Mirror, mirror....

In my attempts to solve the myriad decorating dilemmas I have at the moment I have been spending more hours at the computer scouring the internet for ideas and references. More time wasting and procrastination, but oh so pretty!

In particular, I am trying to solve the problem of the mirror in our ensuite bathroom. To remind you, here's what I'm working with. I was going to use one large mirror we already had, and had the scones put in place with that measurement. But it's too small and doesn't work with two basins.

The problem being whether to do one large mirror with no frame, one large mirror with frame, two single mirrors with frame, and if frame then which frame. Then there's where to put the sconces now that I have discovered they are in the wrong place. Should I have them on either side, mounted on the mirror, one in the middle or forget them all together?

Decisions, decisions. It would be nice to get this resolved, so that my husband and I don't have to fight over the dressing mirror in our WIR in the morning when I'm trying to put on my makeup and he's trying to shave!

So I am off to the gift fair this weekend, and LifeInstyle tomorrow to try to find a solution once and for all. Here's what I'm using for inspiration.

Mark Williams Design

I love, love, love this bathroom. Here is wall to wall mirror, nothing particularly special about that, but add those heavenly Waterworks sconces (the ones I wanted!) mounted on the glass and WOW. Check out the darling little shades with grey trim.

Now I have asked a couple of local glaziers if they can do this and after lots of humming and haaing they tell me it's possible but it will be expensive. I don't know why. It's just cut mirror - but once you ask to have a couple of holes drilled they get all nervous. I've had a mirror this size with requisite holes priced at over $800. Without holes $280! Add to that cost of getting electrician back to remount lights.

Liz Williams Interiors

Fabulous unframed mirror with scones. Not sure if they are mounted on the glass or a side panel, or reflected from behind. But the effect is wonderful. 

Separate vanities, which we don't have, with separate mirrors and twin sconces. But I love these chrome mirrors that are set off the wall and hinged. Restoration Hardware do some great ones, if only I could get them here.

Ann Sacks

It's a single vanity and mirror, but just to see what a more modern mirror looks like with classic bath fittings - Ann Sacks fabulous! I have a larger mirror like this with mirrored frame so might have to try it.

via Conspicuous Style

Another amazing metal framed mirror - which I could find one. My sconces wouldn't fit either side like this because there's a low window on the left which would bugger up the symmetry.

via Coastal Living

I think this is one of my favourite bathrooms ever. Love the bamboo inspired vanity, the tapware, the round ottoman, the timber paneling on the bath, the mirrors, lights.....I could go two of these inlaid mirrors for something a bit different (and a bit expensive!).

via The Enchanted Home

Two separate inset mirror cabinets, which would be useful given we don't have drawers in the vanity. But we would have to have them sticking proud of the wall which I'm not sure I want.

via Decorpad

These nickel framed mirrors are amazing. Probably more Waterworks.  Looks like they are cabinets too which is even more brilliant. One sconce in the middle is an option too.

Molly Frey Design

This is only a single vanity, but it's pure perfection. I adore this mirror and since seeing it at the NYIGF last year and at Mecox I've been trying to find one. I saw a resin knock-off on Ballard Designs website, but don't think mirrors will ship very successfully. So because I can't get one in/to Australia I've decided I'm going to make one myself. Next project! Oh and how heavenly are those scones from Circa Lighting. And I spot a Dash & Albert bath mat.

House Beautiful

I could always go something a bit different - two statement mirrors above the basins. Just need to find a matching pair. Although this is looking a lot like the guest bathroom.

Pinterest

Not sure I'd have enough mirror space to do my makeup in these, but it sure looks cute. Not sure about the bath mat....

Pinterest

There's my fabulous giant soap dish again. How great does that green mirror look. 

Traditional Home

Nothing like wall to wall mirror for impact and keeping within the budget.

Traditional Home

I hadn't considered a plain white frame, but is looks quite sweet here. 

Pinterest

The tiles combined with those etched glass scones and amazing mirror are a sublime combination. Again finding a matching pair could be a challenge.

Mark Williams Design

I love this because it has my tiles and it's simply breathtakingly beautiful.

The Enchanted Home

One large mirror with frame.

via Houzz

One large arched mirror with bevel and no frame and face mounted sconces.

Pinterest

Two statement mirrors with scones. Maybe just need to be a little creative with frame shape?

Thibaut

 If I could find two of these mirrors I'd do this in a heartbeat.

Pinterest

Pottery Barn

Got the lights.....now I need the mirrors.

Now I think I'm even more confused. What do you think? Which do you prefer?

I think I'm sick of blue and white!

I can't believe I'm about to say this, but I think I'm sick of blue and white!

Gasp! I know, it's a terrible predicament to be in and I'm ashamed to admit it when about 80% of my household goods and furnishings are some shade of blue and/or white, and I'm hoping it was only a temporary setback, but I have really been struggling to complete two major rooms in our house and this week I hit a roadblock.

As you know I have had a love affair with blue and white for a long, long time, and my belongings are a testament to my devotion - as is my wardrobe actually - it's pretty much blue, beige and white. If I stand still too long I tend to blend into the background and it's hard to see me. I digress.....

When we unpacked all our boxes I was delighted to be reacquainted with all my beautiful blue and white china that I have been collecting for years, plus a hefty collection of white china, silver, shells, pewter and glass. I was also initially excited to see all the gorgeous blue and white cushions I had custom made for our last house 3 years ago, in a mix of blue and white stripes, corals, florals and solids. It all worked then, so surely it would work now.

