Mirrors can create magic, enchant spaces

We arrived on the appointed evening, perhaps a bit earlier than we should have, as we didn’t want to miss a minute of soaking up the fabulous ambience — not to mention the divine food. The valet took the car and we entered protected from the cold night air by the porte cochere that graced the main entrance of his magnificent Italianate home. It was a joy to visit with him at any time of the year, but especially so during the glittering, festive holiday season.

Talk about decking the halls with boughs of holly. It was a glorious sight to behold with most of the rooms lit primarily by candlelight that reflected off the mirrors that seemed to be everywhere.

It’s funny, but I didn’t recall so many of them. I remember thinking that they must have been part of our original design plan, which, of course, they were. But nonetheless, it was as though I was seeing them for the first time. I was bowled over not only by the beauty of the decorative frames, but by the enchantment that they created that evening. I understood more clearly than ever why mirrors are often used in magic to create an illusion, just as they can in a home.

After the last course had been served, I took a deep breath and leaned back in my chair, when I once more surveyed the dining room in all its formal, traditional beauty and focused my attention yet again on the mirrors in the room and the candlelight so gloriously reflected in them. Yes, I thought to myself, antique mirrors certainly go a long way in creating a feeling and sense of softness. They really are often works of art in themselves that can bring color and texture to a space, as witnessed by the room I was sitting in and all through this fabulous home.

The next day, still feeling dazzled by my extraordinary evening with our client, I further reflected on the use and placement of mirrors in my profession, so impressed by the spell that they had woven by their functional elegance. Curious as to how it had all begun, I discovered that mirrors, in some form or another, have been in use for the last 5,000 years and that the original idea probably was born by ancient man seeing his reflection in a pool of water. My first thought was that it must have been that ego-driven Narcissus.

Early mirrors were little more than a sheet of polished metal, often silver, copper or bronze, while most modern mirrors are made of a thin layer of aluminum deposited on a sheet of glass. The glass is then polished and becomes an effective base for the reflective layer of metal.

It’s interesting that such a simple concept could give rise to something so essential to every home, no matter the style. Designers use them anywhere and everywhere to create an illusion of depth and space.

For example, I’ve used a mirrored door at the end of a short hallway to make it appear longer and brighter. The results are sheer magic. Used over a sofa or mantel in place of a piece of art and you have an instant and glorious focal point for your room. And if, at the same time, it can reflect a beautiful outdoor scene as well as the sunlight coming into the space, then you’ve really hit the jackpot.

Recently, I designed the interior for a rather small master bedroom in the American Society of Interior Designers’ showcase house and called on the magic of the mirror to help increase the size of the space and reflect the glorious view opposite the bed by employing one of my favorite tricks of the trade. I placed a large vertical mirror over each night table that not only opened the room and created a whole new dimension, but also reflected the light from the table lamp in the evening as well as the sunlight during the day. It works like a charm every time.

And let’s not forget that mirrors also can be used on the backs of display cabinets and étagères to reflect a treasured possession, while at the same time adding intensity and drama to your design.

Their use in entryways, with or without an accompanying console table, is practically a given, as is their extensive use among feng shui practitioners, who have affectionately referred to them as “the aspirin of feng shui” because when they’re properly placed, mirrors have the ability to transfer beneficial chi (energy) into a given space. Remarkable.

It’s plain to see why mirrors, with all their wonderful magical abilities, have fascinated people for as long as they have and will no doubt continue to do so. I implore you not to leave your mirrors just for the bathroom or behind the bedroom door, but to bring them out into the open where they can dazzle and transform your home, as they “mirror” your own individual style.

Stephen Leon is a licensed interior designer and president of Soleil Design International; he has been designing and manufacturing custom furniture and cabinetry for more than 25 years. He has served on the board of directors of the Central California/Nevada Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers. Questions can be sent to stephen@soleil designinternational.com.