Many of you have asked where in the world I've been.

All I know is that after 7 plus years of blogging and a different lappy, which I don’t like, I seem to have lost my blogging fervor.

Someday, when you least expect it, I will post again.

For those of you still waiting I say thank you.

Meanwhile, I am rather prolific on twitter. Find me: @KeethaB
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The Eclectic Company - Waitin' on a New Adventure!!
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Thursday, September 10, 2009

Thrifty Vintage Thingies - "Mirror, Mirror, On The Wall"

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It's THAT time again!!!!
Vintage Thingies Thursday over at Coloradolady and Thrifty Thursday at Bloggeritaville.














Be sure you click on both of the icons or links above to check out what everyone else is posting.

Today I'm showing you some mirrors in my home.

Before I do that - - - I want to make this little disclaimer. I hesitate to "bring you into" my house. I do not "do" decorating. My decor style, like my blog, is very eclectic. It is driven by four criteria:

1) Need - - - you know, I "need" this or that to fill this or that space.

2) Comfort - - - the things I bring into this house have to feel warm and comfortable, or they aren't coming in.

3) Likability - - - if I like it, it's coming in and it will fit with my decorating style, because EVERYTHING fits in eclectic.

4) Premodern - - - sorry girls, I HATE the boxy, minimalist, modern look. To me that stuff is cold, uncomfortable, and uninviting. It's fine for an unemployment office or police station, but it just doesn't say "HOME!"

So - - - my house isn't "decorated," it's "collected."

Having said all that - - - - please come on in, and leave your shoes on if you want to - - - you can't hurt my carpets.

Now back to the SUBJECT of this post. Mirrors. Nope, not really this one, although it IS a mirror in my home, and I do love it. I only show it today because of the DRESSER to which it is attached, and which I've blogged about before. And I only show the dresser because I got the first two mirrors at the SAME antique mall where I got this dresser, and that's about all the STORY there is to go with them.


I think this one is quite old because of the beveled glass, which is spotty and obviously old. The frame is rather rough cut wood with only the one embellishment at the top.

Someone who owned it before me painted it (they probably belonged in the same "spray paint league" as a bunch of YOU) with gold paint, which has probably lessened any value it ever had - - - other than the premodern, necessary-for-that-entry-way-wall, comfortable, likability value that it has to an eclectic nondecorator like me.

As you enter my home, leaving your shoes on, you are greeted by this mirror. You see your own face in it and think to yourself, "My, the people in this house LOOK very friendly!!!"


As you walk on down the hall toward the kitchen, you pass this mirror on the wall. I only hope it distracts you from seeing the mail piled on the kitchen island and the dirty dishes in the sink.


It too has been the victim of someone with gold spray paint. I think the glass in it is relatively new because it isn't beveled nor spotty, though the frame seems to be quite old. The cardboard on the back looks antique. It may have more value than the mirror itself, I don't know. I just know I liked it, brought it home, and invited it to live with us.


This is a closer look at the detail on the frame.

The books in front of it ARE antiques, btw, they are part of a Mark Twain and a James Fenimore Cooper set - - - but perhaps those will be the subject of a future post.


This mirror is both very old, very storied, and a very THRIFTY find since it was given to me.

Here's the part of its story that I know. It was part of an old, broken down dresser that was in my parent's cottage at Burr Camp. The dresser has the same beautiful embellishments on the drawers that are on the top of this mirror, but it's original marble top was missing.

Mom and dad used it, with plain boards laid on top and then covered with a dresser scarf, in their cottage for years. One of my mom's sisters, being a lover of antiques and very good at restoring them, took it home to restore it for them. She finished the mirror, but never got started on the dresser.

In the meantime, my parents moved from Wisconsin to Indiana. Later I moved from North Carolina to Indiana. On one of my trips to Wisconsin to visit Burr Camp, my Aunt asked me to bring the dresser back to my parents in Indiana.

