My Quest for the Perfect Mantel Mirror is Over!

Hi Everyone,

I hope you’re having a good week.

With great joy, I can safely say that the cold is retreating. Thank you, body, for defending me.

However, I’m still taking it easy.

haha.

Easy? There is no easy.

 

Here’s what’s going on.

 

1. I’ve been working on my new custom mirror, and I will share more about that with you shortly.

2. Yesterday, I made some calls to Gracie Studio, their New York showroom in the D&D building. More about that in a subsequent post.

 

Then, I reached out to the George Smith rep here in Boston, located in Charles Spada’s SOWA shop. I have some homework to do for both of them, and I will report back on my findings, as well.

 

I have such a fond memory of drooling over Charles Spada’s Beacon Hill townhome back in the late 1980s when I was a student at the New York School of Interior Design.

 

It was from a spread in Metropolitan Home.

I copied it for a project. lol

Or, what I could see. The rest I made up.  For more of my interior design school portfolio (1988-1991), please go here.
How could I have imagined that 35 years later, I’d be living in my own portion of a townhome in Boston?

 

3. I also finally reached out to Paul Montgomery, the fabulous artist and owner of The Mural Source, a wonderful company I’ve featured many times on the blog.

(Please follow them on Instagram.)

I only did it now because early last month, I realized that the High Point Furniture Market was coming up. Ugh. It’s a bad time.

 

I also have homework to do for him.

 

I need to give him the configuration and number of panels I need. And, Blimey, I did that but can’t find it, which means I have to redo it.

4. In addition, I have to get doorknobs and other hardware.

 

5. I know there’s something else, but fortunately, my mind is protecting me for the time being. haha

 

Oh, you want to do a George Smith sofa, Laurel? Why not something like a Lee sofa for a lot less money?

 

Great question. It’s for the same reason I want to do the Gracie murals.

There’s nothing wrong with Lee. I love most of their furniture. However, have you ever had authentic English scones and clotted cream? You cannot get them here. I don’t care what you say; ;] You haven’t had them until you go to a place with an authentic English bakery. I had some scones with clotted cream and a strawberry confit in Cape Town centuries ago. It was an experience I’ll never forget.

 

Scones in this country are not memorable.

 

It’s also like a bagel outside of New York. I know. Folks in Detroit, Des Moines,  Denver, etc., may think they’ve had a bagel. After all, the bag said “bagels.” However, when they come to New York and have a real bagel, they will realize that what they thought was a bagel was actually a roll in the shape of a bagel.

If it’s so chewy you think your jaw is going to bust open, that is a real New York bagel. ;] By the way, you can get great bagels outside New York City as far north as Scarsdale.

 

Well, it’s the same with the George Smith upholstered pieces. There are details that nobody else does.

 

I will go over this in another post.

So, to refresh your memory, the other day, I shared the artwork I’m not doing and the mirror I’m not doing.  Incidentally, as predicted, I did not hear back from the rep for those prints. This is a blessing not in disguise, no doubt.

However, I’m not doing this mantel mirror either.

This type of mirror proliferates in most of AB Kasha’s interiors, and it always looks incredible.

 

Here’s why.

 

Their style is that the architecture, mantels, and mantel mirrors are all traditional 19th-century Parisian style. But, when it comes to furnishings, most of them are quite modern. This juxtaposition is popular amongst Parisians and keeps the interior from looking too fussy.

There’s more.

The fireplace walls usually have a big door flanking the mantel on each side. So, there’s no space for a large piece of art. And since the architecture is so exquisite, that is enough artifice for the wall.

 

On the other hand, I have three large walls in my living room.

 

Leaving them blank will feel wrong, and this is a way to play up the room’s inherent drama.

 

 

Okay, I have been looking and looking at mantel mirrors and came up with three beauties.

 

The first is by my design idol, Gerald Bland. 

When I saw this, all I could say was:

Oh, shutup, just shutup!!!

This is the mantel mirror of all mirrors.

Could it be copied?

Probably, but not easily, even by a professional. Plus, it would be astronomically expensive. Of course, this one is sold.

 

How much do you think it cost?

 

Oh dear. It looks to be an authentic mirror dating back to the Late Georgian Empire Regency period, which was from the very late 18th century into the first couple of decades of the 19th century. I really don’t know, except it’s way outside my budget.

Then, I found another mirror that I love but it’s too large and also no longer available. lol

I believe this one is early 20th century. This would not be too difficult to copy. However, I feel like I’ve seen this mirror before; maybe not quite this chic, but the same idea.

At one point, I considered getting a pretty gold moulding you can purchase by the foot and then have the guys nail it to the wall. But, No. I’m too tired.

 

Then, I found a third mirror I love that is available but too small and expensive relative to its small size.

 

I found it for sale on 1stdibs.

And, also, Chairish has two for sale at this listing.

Overall, this mirror style wouldn’t be difficult to reproduce.

So, I began searching and found a terrific frame place in Boston.

It’s Dave Poutre Fine Framing on Charles Street. Have any Bostonians used them?

 

This afternoon, I put together a little sketch of my proposed mantel mirror.

 

I also shared my inspiration mantel mirror and a framed piece of art at Dave Poutre’s with a similar frame.

 

Isn’t that mirror a little large?

 

No, but the one above might be. That is why I made it a little smaller.

Yes, it’s quite large, but as some of you may recall from this post when I was talking about large mirrors over the fireplace mantel, these proportions are appropriate in rooms like mine with sky-high ceilings. Above this mirror, there’s still another 42″ to go!

I have to be mindful of the sconce placement, too. They are not moving again!

Below is a more typical mantel mirror that I feel for the size of the room is a little too small.

 

Again, the larger mantel mirror plays up the drama, but in a quiet way.

 

I think this one is the perfect complement to the mantelpiece.

Okay, I expect to get a quote for that tomorrow. I’ll let you know.

 

Now, for the latest renovation news.

 

• The stair railing might be installed this Friday, but it’ll more likely be next week.
• The painters were here today, filling the zillions of holes all over the place and also larger patches.
• In addition, the carpenters are nearly finished installing the rest of the doors downstairs. More about that soon.
• The HV/AC guy came this morning and didn’t change the condenser.
• Smoke blew out of Laurel’s ears

It was established last December that it needed to be done.

He’s coming back tomorrow morning.

We’ll get there.

xo,

 

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