UPON REFLECTION...

BEHIND THE SCENES
It's often been said that one can't look back.
However nothing is more beneficial than the
ability to insure one's back is covered. That's
where mirrors come in. First and foremost
they literally show us things as they are. Or
help us view ourselves from a more realistic
perspective. In all applications mirrors shed
light on the situation. Hence since their very
inception they've expanded, enhanced, and
illuminated interiors. To the point where
many interior designers feel no room in any
home is complete sans at least one or more
surfaces upon which to reflect.

LOOKING BACK
For the first half of the twentieth century
architect David Adler designed mansions
along the northern Lake Michigan near
Chicago. Frances Elkins, now considered
one of that periods top interior designers
was his sister. Thus one can safely assume
that good taste ran in the family. Adept at
blending the new with the old, they often
partnered on the interiors of these manses.
One of their triumphs being a master bath
in the Armour estate in Lake Forest. There
within every traditional architectural inch
was mirrored to great effect. It was a wow!

WHAT'S OLD IS NEW AGAIN
Sadly fashion comes and fashion goes. Hence
it's not surprising that at some sad point David
Adler and Frances Elkins mirrored masterpiece
seemed all too wrong. Therefore about twenty
years ago it's new owner ordered it taken out!
Fortunately someone felt it was good enough
to carefully disassemble and then ship to their
local architectural salvage warehouse. Where
for a decade it lay hidden until a new owner -
interior designer Miles Redd rediscovered it.
Today this mirrored jewel box is reinstalled in
Redd's Manhattan townhouse. And once again,
it is a positive reflection of it's owner's elan.

END NOTE
Dorothy Draper was yet another decorator who
deftly used mirrors for maximum effect. Post
World War Two she transformed the sedentary
Greenbriar Resort in White Sulphur Springs
West Virginia into a decorative tour de force.
Boldly going where few had gone before - she
took traditional elements out of context. With
a distorted scale that was all about DRAMA.
Take the enfilade shown here - her deft use of
complimentary colors draws one down the line
to a final crescendo. A magnificent HUGE gilt
federalist convex mirror. Created specifically
for this space and sized for maximum impact.

LIGHTEN UP
One of the most magical elements of
mirrors are their ability to reflect light.
In the eighteenth century their reason
for being was to dispel darkness by
spreading candlelight across a room.
Probably the best example of this is
Versaille's famous Hall of Mirrors. As
you can see, mirrors were installed
directly opposite windows in order to
enhance any natural light. In addition
chandeliers and candelabra were set
up to spread the light. And to insure
that everybody looked their best.

BACK AT YOU
In today's modern homes, mirrors
continue to serve dual purposes. Not
only do they inject a note of sparkle,
they can also be a chic checkpoint.
Consider Giles and Bossier's lovely
yet modern bath shown here. Note
a baroque antique mirror adds some
panache to it's austere environment.
And funny enough - we happen to
have one much like that antique in
our Connecticut warehouse. Could
it be that one of readers may have
a perfect spot for it? See you soon!

415 West Janeaux Street

Lewistown, Montana 59457

406-366-3604
www.cvhomemt.com
cvhomemontana@gmail.com

CARVED ITALIAN BAROQUE MIRROR

Nineteen century classic
with carved and gessoed wood frame.
Stained and gilded
with fabulous antique silvered mirror.

For more information call us at 406-366-3604.
or e-mail us at cvhomemontana@gmail.com