Window Mirror: Cool or Tacky?

[Anonymous]

I have a 1930s cottage with a dark family room that feels like a cave. There are two small windows in the room but it's dark still. I'm considering adding a window mirror over my couch to match the existing windows. My hope is that it will bounce light and give the illusion of another window where I can't add a real one. I found a craftsman who specializes in vintage reproduction windows and mirrors and his work looks to be of good quality. But it's not cheap so I want to be sure. Is this a good or dumb idea? Will it look tacky in a few years?

[Anonymous]

I think it would be cute in a cottage. I'd be more inclined to go to a vintage place and just buy one or two for a few hundred though.

[Anonymous]

Solar light.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it would be cute in a cottage. I'd be more inclined to go to a vintage place and just buy one or two for a few hundred though.

I considered the vintage route but I'm nervous about lead paint and know I'll want to refinish to match our windows. I'm OCD that way. The cost of the custom window is around $300 so maybe it's worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Solar light.

Like solar tubes? It's two floors down from the roof with no closets between. Are there other options?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it would be cute in a cottage. I'd be more inclined to go to a vintage place and just buy one or two for a few hundred though.

I considered the vintage route but I'm nervous about lead paint and know I'll want to refinish to match our windows. I'm OCD that way. The cost of the custom window is around $300 so maybe it's worth it.

As long as you aren't chewing on the window I doubt lead paint would be a problem. Most are stripped and repainted anyway. Just do it. $300 isn't that much, and it sounds like it will make a big difference.

[Anonymous]

I think a mirror would be a good idea. If you don't want to get one that looks like a window, you can get just a plain mirror.

[Anonymous]

I think it would look good. The latest Ballard catalog had something like that that caught my eye

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think a mirror would be a good idea. If you don't want to get one that looks like a window, you can get just a plain mirror.

I have a mirror over the couch but it doesn't really do the trick. Maybe it's too small. The window illusion is what I'm trying to accomplish but not sure if it will accomplish that or just look phony. But I think I'll try it and see.