Venetian mirrors

A few years ago, when I was driving past an antique store in Laguna Beach, I saw an ornate Venetian mirror in the window.  I visit Laguna Beach every year, and saw that same mirror in the window year after year; it would catch my eye each time.  One year I decided to stop by and see the mirror in person.  It was very, very expensive, amazingly ornate, and quite beautiful.  On my most recent trip to Laguna Beach last summer, I noticed that the mirror was not in the window anymore. I am hoping that it sold to a wonderful person who is hanging it in a place of honor in their house.

Recently, I have been noticing Venetian mirrors more than ever. My interest in Venetian mirrors is somewhat surprising to me, as the style is often ornate and I tend to like things a bit simpler (except for chandeliers!).  Also, they tend to be more ‘glam’ in style than what I usually gravitate towards. But for some reason, Venetian mirrors have really been catching my eye lately.

According to a source on Yahoo, “Venetian mirrors are made up of long lines and sweeping arches [with] polished edges and mirrored borders. They're available in a variety of shapes, including rectangles, ovals and circles. Some even have delicate etching around the perimeter of the glass. The feminine rosettes that adorn each Venetian mirror are gracefully ornate”.  The detail, artistry, and style in Venetian mirrors give them a distinct look, whether they are antiques or reproductions.

Here are some of my favorite rooms with Venetian mirrors – which one is your favorite?

This beautiful living room designed by Kendall Wilkinson has my favorite style of Venetian mirror, the octagon with an ornamental flourish on the top.  This particular mirror is an antique that was found in Paris.

A Venetian mirror fits perfectly within the paneling on the wall of a Paris apartment. Note the beautiful flower detail etched on the glass, and the lovely reflection in the mirror. Found on Pinterest.

This more clean lined Venetian mirror, with a band of black, looks perfectly at ease in this more streamlined décor by Kevin Carrigan (Elle Décor).

The detailed design of this Venetian mirror creates high drama in this small space.

I spotted this Venetian mirror on katiedid. It’s in a room designed by Josephine Fisher for the 2011 San Francisco Decorator Showhouse.

Another Venetian mirror seen on katiedid, from a local holiday home tour.

By placing a Venetian mirror in front of a window, a vanity area is created. The soft curves and feminine style of the mirror is ideal in this space designed by Miles Redd.

A beautiful mirror, although I wish the reflection were a bit more interesting! Maybe at eye level it is. Design by Eleanor Cummings.

A small and delicately styled oval Venetian mirror is the perfect touch in this ethereal room. Source unknown.

De Gournay handpainted wallpaper and a Venetian mirror seem like a natural fit – both are so graceful and feminine.  This dining room was designed by Martyn Lawrence Bullard, as seen in Architectural Digest.

Another example of a dining room with hand painted wallpaper (I think this might be Gracie) and a beautiful Venetian mirror. Design by Mark Sikes.

I found this beautiful picture on the de Gournay website – handpainted wallpaper (this pattern is de Gournay’s ‘Askew’) and a Venetian mirror is an amazing combination. I wish I could find a full view of this room – it’s a shame the top of the mirror is cropped out! This might just be my new favorite dining room picture – I love everything about it, the color palette, the feminine style.  Design by London based Alison Henry.

Here is the London house of designer Alison Henry – note the matching Venetian mirrors above the fireplaces (one is antique, one an exact reproduction).  She also has two Venetian mirrors in her bedroom – clearly she loves the style. This was a WSJ house of the day in 2012,  Image source.

I have had this picture saved for a few months – it was possibly the inspiration for this post!  Paloma from La Dolce Vita featured it as a room of the week in December. Design by On Madison.

A bathroom designed by Suzanne Kasler Interiors features a beautiful Venetian mirror mounted on a wall with an antiqued mirror.

A very clean-lined style Venetian mirror looks beautiful in this gray and purple room. 

Another purple and gray room with a Venetian mirror – I am seeing a trend here! Image source.

This is one of my favorite images found in January, and I didn’t really clue into the Venetian mirror until researching this post. The soft and feminine of the style works beautifully in this room.

A bold dining room has it all, including a statement making Venetian mirror. Image source.

I like this image because it shows the versatility of a Venetian mirror (albeit a simpler design) in more streamlined décor.

One of my all time favorite vignettes, designed by John Saladino – and it has a charming small Venetian mirror.

This much blogged about bathroom, designed by Tricia Huntley, deserves a spot in the Venetian mirror hall of fame – it’s a beautiful mirror made even more interesting by hanging it on top of a mirrored wall.

Another image from the Venetian mirror hall of fame, I couldn’t resist using it in this post – this space is so beautifully designed, and the mirror is the perfect touch. Attributed to the Gerald Pomeroy Design Group.

