint it black!

See how the mirror looks after it was painted and hung!

Artist of the Day: Huw Griffith

Julia Millay Walsh — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 10:00:35 PDT

People these days have a terrible habit of painting and lacquering beautiful old mirrors, tables, and desks to give them "a modern update." On the other end of the spectrum, you have your shabby chic enthusiasts who rub and scrape up pieces of furniture in perfectly good condition to give them "the vintage look." While I'd much prefer antique furnishings be used as-is, and vice versa, there is one artist whose redesigns I don't mind. In fact, I covet them.

London-based designer Huw Griffith reimagines antique décor by covering 19th century mirrors in faded vintage fabric and reworking plywood conservatory chairs with vintage floral wallpaper. His one-of-a-kind mirrors are carefully antiqued and backed with rare textiles so that the papers show through parts of the glass. As he describes it, "Knock off the bits you don't want, and leave on the bits that you do." Before Griffith gets his hands on them, the pieces might've been overlooked at a flea market, but he gives them a time-worn look, transforming them into something more beautiful and nostalgic. He's also created commissioned art pieces from mercury glass bottles to painted mirror cabinet doors to mixed media mantel paintings for the likes of Paul Smith, Gordon Ramsay, Designers Guild, and more. And did I mention that he's also absolutely dashing? Take a gander at Huw's arresting artwork below.

View 10 Photos ›

Sale Alert: Horchow's Semiannual Wall Event

Julia Millay Walsh — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 08:00:08 PDT

If your walls could talk, they'd tell you to click over to Horchow and order some mirrors, artwork, or wall décor. Through Tuesday at 6 a.m. CT, the luxe home retailer is hosting its semiannual Wall Event, and all wall décor is 20 percent off, plus your order will ship for free! Just enter the code REFLECT at checkout to snag the deal. From paintings to tapestries to mirrors, there's plenty to choose from and lots to lust after. I'm particularly loving this set of Four Fretwork Mirrors ($236, reduced from $295). They've got a diva chinoiserie-style and would bring a little shimmer and pattern to an empty wall. Check out some more of my picks from the sale below!

Roundup: A Feel For Copper

CasaSugar — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 09:00:00 PDT

Though I've told you time and again that I won't be redecorating my home for Fall, I can't seem to keep autumnal palettes off of my mind. First it was these colorful Fall wallpapers and now I'm dreaming about the warm color of copper. The peachy metal plays well with silver and gold (the two other elements in its family in the periodic table), so it's quite a versatile finish for your home.

I love copper against deep eggplant and midnight blues. In fact, I think these Roost Copper Clad Mirrors ($212) would look smashing against this plum-colored chrysanthemum wallpaper. But if you're not sold on integrating so much of the dapper metal into your décor, there are plenty of smaller accessories and furniture items to choose from. Check out my picks below.

OnSugar Blog: Toys R Recycled

OnSugar Blog — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 05:00:29 PDT

Here's a post from OnSugar blog Think Magazine:

The creative power behind designers, especially ones who choose to recycle, never ceases to amaze me. Designer Ryan McElhinney recycles old toys (mostly action figures) by bonding them together and giving them a few coats of super high-end polyurethane lacquer.

Ryan started his career as a cartoonist, which comes through in the humorous décor pieces he designs today. Each piece is one-of-a-kind and takes about six weeks to make. Here are two examples of my favorite pieces. I believe he's been covered in the media on more than one occasion but I thought I'd share his work here too.

His concentration seems to be in lighting (one of my passions) and frames but he does create other things such as end tables and sofas. They're not made from toys, in fact they're the polar opposite. Very clean lines and surfaces make up his other offerings but the above examples are still my favorites.

Want to see more? Start following Think Magazine or start your own OnSugar blog!