Lustrous Lacquer

Hallway by Steven Gambrel

As I may have mentioned before, I love lacquer! The effect of this wonderful finish is sleek and watery, and light can't help but bounce around in the space.

Living room by Melissa Rufty

The polish of the lacquer sheds the walls' flat, rigid appearance, and they suddenly become three dimensional, acting almost like a mirror would by creating depth.

Miles Redd discussed this entryway during his Antiques in the Gardens speech, saying that he wanted to offset the owners' dark, inherited furnishings with playful color and shimmering surfaces.

Faye Cone took out a hefty staircase here, replacing it with this floating model, and then lacquered the adjacent wall to create even more airiness and fluidity.

Room by Melissa Rufty

Nate Berkus opts to lacquer only the ceiling in this bright Florida poolhouse, contrasting the warmth of the chocolate color with the watery coolness of the lacquer's polish. Below, he goes all out with a deep blue in a New York library.

Hallway by Todd Klein

Goodness, how I would love to come home to this entry hallway every day! The color and finish are ethereal and, to me, sheer perfection!

If you're going to go with lacquer, why not go all out, as Thomas Britt does in this rich, sultry living room. The contrast of purple and green is opulent, and the lacquer acts as the sparkling jewelry on this regal ensemble.

Although achieving the lacquered finish in these photos is no easy feat (generally requiring the work of a seasoned professional), the effect is priceless: creating space and light and.... well, luster.

Mirror, mirror, on the wall....

Unknown

As I mentioned in my previous post, I cannot get enough of mirrors. I love how they enhance a space, making it feel larger and more polished. Although they cannot take the place of engaging artwork, mirrors are a design necessity in my eyes, creating focal points and vignettes in just about any space.

I absolutely love the antique mirror above, used here as a headboard. The piece takes the existing glamour in the room to a new level, and adds dimension and openness that one in a dark wood finish could not.

Photo by Chris Court

Again, the mirror is creating the illusion of space in this already large office. It adds sparkle and depth, and is quite the appropriate accessory for its fashionable surroundings.

In this lovely, albeit tidy, foyer by William Hodgins, the mirror is functional in that it is nice to take a quick glance at yourself before heading into the world. However, it also acts as a tool to punctuate the scale of the space, ascending all the way to the moldings. (Note the monumental scale of the lantern and mirror, the residential scale of the sconces and door-framing windows, and the human scale of the chairs and table.)

Design by Christopher Coffin

I love trumeau mirrors, and this one is no exception. The finish is neutral but the carvings are intricately elegant; a perfect match with the other proper, yet almost-rustic, furnishings.

I love this dining room in the home of Sonia Kashuk, successful makeup artist and entrepreneur. It is so bright and airy, yet cozy and comfortable. The way the gilded, overscale mirror is casually leaned against the wall further accentuates the easy elegance of the space.

Angie Hranowsky creates a mod vignette in a dining room, contrasting the clean lines of a dresser and crisp white accessories with a swirling gold mirror. I love how the mirror is small and off center, perfectly unexpected!

Mirrors can also be used as wallcoverings, of a sort. Here, Todd Alexander Romano accents a seating area with a panel of antique mirrors. The blend of textures here is wonderful: the parquet floor, velvet bench, leopard print pillows, glimmering mirrors, and the rich darkness of the oil painting.

Melissa Rufty also opts for antique mirrors in her New Orleans home, filling the interior of an antique, carved overdoor with squares of antique mirrors. This seems to give the room more history, and a feeling of permanence. The silk curtains, oriental rug, and crystal chandelier add classy touches of Southern charm as well.

In this fabulous room by Todd Klein (featured in House Beautiful), the mirror is juxtaposed against clean, black-and-white furnishings and a cool blue backdrop. The shimmer of the gold frame, the elaborate bird and leaf design, as well as the scale of the piece make it a showstopper in this space.

How gorgeous!

One last pic from another fabulous Southern designer, Hal Williamson. His interiors are just magical. (You must check out the entire house, when it was featured here in House Beautiful!)

I am already partial to pink, silk, and glittering Venetian mirrors so, to me, this composition is sheer perfection! So beautiful!

Have a great weekend!