Somehow, through that process the mirror became mine. The dresser is still in my dad's garage waiting to be restored. The hold up is that top. I don't want a marble top, I'd rather have wood. Dad is also a genius at restoring old things - - - but I think the dresser is rather lonely and forgotten in a sad little corner of his garage.

The mirror, however, in all its beveled spotted glory, is hanging above the mantle in my family room because it too is full of
premodern, necessary-for-that-wall-above-the-mantle, comfortable, likability value that is so important to an eclectic nondecorator like me.
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34 comments:

Dawn said...

Love your eclectic, pre-modern non decorator mirrors. I've picked up serveral from Good will lately. They're even gold.

Thanks for letting me keep my shoes on. I have a bad ankle and need that support! I strongly dislike having to take my shoes off when I visit someone. But then again, I chose my carpet color by taking in a sample of dried mud from my yard...

Dawn

LADY JANE said...

I love your post today! I too love vintage mirrors! When people come over the first time they are surprised by my decorating style...when they ask I often tell them it is "Collected Style"! Love it...and I'm going to have to peek back at your previous posts..I'm quite comfy here!

kyooty said...

My sister had a set of dressers like the first mirror you show but the mirror that was on it was the mirror from the last photo. 1 Sister is still using the man's dresser which had a locked compartment in it,.

Kimberly Cherrine-Bell aka. greenhoneyhive said...

I have nothing but vintage mirrors in my house except the bathroom and it is soon getting vanquished for another antique mirror I found ....Lov'em

Marjorie (Molly) Smith said...

I just love your mirrors, I feel the same way you do about this new modern design. Give me comfort and cozy and eclectic. Well I don't need to say more about that, you saw the pictures of my house.
Thank you for letting me keep my shoes on, because even though I take mine off in the house, old country girl hates to wear shoes. I feel it is rude and disrespectful to your guest to ask them to remove their shoes upon entering a house. I will go to someones house one time but if I am asked to remove my shoes, I will not go there again. Please ask me to wipe my feet but not remove my shoes. Sorry didn't mean to get off subject, but that is one of my pet peeves.
That last mirror is just beautiful, so delicate. Thanks for sharing and I just felt right at home in your home..because it is a home, not a house.

Old Time Cindy said...

Your home and mirrors are lovely. Your style is all about you and what speaks to you. No more disclaimers...LOL!
Thanks for sharing!
Living it up at Lakewood,
Cindy

Kristin - The Goat said...

Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all -- Keetha :) I do like that modern hard edged furniture look but it looks best in someone elses house.

Someone really needs to get that dresser a top! I feel so sad for it being shuffled around from place to place, topless!

Your mirrors are great :) Thanks so much for showing them off. I love peeking into your house :) :)

Martin LaBar said...

One of my students once said that her house was furnished in "Early Poverty" style.

viridian said...

Nothing wrong with a collected or thrift store style. Happy VTT.

Postcardy said...

I share your views on spray paint, though I guess it's better to reuse things than put them in a landfill.

I like the last mirror. One of the first things I bought for my first apartment was an antique mirror from Wisconsin.

ChesterAndDonkey said...

Very nice! I love mirrors but usually pass them up at thrift stores ... guess I need to start a collection, too.

Cass @ That Old House said...

Love your mirrors, especially the ones that have YOU in them. :-)

And your "decorating philosophy" is perfect for everyone -- only have things in your home that are useful, comfortable, likeable, and have no sharp edges. Just like a good husband.

And doesn't mail belong piled on the kitchen island? I think that is mail's natural habitat. You don't want to disturb it when it is sleeping; no need to startle the utility bills.

Cass

Cass @ That Old House said...

About shoes, on and off -- We went to an Open House when we were househunting, and the realtor asked us to remove our shoes. Instead, we removed ourselves from the house. I said, "Who would buy a house if you can't WALK on the floors without damaging them?"

Shoes welcome here. I hate to wear shoes and kick mine off as soon as I can... but guests or family members? Shoes on or off, as they please.

Cass

Coloradolady said...

