Elegant Mirrors for the Bathroom Too!

Mirror from www.chandeliersandmirrors.co.uk

One major accessory for the bathroom, fast becoming a very necessary one, is the mirror. This has become an important item for creating a desired look -- not just for you, but for your bathroom -- and is replacing the unframed mirrors often installed over sinks.
Add the drama needed for an elegant formal look by selecting a large hand-carved framed mirror, or choose an etched Florentine mirror to create Hollywood glamour for the bath. A slightly more masculine look can be achieved with a framed round mirror. If your taste leans toward traditional, look at vintage or antique reproductions that offer a lovely reflection over your sink.

London Design Festival (September 13-23)

The London Design Festival runs September 13-23 this year and is what one might call expansive. It will wow visitors with cutting-edge ideas in every design field, from graphics to designer furniture and architecture via art and product design. There are droll little items for the home, such as Hoody salt and pepper shakers by Vitamin - inspired by Britain's notorious youths - as well as adroit debates with the likes of Ken Livingstone on the creativity of London and how business can work with design. For most of us it will be about meandering through product exhibitions, maybe buying a print and trailing around the various hubs (which are in the usual culture locations - the South Bank, Brick Lane, Exhibition Road). For design geeks it will be an earthly paradise from which to reap inspiration and find knick-knacks with which to transform their homes into embodiments of the Zeitgeist.

Rich, Dark Colours for Interior Design?

Ask an interior designer about rich, dark colors and they're likely to bubble over with praise.
"Dark colors are my favorite for my own home and for clients," says designer Brian Patrick Flynn.
Chocolate brown, midnight blue, deep scarlet — even black. Deep colors are welcoming and cozy, perfect for fall and winter.
"I really like that warm, enveloping feeling that using layers of dark colors can give you," says designer Mallory Mathison.
These shades make a room distinctive and memorable, says designer Janine Carendi, but they can be tricky to use. Clients are often interested in colors like eggplant or olive green, but skittish about how the final product will look.
If you're thinking of taking the plunge, here's some advice from Flynn, Mathison and Carendi on using dark colors without creating a black hole:
Choose the right room
In large rooms, Flynn says, dark colors are a great problem-solver. The sprawling size and high ceilings of living rooms commonly found in newer houses can make a home feel impersonal.
Deep colors add warmth and coziness, he says, especially if you opt to paint the walls and ceiling the same rich color. These large rooms are often flooded with natural light, which helps to balance dark walls or chic furniture.