Living room mirrors

Mirrors made to measure for the living room

Every mirror I make is built to measure in my workshop and framed by hand, so its proportions suit the wall it will hang on rather than a standard shop size. Placed well, a living-room mirror does more than reflect: it draws in daylight, lifts the light in the evening, and makes the room feel larger. The glass I use is clear SGG Miralite® Pure Diamant 4 mm OptiWhite, so the reflection stays true to colour and free of distortion.

The frame is built by hand from wood, with the corners joined on wooden dowels — a traditional joint that holds its shape for years. I finish the front, the sides and the back panel in the same colour, so the frame reads as one piece even when you see it at an angle. Depending on your room, that frame can be painted, hand-distressed, or gilded with genuine gold or silver leaf — not every mirror is gilded, and the choice is yours.

Choosing the size and placement

In a living room a mirror is usually a focal point rather than a purely practical object, so size and position matter more than anywhere else in the home.

• Above a fireplace or console — a wide framed mirror centred over a mantel or chest anchors the wall and reflects the room back into itself.
• Over a sofa — a horizontal format sits comfortably above seating without crowding it.
• As a statement piece — in a larger room, an oversized wall mirror can carry the whole composition on its own.
• In a smaller room — a slim rectangular or upright format elongates the wall and opens up the space; a tall mirror leaned in a corner adds height.

Because each mirror is made to measure, I set the outer dimensions — glass and frame together — to the exact spot you have in mind. If you are unsure what size works, send me the wall measurements and I will suggest proportions.

Finishes and frame styles

The frame is where a living-room mirror takes on its character. I work in three broad directions, and you can browse each in its own section:

• For high-gloss, boldly coloured pieces, see glamour mirrors.
• For carved and ornate frames, see decorative mirrors.
• For plain, traditional profiles, see classic mirrors.

Gold-leaf frames

Frames gilded with genuine gold leaf, laid by hand. I use 23-karat gold for the deepest, warmest shine, 22-karat moon gold for a cooler, faintly silvery tone, and 12- or 6-karat white gold for the shades closest to a contemporary interior. A modern mirror in a 23-karat gold frame or a narrow gold-framed Linea Slim both suit a living room without overwhelming it.

Silver-toned frames

For a cooler, more modern frame I work in four separate metals: 6-karat white gold (an almost chrome-like tone), 12-karat white gold (a warmer, classic silver), palladium (neutral and stable), and genuine silver leaf (the brightest of the four). Silver leaf is always sealed with a traditional shellac-and-wax finish or a protective lacquer, so it keeps its colour rather than tarnishing. See a modern silver-framed mirror as an example.

Painted and distressed frames

If you would rather not have metal leaf, the frame can be hand-painted in a wide range of colours, in high gloss, semi-matt or matt. A hand-distressed shabby-chic frame suits softer, more relaxed rooms, while a made-to-measure black profiled frame or a large black-framed mirror reads as clean and contemporary.

Made to your measurements, made to order

Each living-room mirror is made individually, so you choose:

• the frame colour, from a wide palette;
• the gold-leaf shade — 23K, 22K, 12K or 6K;
• the silvering — white gold, palladium or genuine silver;
• the finish — high gloss, semi-matt or matt;
• the outer dimensions, so the mirror fits your wall exactly.

Send me photographs of the room or a colour sample and I will prepare a design to match. Everything is made by hand in my workshop — if you would like to see how the gold is applied, you can read how I water-gild a frame. Each mirror belongs to my mirrors in frames range, and I make pieces for other rooms too, such as hallway mirrors.