As a contrast, a more richly colored space utilizes a Venetian mirror to great effect. I always read that the powder room is a place where designers can use a lot of drama to great effect, and Venetian mirrors seem to be a favored way of doing this. Found on Pinterest.

I love the way this photo was framed up – the room is seen in the reflection of a beautiful Venetian mirror. Design by Ashley Whittaker, via House Beautiful.

The living room of the same apartment by Ashley Whittaker, via House Beautiful.

This space is beautiful for so many reasons – the architecture is lovely, and the chandelier looks right up my alley. However, it is the Venetian mirror that is a standout of the space, with its tall lines and ornate style.

This is one of my favorite rooms by New Orleans designer Gerrie Bremermann.  There is a matching mirror on the other side of the window.  Although this is not an ornately styled Venetian mirror, I would categorize it as Venetian in style due to the style, the rosettes, and the mirrored frame.  Photo credit Tria Giovan.

Here is a view of both mirrors. I love both the mirrors and the Italian consoles underneath – so beautiful.  Image via Cote de Texas, from the book Southern Living Style: Easy Updates*Room by Room Guide*Inspired Design Ideas. Click here to see on Amazon.

In the same room, on the other side, is a beautiful vignette – a more classic style Venetian mirror with blue accents.

So, what do you think of Venetian mirrors? I think this post shows that they can go in just about any room, and blend with many styles of décor.  Do you have a favorite picture? I would have to say this one below is my favorite – the dining room in Mayfair (London) – I wish I could see the whole room (and the whole mirror)!

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HORSLEY KAUFMAN is an online gallery featuring creations by Atlantans Linda Horsley and Margaret Kaufman. Their collection of fine soft goods is created with hand-selected antique textiles and trims and the highest quality modern materials. The addition of fine dressmaker detailing elevates each piece to an original work of art. WWW.HORSLEYKAUFMAN.COM

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French Style: Tall Mirrors and Paneled rooms

I started writing this post weeks ago, and kept finding image after beautiful image (most of which are in this post – it’s a long one!). I finally had to force myself to stop researching and start writing.

Earlier this year, I went to a tour of homes and was particularly struck by the look and feel of one of the houses.  The house was built in 1993, and has a wonderful floor plan, great natural light, and 11 foot ceilings.  The current owner purchased the house a few years ago, and enlisted the original architect to update the house to suit 21st century life. 

The mirror above the mantel in the living room particularly caught my eye. The tall proportions of the mirror are so elegant, and so perfect for the architecture and style of the house.

The mirror is perfectly sized to the space – the width exact to the width of the mantel, the height right up to the base of the molding. The Greek key pattern on the frame is a subtle detail.  I took a quick iphone photo, and later asked the homeowner where the mirror came from.  She told me that it came with the house, as it is built in. 

Although the room itself is not paneled, the style and design of this mirror reminded me of the many paneled  rooms I have seen in which the mirror is incorporated into the paneling and made an integral part of the architecture of the room.

The mirror in this Paris living room reminds me of the mirror from the house on the tour – perhaps because of its custom fit proportions, and the great height in this tall and airy room. Via Pinterest.

The mirror above the fireplace in this Paris apartment also has a similar look and feel. Note how the width of the mirror is the same as the width of the fireplace, and how the mirror is perfectly sized almost as if it is a piece of paneling in this room. Source.

Here is a side view of that same space, and the mirror profile and molding can be seen quite clearly.

Here is another view of this beautiful room. The wall between the windows shows how the mirror repeats the size and shape of the paneling on the walls.  The mirror beautifully reflects that sublime Parisian light, and provides lovely balance to the room.

Many of the inspiration pictures that I found for this post came from Paris apartments. A tall mirror above the fireplace, often incorporated into the paneling of the room and part of the architecture of the space, seems to be a style that is very French.  It works beautifully with the lofty ceilings and the tall windows and doors that bring in so much light in classic Paris apartments and French houses.

I love the simple style and large scale of the mirror and molding above, which is integrated into the molding. The shape and style repeats the arches of the windows and the framed opening of the door.  As a side note, it’s interesting that the furniture plan for this room is centered on the room, not the fireplace.  Source

Designer Thomas Pheasant’s Paris apartment has a charming mirror above the fireplace. This type of mirror that is incorporated into the paneling was probably designed and crafted as part of the original architectural envelope of the apartment.

Thomas Pheasant’s first book was released a few weeks ago; it’s called Simply Serene. The cover features a vignette from his Paris apartment. The book can be found on Amazon here.  Thomas designed the interiors of my sister’s newly renovated house, and gave me a personally signed copy of the book. I am reading it this weekend!

Initially, I had a hard time finding pictures of mirrors that are incorporated into paneling, as I could not land upon a search term that yielded good results. Finally, I decided to search on ‘chic Paris apartments’, and found some excellent classic examples such as this salon in a French apartment, with traditional paneled walls that integrate two mirrors into the paneling.

