A new mirror would alter the look of my guest bath.
My powder room mirror fell off the wall and crashed into the sink. That was several months ago, before we moved into our house full time. Fortunately, I wasn’t here – no need to describe how scary that would have been. There wasn’t an earthquake. A screw holding the hanging wire in place rusted with age and pulled out of the back because, like so much of my furniture, the mirror’s antique – a classic Deco circle with a pair of etched stripes on each side. It bounced down into the sink leaving only a couple of scrapes on the wall and a crack in the the bead board ledge paint. Lucky, no?
Now I need to decide whether to repair or replace it, which Mr. AM actually suggested last week while we were at Pottery Barn, where I was examining a quilt. “What about that mirror for the powder room,” he said, out of the blue, pointing to a nickel-rimmed beveled beauty (similar to this Dillon Oval Pivot mirror from Restoration Hardware) hanging nearby. I never considered the possibility. I think I paid, like $35 for that Deco mirror 10,000 years ago when I lived in Chicago and it’s been in one or another of my bathrooms ever since. But I‘m making a lot of changes these days with my house in turnaround. Changing the mirror would, of course, transform the look, especially since mine fits into the somewhat formulaic console-mirror set up that currently defines current powder room thinking.
I Ihaven’t done any mirror shopping (and the PB mirror was a bit plain). If I’m going to switch, I think I’d want to find a statement mirror like the one David Kleinberg used in this dramatic dark bathroom.
I also love the lighthearted contemporary mirror Bonesteel, Trout and Hall used in this bathroom, which has a wall color similar to mine.
Meanwhile, I’d have even more work to do because my crasher mirror might – just might – be valuable. While it’s been sitting face down in the laundry room, waiting to be repaired, I noticed something on the masonite back (which became water-stained over the years), a barely legible name and date written in red grease pencil: JC Esser, June 18, 1947. No matter what happens to the mirror, I need to research this. 
Once I began thinking about making a change, I went to my mirror files. I’ve always liked this unusual star and tassel mirror which has definite Deco styling.
The great French accessory designer Line Vautrin designed this cobalt resin Gribiche mirror in 1955 –I adore the color.
Soleil mirrors have been seen a lot but I admire the lines of this one, also from 1955. Trouble is, these are all fantasy choices and I tend to go for mid-century mirrors — a tricky mix for a country bathroom.
(Source: David Kleinberg, Bonesteel, Trout, Hall)
I’d go for the cobalt mirror – is it trillions?
I’m looking forward to hearing about your research of the “crasher”, sounds interesting.
Lots of choices, Jane, that’s for sure! I’m sure that mirror falling would have scared the heck out of me if I’d been home.
I just discovered your lovely blog. I look forward to popping by again for some more inspiration! I’m just new into blogging this year & have put together a daily blog on design, fashion, food, travel and anything pretty.
http://scrapbook-melissah.blogspot.com/ and one on everything coastal
http://coastal-style.blogspot.com/
I had a lot of fun putting them together maybe you would like to check it out if you have a spare minute.
x
Melissah
Cobalt mirror is trillions and tiny (9″) but one of the few with color and I love that idea.
Then, what becomes of the crasher (which definitely can be repaired).
So many great inspirations, hope you find the right one for your powder room very soon
Wow…Just thinking of the sound that made…And the results that didn’t, but could have happened. Yikes.
I like simple in mirrors. Loving the classic, oval, pivoting mirror, that seems the right shape and scale for the wall space.