Mirror Mirror on the Wall...

…if you know what's good for you, you'll tell me what I want to hear when I ask who's the fairest one of all! Today is all about mirrors. I love a haute mirror, and seem to be collecting them now. We have an awesome (and heavy) antique mirror rescued from my parents' neighbor:


You've seen the ornate Syroco number I found a my favorite NYC thrift store, Pippin Vintage, hanging in the hall of our former apartment in NYC:


We inherited a lovely (and enormous!) mirror from my Grandmother last year that hangs proudly in our current dining area:


And on a recent trip to visit the extended family in East Texas, we scored a smaller version of "the one that got away;" a vintage reproduction Federalist convex mirror:


More than a year ago, I spotted a similar mirror in the aforementioned Pippin in New York. Not only was it was larger, made of carved wood and gilded, it was in great shape and therefore fetched something in the $200 range (specimens in like-new condition, found on such sites as 1st Dibs, often yield much higher prices). I pondered it for a while, I brought Oliver in to ponder it with me, and one day, on yet another pondering trip, it was gone. Cest la vie; it wasn't meant to be just yet (and we couldn't really afford to spend the money on it, either). So, on this recent jaunt to the thrift stores of Mineola, when I spotted a similar mirror for a mere $19, I grabbed it and walked around the store holding it, lest I lost my chance again. Seriously, I did that.

Our new mirror was priced so low in part because it is made of Syroco (essentially molded, painted resin by the Syracuse Ornamental Company). I would love a wooden version someday, but my current budget only allows for plastic, so there you have it! In the 1950s, Syroco made it possible to reproduce heavily carved accessories for a fraction of the price, churning out tons of designs originally made of wood.

The mirrors are also known as "bullseye"mirrors, especially when the glass is convex. The design usually consists of a mirror surrounded by thirteen "balls," meant to represent the thirteen original states of the union (ours has this). They also lend the mirror a nautical feel, reminiscent of portholes on ships. Another name for the style is "Girandole," which refers to the candle arms (called girandoles) attached to some in order to reflect light into a room. The convex mirror design did a great deal to illuminate an entire room before electric light was common. They come in all shapes and sizes (well, I suppose they're mostly the same shape...), as can be seen in this great round up of offerings from The Federalist, and here, from Richard Rothstein. 

It now hangs proudly on Oliver's closet door, accompanying the Pippin find, which hangs on my closet door. I'm always shifting things around, so this may not be the permanent home (I might want to display it more prominently at some point), but it works for now!


Heavily influenced by the Empire style in France, but especially classical Greece and Rome, America's early Federalist style flourished between 1785 and 1810, when the Federalist Party ran the country and nationalism soared as America established herself. Neoclassical influences such as straight lines, simple ornament and lightness for ease of transport. Classical figures, urns, eagles, masks embellished delicate furnishings and accessories. The late Federalist style (1810-1830) saw many of the same embellishments, but in heavier forms and more ornamentation.

I'm thrilled to own a little bit of American history – and I'm certainly not alone!

Designer Unknown, via Elle Decor


Source unknown


Markham Roberts via Elle Decor


Design by Sara Gilbane

Putting A Bird On It

I wrote about the owl trend a while back and I mentioned a disdain for birds (I believe I actually said something like, "I have been forever grossed out by birds"), but I would like to edit that sentiment, as I now realize its not birds I hate, its those winged rats referred to as "pigeons." They are vile and likely to poop on your head at the most unfortunate of moments.

In my previous post, I touched on the fact that while I didn't particularly care for birds the creature, I did like to see birds the imagery in interior and graphic design. I also astutely noted that birds were EVERYWHERE already, so I didn't have to write a whole post on them. Whew! Glad I did, because I think it excuses me from being the butt of the trend joke, as seen in this video:

Many of you have probably come across this already, but for those who haven't, I thought it was worth sharing. PORTLANDIA is six-part IFC short-based comedy series that premiered late in January. While the sketches focus on people (and are filmed on location) in Portland, OR, the characters speak to hipsters everywhere. The above video really hits the nail on the head as far as gimmicks designers fall back on when creativity runs out. Don't get me wrong; bird illustrations have a special place in history. They are complicated to create and require tremendous skill and patience. You can't exactly put this bird on just any old thing! (Thanks to John Gable for enlightening us about this show; we are sans TV right now and are out of the loop in terms of current shows).

Hand-colored lithograph published by The Zoological Society of London, 1848-1849
Available through Fine Rare Prints

But, it is true that the more silhouette-y versions of birds as embellishment are a little played. Today birds are the gimmick; tomorrow it will be something else.

As far as real birds go, I've come to learn that they are actually pretty great. The reasons for their greatness are many, but let's just go over my own personal favorites:

1. What with all those colors, they are pretty!

2. They eat bugs. YES! I like bugs even less than I like pigeons. This trait will come in handy when we sit outside this summer and finally plant a small garden

3. They leave cute little foot prints

4. The little ones hop around adorably

That's all for this soap box! 

Trend Watch: Owls

I have forever been grossed out by birds. Blame it on my childhood in New York City, where I was surrounded by pigeons, which are filthy, vile creatures. Blame it on my dad, who also hates birds and probably passed on the birds-are-nasty-gene to me. Blame it on birds themselves, for pooping on command, whether in flight, or sitting on a wire or tree, for making the most disturbing sound when their wings flap, for flying too close and terrifying me, for making bizarre noises as they sit on the window sill (I'm talking about pigeons here). Whatever it is, birds freak me out.

However, for reasons I absolutely cannot explain, I LOVE birds in interior and graphic design (when the design is well-executed, of course). I love whimsical bird wallpaper, toss pillows adorned with peckish little birds, pretty bird stationary, vintage bird illustrations. I even like birdcages (with or without birds inside) as interior accessories. Go figure!

Clockwise, from left:

Osborne and Little Tara Wallpaper

Peacock bedding Dwell Studio

Sparrow card from John Derian

Bird leg table from White on White

Birdcage and decor vis Elle Decoration

Chinoiserie toss pillows from Dwell Studio

Birdcage hand stamps via Etsy.com

Bird bottle stopper and sculpture from Jonathan Adler

Birds have been stamped all over the design world for a while now, so I don't have to introduce you to that idea. But, lately I've seen nocturnal and mysterious bird counterpart, the OWL, popping up here and there, which, oddly, I find really fun, not horrifying, for some inexplicable reason. Maybe it's because they are great rodent exterminators, although, they often get sick from eating rats. Hello, who wouldn't?? Whooo Whooo.....PUN

Owl necklace, studs and ring by Julia Failey

Owl sacks as bookends and journal covers from Etsy

Macrame owl from Urban Outfitters

Owl pillow by Donna Wilson

Abstract Hoot pillow from Chiasso

Owl soaps by Modern Poverty

I totally want this umbrella stand from Two's Company via Madison Ave Gifts

Here it is, in situ. Interiors by Jonathan Adler:

This adorable owl clock from Magpie Lovely screams, "Please take me home!"

English designers roddy&ginger obviously love owls, too, since they're all over their website. Their owl logo is fantastic!

Bordering on weird, but still fun owl lamp from Shades of Light

How can you not love these Wise Owl Cookie Jars from Anthropolgie?

Look closely so you don't miss that very fawncy, quite propah owl in the center

By Darling Clementine

Illustrated tray from John Derian

Fabric print from South Land Topology–talk about a fun curtain fabric for a kid's room. Or a whimsical upholstered chair