Another classic example of a French paneled room (an architect told me the correct term for the carved panels is boiserie). Note the mirrors built into the paneling above the fireplace and on the walls.

A room in a Paris apartment that is currently for sale – the absence of decoration allows appreciation of the pure architecture of the room, including the classic boiserie ensconced mirror above the fireplace. As a side note, what a beautiful door leading to the hall.

More elaborate examples were easier to find. This room is in Château de Montgeoffroy, via a Cote de Texas post.  It is such a strikingly French room – the floors, the French doors, the interior shutters, the carved boiserie, the furniture layout – all are hallmarks of classic French style.   I see different things each time I look at this image, and this time I am noticing the beauty of the architectural mirror above the fireplace. Note how the the detail of the carvings around the arch of the doors is identical to the detail around the arch of the mirror. I wonder if they are the exact same measurement?

A view of the other side of the room shows that the interior door openings are identically designed.

Another highly ornamental example of a boiserie room (I lost my source – perhaps in the Grand Trianon?).  The carved moldings were often gilded to emphasize the form.

Timothy Corrigan has a new book detailing the extensive five year renovation and restoration of his extraordinary French chateau in the Loire Valley. There are many of beautifully paneled rooms that incorporate mirrors, including this room above.  

The book is An Invitation to Chateau du Grand-Lucé: Decorating a Great French Country House.  If anyone has read it, let me know your thoughts – it is on my wish list. I have heard great things about it, and wish I could have attended his lecture in Atlanta last week. The book can be found on Amazon here. Note the elaborate carved paneling and the mirror in the cover room – so beautiful.

Another example from a Paris apartment.  Note the elaborate ceiling, seen in the reflection. Source.

The Paris apartment of Mario and Anne Grauso, featured in Elle Décor many years ago, via Habitually Chic. Note the trumeau detail in the glass panes.

I appreciate the contrast of the 19th century boiserie and the sleek and modern style of the décor. It appears that the mirror is part of the paneling, and the edge is gilded. The style of the carving on the mirror is more in reference to the paneling on the walls versus the elaborate style at the ceiling.  I appreciate how the height of the mirror emphasizes the glorious height of the room. The carved decorative piece above the mirror is another important detail – and it appears that this element is matched on the other side of the room, based on the reflection in the mirror.

Found on Pinterest, a decidedly modern take on a classic French paneled room. This looks like it could be a separate mirror, or it could be part of the carved molding of the room, gilded for contrast. I am not sure what I think about the lettering on the mirror, but the bones of the room are extraordinary. Note the interesting take on the chevron pattern on the floor.

 

I love this modern take on a paneled mirror, in a sophisticated room by designer Stephen Sills (photo by Heather Clawson of Habitually Chic).  This apartment is from a historic building that was recently renovated top to bottom; the apartment is one of the projects featured in Stephen Sills’ new book Decoration, which is one of fall’s most anticipated design books. Decoration is being released next week; click here to get a preview on Amazon. It looks sublime!

A project by famed designer Robert Couturier was featured in Elle Décor in a spread called “Francophile Fantasy in New York”.  In this no budget renovation, Couturier and the clients decided to create interiors inspired by 18th century French style; all of the boiseries and wall moldings throughout the apartment are made by Féau & Cie in Paris.  The vignette pictured above particularly caught my eye because of the mirror, and I love how an additional mirror was hung on top.

 

This room beautifully displays the French style, with the tall paneled mirror, and the addition of the antlers to cap it off is the perfect touch to balance the formality of the design. I really like the chaise that is placed in front of the fireplace – an unusual furniture arrangement. I wonder what the rest of the house (or apartment) looks like? I am not sure where this picture is from, it was found on Pinterest.

Design by Richard Halsberg and Barbara Wisely. A beautiful modern day example of a mirror incorporated into the carved panel design of a room.

Greet Lefevre’s family company specializes in exquisite custom design and hand crafted paneling. I found this beautiful example of her company’s work on her blog Belgian Pearls. I love the trumeau style detail of the mirror – note how it is split into two pieces.

So, after a many different inspirational images, from Belgium to France to the East Coast to the West Coast, back to the original inspiration for this post in Atlanta.  What I originally appreciated about this from the moment I saw it was a fresh take on French style. The feeling is created by incorporating a tall, elegant, and perfectly proportioned mirror, created with carved molding in a delicate Greek key pattern .  It is not necessary to have a room with elaborate molding to create this look and feel, but high ceilings are a must if the mirror is going to be placed above a mantle.

What do you think of this style – does it speak to you?  Creating this post was such a pleasure as it reminded me how much I love French architectural details. I particularly like seeing spaces in France that are hundreds of years old, being lived in and decorated for the 21st century. And, how aspects of 18th and 19th century French architecture and interiors are being incorporated into designs today.

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