I heart this mirror from Grain, but my budget can afford only DIY decor right now.

Someday…

I hope to hang one of these modern mirrors in my bedroom. Grain uses string to wrap the edge of the mirror and the colorful combination they have chosen reminds me of South of the Border. Pass the margaritas, please. And let me borrow $1,100.00 while you’re at it. No? Bummer. A girl can dream, but she must also learn to improvise.

Grain was founded in 2007 by a group of RISD graduates, and it’s based on Bainbridge Island in Washington. Its mission is simple: to create beautiful and sustainable designs and support artisans everywhere. Something to aspire to, for sure. In the meantime:

Today…

I can make this simple sunburst mirror and still make a statement. With a few inexpensive items, I can put this mirror together myself. With a $5 mirror, dowels, silver spray paint, glue and some wire, it’s easy to create something fabulous. You can find the full details on Beach House in the City.

Someday/Today is a weekly column that inspires you to dream big for your home, and scale it to your lifestyle, always keeping sustainability of the planet – and your wallet – in mind.

The post Someday/Today: Mirror, Mirror appeared first on EcoSalon.

“Does this mirror make my bedroom look fat?” asked the house to the looking glass.

There are those of us who like our spaces small and cozy; also among us are greenies that feel confined and uncomfortable in the itty-bitty. For both camps, we’re inclined to point you in the direction of the infinite: the looking glass, which reflects the potential in every room from the miniscule to the massive. Here are 12 mirrors that will show your room in the best possible light. To make your house look even better, they’re also eco-friendly.

The metallic facing of this one is made from hammered recycled aluminum.

This wood-frame floor-length mirror can be anchored here, there and over there. It is narrow yet fully functional, for you space conservators out there.

Hand constructed out of thousands of beads by Bishop Tarambawam. As a young boy growing up poor in South Africa, he learned the intricate art of weaving with wire and small beads. His works eventually became so popular that he caused traffic jams in Cape Town when he sold his wares. Eventually, Cape Town’s Design Institute stepped in and started sponsoring his work.

These mirrors by Nomad Art are made out of driftwood from the coast of Puerto Vallarta.

Hand-carved from the wood of a tung tree, renowned in Asia for its density, texture and durability. It is also one of the fastest growing trees in the world.

Everyone needs a good floor-length mirror, period. How about a vintage one framed in hand-planed reclaimed fir?

I’m partial to Zuma Beach, therefore in love with this driftwood mirror from Living Simplistically.

There is nothing more seductive than the curves of Moorish and North African architecture, especially in a mirror made from sustainable mango wood.

This ornate mirror from Pavilion Blu was hand carved by artisans out of mango wood.

From Clark Street Home, an intricately pieced together eco-mirror made out of recycled magazines.

And another, also from Clark Street, made from recycled newspapers.

Once upon a time, Sweden had a king named Gustav. “Oh brother,” you groan, “not more Scandinavia from you people. Obsess much?” But listen, it’s important. Gustav visited France and returned with a passion for ornate French neoclassical design. The Swedish, being Scandinavian, kept it sleek and simple. This century-old reclaimed Douglas fir Gustavian mirror is an ode to that tradition, and a fine Swedish addition to your abode. 

Images: Matthew Stasoff

The post 12 Ways to Fake a Bigger Room appeared first on EcoSalon.

I am silver and exact. I have no preconceptions. – Sylvia Plath

Decorating with mirrors is an old hat trick used to open up a dark space, bounce light about or make a cramped room feel a little less cozy. Mirror placement can also be an artful pursuit, a discipline used to breathe life into a room, making the life lived within it a little less ordinary.

As Shakespeare famously wrote in Hamlet, I summarize:

“Suit the action to the word, the word to the action…that you o’erstep not the modesty of nature…hold the mirror up to nature: to show virtue her feature.”

I dare to translate that into interiors:

Suit the room to the reflection, the reflection to the room…that you cherish the inherent quality within it. Hang or hide a mirror, to give space to a new virtue.

Take the outside in and enjoy the insight it might give you. Mirrors offer a new way of envisioning, reflecting, and living within your surroundings. The view is sweet, isn’t it?

Images: Jessie Lee; brent.darby; Country Living: ohdeedoh; a beach cottage; Design Cracker; Kay Loves Vintage; Red Hot Temper; Ode to Beauty

The post O Mirror, Where Art Thou? appeared first on EcoSalon.

As the long days of summer filter light through your windows, take the opportunity to amplify the golden rays through your space with a well placed mirror (or two, or three). Hang a mirror directly opposite a window to reflect sunlight through the room, resulting in a lighter, brighter, larger space – and who doesn’t long for a lighter, brighter, larger space? Pro tip: Match the size of your mirror to the size of your window.

Here are some mirrors from VivaTerra to gracefully bounce light through your dwelling. (Every once in awhile I find a resource that makes my heart swell with love and my knees weak from pure aesthetic overload. VivaTerra does this to me.)

The Talisman Mirror Collection ($598) boasts antiqued mirrors nestled into mango wood frames while the Classic Floor Mirror($925) is big enough to bring in lots of light.

Editor’s note: This is Leigha’s first post on EcoSalon. Be sure to give her a warm welcome and say hello!

The post Forecast Sunshine appeared first on EcoSalon.

Know how to make your own milk paint? Well, you can refresh more than just your walls with this non-toxic blend. Instead of investing in that pricey new mirror you’ve been lusting after or those silk curtains you’ve been craving, be a little more creative and save some money with this fun and inexpensive green project.

Pull out that contact paper leftover from lining your drawers and put it to use.

Measure the mirror or window you plan to decorate and cut the contact paper accordingly.

Now, take a look around your home. What types of motifs dominate your décor theme? Flowers, birds, geometric shapes? Access the artist within and draw your favorite designs and patterns with a marker on the contact paper. If you’re like me and can barely sketch a stick figure, trace the outlines of images from coffee table books or old magazines.

Using an Exacto blade, cut out these images and mount the contact paper firmly onto the surface of your mirror or window.

Mix up several shades of milk paint to match the color scheme of the room.

Using the contact paper as a stencil, paint away. You can even use a small foam roller for a smooth look. When you’re finished, slowly peel away the contact paper and voila! Your windows and mirrors are now unique artistic elements of your living space.

If you redecorate or simply tire of these patterns, just carefully scrape away the paint, wipe down the surface with a mixture of white vinegar and water and start fresh.

Image: craftzine

The post DIY Decorative Mirrors and Glass appeared first on EcoSalon.

We’ve all had those days when looking in the mirror results in a dissatisfied sigh. We chalk it up to a bad hair day, yet another pimple or an outfit that’s dullsville, but wouldn’t it be more fun to blame the mirror? I did a little hunting to find some chic, sustainable mirrors that will ensure you always walk past your reflection and smile.

Décor is all about aesthetics, and the Fiona mirror (above) from Ruby Living is one amazing piece of functional fine art.

For a more practical option, the Waver mirror from Vivavi boasts much more surface space and a unique frame.

If fluid contours appeal to your taste more than sharp angles, the flowing contours of the Mango Wood mirror from the Nest Store are hand-carved to perfection.

The post Mirror Mirror on the Wall: Which Is the Greenest of Them All? appeared first on EcoSalon.