Mirrored surfaces

ONCE A HALLMARK OF DATED INTERIORS, REFLECTIVE WALLS AND FINISHES ARE BRINGING NEW BRILLIANCE TO CONTEMPORARY HOMES

- Keith Flanagan

Not long ago, mirrored walls were a sign that your home was overdue for a refresh. After making a splash in the 1970s, when disco aesthetics inspired glam interiors, the flashy feature didn't have staying power in the decades that followed. But designers have been using the reflective material across new surfaces - asign that a little shine has renewed appeal.

'We've seen, in the last few years, a surge in the need for glamour,' says Aurélien Raymond, co-founder of Paris' Studio Akademos. 'Minimalism is making way for maximalism and mirrors are a big part of this trend.' We're not just talking about a mirror over a fireplace or in your closet. The most interesting mirrors take over walls in unexpected places, or clad features like doors and even kitchen islands. And while they can add a wow-factor to your home, they can just as easily bring clarity; used strategically, they can make interiors sleek, not unlike the cool, chrome metals that have swept through design in the past year.