March, 1918 
21 
In the dining room the dull north light is dis¬ 
pelled by a large mirror set in the French ;<w»- 
ion of small squares held in place by go c 
rosettes. This reflects the two crystal lustres 
and the alabaster vase on the black marble- 
topped console. Under curtains are thin gold 
silk and the hangings green and gold striped 
damask 
A sense of repose and 
dignity is lent this living 
room fireplace grouping 
by the mirrors that flank 
the chimney breast with 
consoles and alabaster 
lamps beneath. These 
views are from the apart¬ 
ment of Mrs. George 
Moffett in New York 
City. Mrs. Emott Buel, 
decorator 
On the opposite side of 
the living room is a large 
davenport with a beauti¬ 
ful fanlight mirror over 
it and flower paintings 
in the adjoining panels. 
The walls are peacock 
blue with dull gold mold¬ 
ing, the furniture mul¬ 
berry and the carpet 
taupe. Bright peacock 
cushions and small black 
lacquer tables enliven the 
color scheme 
THROUGH THE 
LOOKING GLASS 
The Dozen and One Uses 
for Mirrors in Decoration 
NANCY ASHTON 
W E have all enjoyed strolling merrily 
hand in hand with the immortal “Alice" 
through the mysterious realms of the other side 
of the looking glass. But how many of us have 
realized the possibilities of the adventures on 
this side—the adventures with the mirrors 
themselves? How one may make a small room, 
large; a dark room, light; a dull room, gay. 
All this and much more may be accomplished 
if one happens to know how. 
There are several things to bear in mind. 
One must choose the right mirror. It must 
have suitability, as well as utility and beauty. 
One would hardly welcome an ornate repro¬ 
duction of a Louis XV design in a simple 
English living room. Nor would an austere 
Colonial mirror be at home in a French draw¬ 
ing room. In these days of beautiful repro¬ 
ductions and new designs there should be no 
difficulty in making a wise selection. 
Then one must know where and how to hang 
it. Very few of us would be guilty of placing 
a mirror where it would be practically useless, 
but it is well to remember that they should be 
hung on the eye level. There is great deco¬ 
rative value in a pair of mirrors flanking a 
fireplace. A sense of repose and dignity it 
invariably the result. 
The New York apartment of which photo¬ 
graphs are here shown illustrates the effective¬ 
ness of skillfully managed reflections. The 
living room with its plain walls broken into 
panels by narrow dull gold molding has the 
arrangement of mirrors of which we just spoke 
This sense of balance has been carried out in 
the consoles under the mirrors and the alabaster 
lamps. It is a friendly, reposeful room in con¬ 
sequence. The added beauty of the color 
scheme (peacock blue walls, mulberry furni¬ 
ture, taupe carpet) is not to be overlooked. 
On the opposite side of the room there is 
another equally well planned arrangement. A 
large davenport forms the nucleus of a group 
with a beautiful fanlight mirror over it and 
flower paintings as companion pieces. There 
are small black lacquer tables conveniently 
placed and bright peacock cushions give a 
touch of gayety. 
The dining room is a particularly happ) 
example of the wonders accomplished by a 
mirror. Here you have a medium sized room 
with a dull drab north light and nothing but 
an unfriendly city wall as an outlook. Then 
the transformation. A large mirror in the 
French fashion, that is, cut in squares and 
held in place by small gold rosettes, was placed 
on the main wall, completely filling up the 
central panel. This, of course, added tre¬ 
mendously to the spaciousness of the room and 
gave it light as well. In it are reflected two 
lovely crystal lustres and an alabaster vase 
which stand on a black marble-topped console 
You may also catch a glimpse of a huge gold¬ 
fish bowl on an iron stand with its crystal 
drops. The window has been cleverly treated 
with thin gold colored silk under curtains 
which are kept drawn, and green and gold 
striped damask side curtains. 
These few instances suggest only some of the 
possibilities of the mirror well-placed. But 
they may start some reflections. 