One of the embroidered Calisto Home cushions I brought in from NY. Anyone interested in this range?

Love any kind of coral print fabric, especially with this fabulous trim.

This is a pretty Westbury paisley (Ralph Lauren do one almost identical), which I was worried was too purpley, but I might be able to make it work.

Another couple of Calisto Home cushions.

Ralph Lauren stripe cushions I bought from Coco Republic a few years ago.

For the living room,  I had visions of a British Colonial meets polished Hamptons kind of look, with the dark floors, our big oatmeal linen sofas, some bamboo blinds, blue and white curtains, palms in big pots, the rug and all my cushions mixed with artful displays of objets and a couple of oversized statement lamps. 

I was highly anticipating the unveiling of our prized blue and white silk rug which was a wedding present from my uncle. But something wasn't working. The whole look bored me.

Firstly, the rug has completely changed colour and having sat in storage for 18 months, the white has now turned a sort of tobacco-stained browny yellow and the blue a faded silvery blue which has faded the pattern too. It's still quite pretty in an antique, vintagey kind of way, but every time I stood back to survey everything together, something just didn't gel. And then it occurred to me that the rug is the problem. It drags the whole thing down and isn't crisp and fresh.

I organised for a rug cleaning company to come and collect it this week, but when we turned it over, we discovered that the bottom of the rug was nice and white and clean looking, although it has more of a cotton kilim kind of look. But it may work somewhere even if it's not under the coffee table. The company also couldn't guarantee that the yellow would be removed, and they wouldn't damage the rug. So really not worth the bother.  

Here's the flipside, which I didn't even realise existed, and is actually very pretty. May work.

Have also been considering other options for between the sofas to brighten things up, and something long that can go under the dining table. The rug for that area needs to be about 2.5 x 4m long, so will be a challenge to find something ready made. I'm thinking probably sisal for there, and may be two Ikea rugs and join them together to get the size.  

Anyone interested in these rugs, let me know.

Here's the rub. I had these cushions made before I discovered blogs and now I'm spoilt for choice. I am incapable of making a decision because there are so many options out there and I've become commitment phobic when it comes to decorating. It's the scourge of the internet.

We are inundated with images of desirable rooms, houses, fabrics, wallpapers, furnishings etc, on a daily basis. We see the same beautiful rooms and vignettes over and over again, it's like we live them. So when we decide to take the plunge and buy the chevron wallpaper or the Imperial Trellis fabric, or the tangerine cushion or the chinoiserie print,  the risk is we will be sick of it before it arrives in the post because we've been bombarded with images of it every day since. That's what's happened to me.

The bottom line is, and this is a lesson I have now learnt, is that my blue and white soft furnishings need updating. But they were expensive to have custom made, so I can't just chuck them. It just needs a little boost and I think all it needs is something like a trellis, lattice, bamboo or zig zag to make it look more "of the moment".

This is the gorgeous Ralph Lauren navy and white big stripe I was considering for the living room curtains, but now I'm rethinking designer in favour of something more "disposable".

Above are a couple of the gorgeous Waverly fabrics I was looking at this week, as either reupholstery for these cane chairs, or possibly as curtains. Given the walls are white, I feel it needs a bit of oomph. 

This is a fabulous Kravet lattice that's rather fab, and below an amazing fabric from Lewis & Wood, called Oxus, which is prohibitively expensive but divine. Very similar to MBL's Suzani design.

Of course there's always a trellis, which I never tire of. This one from Warwick, and much cheaper than the Imperial Trellis, although doesn't come in that fabulous navy.

So, yesterday I trailed from the Ralph Lauren showroom in Paddington where I had found some but expensive heavenly options, to Spotlight and Lincraft in the desperate hope that somebody from those stores had the sense to do a speedy knock-off of Imperial Trellis or chinoiserie-something. Sadly, they are still doing polkadots, but in the cushion bin I did stumble across these......only $20. I'm all for doing the "look for less" if you can, although it can be a challenge in Australia with so little choice.

In my efforts to try to save money and keep on my husband's good side, I did discover some great buys on Etsy. Never bought anything from Etsy, but I figure it could be my new go-to place for cheap fabrics and cushions.

If you search for trellis or lattice or chinoiserie on Etsy you can find ready made cushions and fabric by the metre, from about $20/m. I think a few of these in different patterns will be the solution to my problem, and give everything a lift and my whole blue and white scheme will be reinvented.

The room needs a big rhapis palm about 2m high in a gorgeous ceramic pot like this......to add a boost of colour. I did consider changing everything to green and white this week, but I think that was a passing phase.

or this........and maybe a dash of something green like this cabinet even, but cushions are probably more feasible.

Here's where I'm at with the hallway - still a work in progress. We are keeping the Ikea cabinet for the moment as our hall console, we were originally going to convert it into our bathroom vanity, but it looks pretty good with our fabulous fish painting, a couple of ginger jars and some greenery.

Saw these amazing bamboo chairs from Orient House this week, which I'd love to have either side of the  Ikea cabinet, but a bit pricey about $850 each. Need to find a cheaper alternative.

So that's my update for you. If anybody is still reading, well done getting through that epic post.

Thanks to everyone for your wonderful, kind and thoughtful well wishes re our baby news. Don't worry, I'm not stopping blogging at all, I enjoy it too much, but am just trying to pace myself for the next little while so I can get on top of things.

Have a great weekend. Here's hoping the sun stays out.