Observing one’s image looms large in mythology and literature: ancient gods and goddesses believed their fate could be seen by staring at themselves in still water, and of course, we all remember what happened to Alice when she peered into that looking glass. Today’s interior designers know that a mirror is simply a room’s best friend, capable of brightening up a darkened corner, acting like a piece of art, or making a small space appear larger. Classic, cutting edge, retro, futuristic – there’s a style to suit every décor and whim.
So go ahead, put one in every room and let the light bounce, along with your step.
1) Who else but glam queen Kelly Wearstler could have designed this brass-framed beauty? Adorned with hand-set semi-precious stones, the 28 inch round Apatite Mirror’s metal finish will oxidize over time, adding another layer of luster to its already rich patina. Considering its bijoux style, a spot near a jewelry box might be best. ($9,800)
Kelly Wearstler, 8440 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, 323.895.7880 :: kellywearstler.com
2) If the fiercely stylish actress Tilda Swinton was a mirror, she’d be this one. Angular with clean edges the 45-by-47-inch Facettes Mirror was designed by one of Roche-Bobois’ most prolific collaborators, Frenchman Philippe Bouix, who created this set of polygonal shapes in an arresting mosaic-like pattern. ($1,780)
Roche-Bobois, 330 Hyland Ave., Costa Mesa, 714.557.1422 :: roche-bobois.com
3) Need to find that certain something to immediately amp up any room’s glamour
quotient? Try hanging the nature-inspired Spore mirror, designed by Washington, D.C.-based interior designer Barry Dixon. This eye-popping oval-shaped wonder is framed by pointed gold-painted wood that resemble sea anemones. ($1,800)
Bliss Home & Design, 3321 East Coast Highway, Corona del Mar, 949.566.0380 :: blisshomeanddesign.com
4) The color of the season – richly-hued azure – has never looked more dashing than on the Pagoda Blue mirror, a lacquered 32-by-54-inch model designed by local fave Barclay Butera for Mirror Image Home. Executed in cast resin, the Far East motif lends a splash of classicism to your walls. ($1,284)
Barclay Butera, 1745 Westcliff Drive, Newport Beach, 949.650.8570 :: barclaybutera.com
5) Of the small, thoughtful collection she recently created for Mirror Image Home, Bunny Williams’ Peridot Mirror may be our favorite. Edged in a minty green, the silver-leafed 27-by-54-inch piece is just like the design doyenne herself: elegant, unpretentious and altogether delightful. ($1,647)
Available through Kern & Company, 130 S. Cedros Ave., Solana Beach, 858.259.7722 :: kerncodesigns.com
6) The person staring back at you from this 40-inch round mirror will come with a slightly odd, though pleasing, hue: copper! With the metal having its moment in the design spotlight, the on-trend folks at Z Gallerie added it to their price-friendly repertoire. ($699)
Z Gallerie, South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa, 714.850.1081 :: zgallerie.com
7) Based on a Georges Chevalier-designed clock that hung in the window of Baccarat’s NYC store during its 1948 opening – another later occupied a wall in the Manhattan apartment of Arthur Miller and Marilyn Monroe – the made-to-order cut crystal Heritage Sun Mirror is limited to just 99 copies. Just … spectacular. ($65,000)
Baccarat Boutique, South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa, 714.435.9600 :: baccarat.com
8) Because its two sides are hand-carved from the abandoned roots of teak trees, no two
59.5-by-21-inch Big Sur mirrors are exactly alike. Its raw, natural style, conjuring up visions of rock-strewn beaches and wind-swept cliffs, makes it a good fit for any coastal crib. ($750)
HD Buttercup, 3305 Hyland Ave., Costa Mesa, 949.657.7100 :: hdbuttercup.com
9) Arteriors’ Sheba mirror could be cause for debate, or at least a double-take: is the design tribal or futuristic? Rendered in cast aluminum with a gleaming gold leaf finish, the
46-by-28-inch piece, which can be hung vertically or horizontally, has enough high style to be whatever you want. ($1,500)
Arteriors, 8620 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, 424.429.6855 :: arteriors.com
