A t a pond, observe the changing appearance of the water at calm and when the wind churns the surface.

Below, designer Steve Hedrick used a large Italianate mirror to reflect added architectural elements, which he incorporated into this private home in Benson, N.C.

Throw in a pebble. Watch the pattern of a passing boat. Switch your vantage point, and the effects change. Reflections have fascinated mankind since ancient times. They continue to make a difference today in our daily lives and routines.

Magicians and illusionists perform tricks with mirrors in their acts. Cameras, telescopes, measuring devices, periscopes, microscopes, and binoculars employ mirrors to amplify, lengthen, shorten, broaden, enlarge, and intensify.

Homeowners are learning to use some of these same functions by decorating their homes with mirrors. Feng shui suggests you can double the energy with a properly placed mirror.

Interior designers praise mirrors for their versatility. Read what some local tastemakers have to say. Their comments give credence to the enthusiasm for the use of mirrors in a variety of ways.??

EXPERT OPINIONS

STEVE HEDRICK, freelance consultant and multi-media designer, relates to the support feature of reflection, stating, “Mirrors reflect personality, set an architectural tone, and are an aid to preview or announce your visuals. For example, you may have a piece of furniture which is the most important piece you own but is situated on a wall where you will not see it on approach. Placing a mirror in the right place can highlight the piece at first glance — first impressions are so important. Multiple mirrors (hung in one area) are useful to restate or expand upon a color, pattern, or texture theme.”

LINDA HUNT, owner of Creatively Yours Custom in Mechanicsville, takes another approach in her own home. “I lightened a dark room with a series of sea scenes framed with mirrors to bounce off the light,” she reports.
Designer KAREN AUSTIN of Apropos suggests, “Don’t be afraid to use large expanses of mirrors as they blend in with the other furnishings. The end result is a wonderful glow that permeates the space. A word of caution: be mindful of what the mirrors reflect.”

JENNY MORGAN, project manager at Ethan Allen Interiors, adopts a philosophical view on mirrors, saying, “Mirrors create a feeling of depth in an area and have a ‘doubling’ effect on space. Mirrors are a reflection of our inner soul. They are a measure of our outer influence in the world. Mirrors show the beautiful paths life has taken us down. So what if that reflection has changed!”

JANET BOURNE of Janet Bourne Interiors observes, “Mirrors are a beautiful asset in any environment. They add the finishing touch to your home, just like jewelry does for your person. Often I use mirrors as art to gain the wow factor.”

See how designer Geoffrey Bradfield uses mirrors in his urban refuge in the September issue of Architectural Digest magazine.