Chasing Rainbows

It’s been almost five weeks since we have been hibernating. We no longer take walks, have groceries delivered, and make midnight runs to pick up our mail in the lobby of our building. This blog usually has topics that run the gamut of trips to the city, programs at the Library of Congress, gardens in and around DC, our morning walks, etc. It’s been a bit more difficult to get creative. But if you look hard enough, something invariably will pop up. And it did last week and several days since. When the season is right and the sun is out, the rays reflect off the large mirror in the dining room to create a fairyland of rainbows. The bright light also brings the plants on the console table to life. I first noticed it this year when we were sitting at the counter for dinner. The light was hitting my dinner plate, placemat, and salad bowl. So I followed it around the house over the course of the next hour or so. The back of the couch, the entryway, the kitchen countertop, on the rug underneath the chair, sparkling on the refrigerator and cabinets, the Kleenex box and everywhere else. It’s really magical - especially now. I’m so glad we moved to northern Virginia last year, away from our tiny condo in an 1890’s building on Capitol Hill. But I do miss our trips in to the city to break up the day. Wonder when we will be able to do that again? 

Recreating the Monks Room With IKEA Lots Mirror Tiles

In our old Capitol Hill condo we turned a good sized closet in to a monks room. There was just enough space for a twin sized bed, and a small chest. Since there was a huge window, shelving, and high ceilings it worked out nicely. To make it appear larger I added twelve Ikea mirror tiles to the wall. When we moved to Virginia a few weeks ago, I thought it would be a good idea to recreate the monks room in the den. Because we left the mirror tiles on the wall, as well as the padded headboard, I needed to order the same LOT mirror tiles from Ikea for this room. They arrived several days ago and I scoped out the best option. Because the room is twice the size as the original monks room, the tiles needed to be set more horizontal than square. You simply use two sticky pads on each side and press to the flat surface. So I ended up with five tiles across and three down and wasn’t happy with the result. So I ordered another four tiles in one package and added an additional line along the bottom, ultimately using twenty tiles in all. It looks so much better and makes the room look twice as large. It’s taken a few tries to get it right - the huge metal framed mirror was moved to the dining room where it belongs. The three tiny monks are now above the door frame, and a chair and a coat rack complete the space along with a computer stand/bedside table, small storage table with a lamp, and one of our favorite paintings. I was hoping to put my printer in our huge closet but there wasn’t a plug, so it’s got a place there too. The monks room isn’t used that often but it’s a nice added area just in case someone needs an overnight place to stay. I don’t think I’ll be getting another headboard for the rollaway bed. Hopefully it will work out well. 

The Monster Mirror

My husband hates it. I love it. The 45x55 metal framed beveled mirror we got from Pottery Barn when we first moved to DC thirteen years ago has a home in our new Virginia condo. I liked it because it made our tiny Capitol Hill condo seem bigger and it went with other metal pieces we had. My husband hoped we would have left it in DC. I knew it would look wonderful in one of the rooms. It started out in the den, but it seemed like such a pity to have it in a room that is never used. We had our paintings hung last week, but there was something missing in the kitchen and the dining room. My husband wasn’t convinced. So I photoshopped the mirror on the wall to give him an idea how it would look. He wasn’t buying it. Then I put some painters tape up so he could see how well it occupied the space. He still wasn’t buying it. So when our handymen people came out today to hang the chandelier I asked if they wouldn’t mind moving the really heavy monster mirror from the den to the dining room - just so my husband could actually see it in the space. He finally, but reluctantly, agreed. It took forever to get it done the right way and it’s a long story. After a trip to the hardware store and some 4x4’s they got it to work. It brightens up the room and goes really well with the furniture. The new house is starting to feel more like a home and the monster mirror helps. Now, do we need a rug?