I am so glad to feel like I can relate to your post. I have started seeing so much fall decorating in blogs and I sit here and think...poo....I don't have any decor like that....I too have the miss matched...gotta have...vintage...comfy....eclectic look...in fact, some of my newer things are going to be tossed out...or sold off at a garage sale to make room for some new "old" finds....that is just me....

Now...I love those mirrors. I have a rather large one in my shed and it is guess what....GOLD. My husband had it when we got married, left here from a room mate. I have been thinking of painting it white and distressing it a bit. It is a rather lovely mirror, but very old.....we will see!!

Have a great VTT and a wonderful weekend.

Barbara Jean said...

Keetha,
Very beautiful mirrors.

I especially like the last one with the carved trim on top.
And, as much as i love white, it was refreshing to see this in it's stained wood tones.

Thanks for having me over.
I had a great time at your house.

Thanks for coming by my place too.

blessings
barbara jean

Barbara Jean said...

me again

i saw a link to your blog button on side bar. what does that do exactly??

thanks

barbara jean

Roslyn said...

Well, I love them all but I think the oval hall mirror is my fave, it is elegant!

Lori E said...

Mirror, mirror on the wall
Who's the most eclectic one of all?
Keetha of course.
My mirrors are always covered in dust. Hides the wrinkles.

LV said...

You really id an excellent job on both your post today. I love all your vintage furniture and mirrors. Nothing in my house matches.

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

Love the mirrors! I have mirrors everywhere. They add space and light. I have a big antique looking mirror in the bathroom that I just adore. Have a great day reflecting and God Bless!!!

Leigh of Tales from Bloggeritaville said...

Keetha, I lOVE your home, because it has history and sotires with the pieces you own. You KNOW I love that! Another thing I love-MIRRORS! I am almost jumping up and down over this post! Awesome, Keetha. Thumbs up. Your home is HOME. ANd that is a compliment. Thanks for linking up in Thrifty Thursday this week!

Leigh
Tales from Bloggeritaville
www.lbratina.blogspot.com

Marie said...

Love, love old mirrors! Beautiful.

Debby@Just Breathe said...

Your mirrors are wonderful. Love the story behind them. Thank you for sharing.

Kate said...

I love that you say your house is "collected"! What a great philosophy! Your mirrors are beautiful, and I am sure your house is gorgeous and warm through and through! Great post!

cristina said...

Love your mirrors, particularly teh second one. And the dresser with the mirror - the little legs are so cute!

Miri said...

Love your mirrors! and keeping my shoes on too, thank you! (My sister makes me take off my shoes...I always thought it was a California thing!)

Your decorating "rules" sure are working! Lovely!

Martin LaBar said...

It wasn't you who said that.

Raise Them Up said...

What a fun collection! I like the way you describe your house. Makes me want to look in all your nooks and crannies to see what kind of interesting things you've collected!

Anonymous said...

Your qualifications are the same as mine! Whatever comes into this house, gets used, there are no showpieces.
I adore that dresser mirror, why don't you spray paint it or something? LOL.
I laughed at the spray paint issue because as much as my father loved and cherished antiques, everything got a good coat of gold. :)

Julie said...

Great mirrors! I love that a little spray paint can dress them up!

Unknown said...

Love your mirrors and I think we have the same decorating tastes--eclectic!

nancygrayce said...

Great mirrors! We don't take our shoes off either! I did once ask if my men would because I read that 85% of household dirt comes from shoes.....that idea was quickly nixed! :)

Laura @ the shorehouse. said...

Oh MY...I think I want this to be the title of my memoirs:

My house isn't "decorated," it's "collected."

HAHAHA! :-)

I love all of the mirrors. The first thing I ever bought at auction -- I think I was a year or so out of college -- was an old chippy plaster mirror. Still have it, still love it!

Maureen said...

All very nice but I love the last one!

I am recycling an old mirror into a blackboard as we "speak". The mirror was too far gone - completely cloudy. So I'm on a blog break while the paint dries.