ON REFLECTION

Mirrors bounce light and energy around a room

Mirrors don’t compete in a design, rather they reflect and complete it. They can be the stealth warriors of the decorative design arsenal, capturing light and merging into their backdrops, while quietly transforming, skilfully expanding and subtly re-energizing their environment. But they can also be magnificent aesthetic statements in their own right. Large mirrors can stand proud on the floor, be framed like precious artworks or hung in groups. Smaller, wall-mounted mirrors can be cleverly configured in pleasing compositions, in order to gently enliven a room without detracting from the surrounding finishes or being too overwhelming. I think of mirrors as exquisite pieces of jewellery for the home: they are beautiful adornments, whether modern, vintage or custom-made, adding that all-important finishing touch of elegance and intrigue.

With its mirrored, rippled surface of nickel-plated copper sheeting, the Porta Romana Waterfall wall light frames a distorted reflection of the bed opposite. The pale grey bedcover and cushions on it are uplifted by a pop of colour in the form of an aquamarine silk velvet runner, which matches the cushion on the grey Amy Somerville armchair.

The graphic lines of the mirror’s dark-stained oak frame, at sharp right angles to the black skirting board and parquet floor, are offset by the reflection of the lacquered top and cylindrical copper base of the Robert Kuo table. Set against a silver-leaf feature wall in an entrance hall, the large mirror helps to bounce light around the space and make it feel larger.

Circles are a symbol of wholeness, completion, eternity and perfection. Circular mirrors are one of my signature accessories. I use them in groups, in pairs or singly, depending on the effect I want to achieve. As with all mirrors, they reflect light and energy around a space, and the curved shape is a great counterpoint for the straight lines of the grid. Designs incorporating swirls and scrolls have a similar effect and bring a wonderfully organic feel to a space.

Made up of a series of different-sized circular mirrors with deep metal frames, this design from DK Home is like a reflective art installation, suggestive of dividing cells. Hung opposite ways up on either side of a kitchen doorway, they bring a sense of movement and balance to the space, and soften the lines of the crisply contrasting joinery. The smaller version of the same design, seen through the open door, draws the eye and creates continuity between the two spaces.

With their distorted reflections of a kitchen, this arrangement of five convex mirrors (above left) brings a quirky, dynamic feel to the space. The straight lines of the joinery reflected in this Porta Romana Pioche mirror (above right) accentuate its curves and vice versa. Cloakrooms are great spaces to indulge in a bold pattern, and this bronze sculpted and twisted frame works beautifully on the gold-and-charcoal Botanic wallpaper I designed for Graham & Brown.

This exquisitely carved, gold-finished mirror by Christopher Guy is one of a pair in a hallway, reflecting the open-plan living and dining space opposite, with its Jeremy Cole Aloe Blossom pendant and Promemoria and Kelly Hoppen furniture.

An ornate mirror fashioned from gold-leaf metal circles reflects a pair of gold metallic pendant lights that hang above a dining table, creating an opulent mood for entertaining.

An irregular-shaped gold mirror from David Gill, with its extravagant swirls and curves, is an ornate accent piece in a neutral interior.

Deep-framed anthracite metal mirrors in another organic configuration make an ever-changing artwork on the wall of a seating area.

In my entrance hall, a single round mirror, originally found on the side of a railway in Eastern Europe and repainted, softens the lines of the bespoke pivoting wooden shutters that I designed, the black-and-white marble floor and the sculptural chair by Gallerie 16, while reflecting the walkway through to the breakfast snug beyond.

Two large convex mirrors flank the doorway to one of my spare bedrooms, bouncing the light around the corridor and creating interesting reflections. The pair of vintage benches below them echoes their curves and reinforces the balanced effect.

Grouping a series of iron-framed mirrors together on a bedroom wall creates an organic installation, which gives beautiful reflections of the bed and decorative crystal lighting.

An oversized floor-standing mirror enhances the feeling of space and light as well as providing a witty reflection of the circular Ball chair.