Floor to ceiling mirrors

Very 80's...true
Nothing opens a view like a mirror.
Screw convention and view the open harbor via the magic of reflected light.
Better living through optics.

what kind of windows does your apartment have?

Thanks Falco

I personally LOVE mirrors, I think they're magical,& they can magnify light & space & yes, the view, like nothing else. Guess what? I say, DO IT!

Although I'm personally not a fan, I always think it's best to design one's apartment for oneself, vs. designing for some unknown person who may or may not purchase it many years down the road.

It's *your* money, and it's *your* place, nobody else's. Design it with *your* pleasure in mind.

That's a good point, Lucy, but I also like to keep one eye focused on how this is going to affect the value of my apartment. I may be selling within the next three years.

If necessary, you can remove the mirrors. Don't not do it simply because you may sell w/in 3 yrs. Wall mirrors, wall paper, paint & carpet are things that can be easily removed or changed.

just don't liquid nail it to death to your walls and you'll be good. You can also consider puchasing an oversized hanging mirror....

Thanks Dwell. I actually like it. I wasn't sure how easily the mirrors could be removed.

And thanks to Drdrd also. I love mirrors also.

I wouldn't go so far as to say wall mirrors are easily removed. Mastic is cheap and nobody wants to be called back because a mirror is flopping off the wall, so installers are inclined to use liberal amounts. It's not like you can just unscrew the things and have them disappear one day -- many have to be broken to get them off the wall.

If you currently have to go out on the balcony to see the view, but with the mirrored wall you can see the view inside the apartment, might you not possibly be increasing the value of the unit?

I've seen beautifully framed oversized floor to ceiling mirrors secured against a wall, gorgeous! The frame should match your decor style, and be in scale with the mirror (ie oversized too).

I love mirrors, I love the reflection of the light and how they can de-materialize space, which are two luxuries in Manhattan.

Below is a link to Vincente Wolf, one of my favorite Interior designers (besides Kelly Giesen)

If you look down the post till you see the large mirror in the bedroom and living room, then read what he says or google him on large wall mirrors......he is the expert.
http://www.architecturaldigest.com/architecture/2012-07/vicente-wolf-design-process

The large wall mirror is the modern version to the older "wall to ceiling mirror'.
Just make sure that it will fit thru your door/ elevator, often they are bought into an apt in parts, then put together in the site.

Good luck, trust me.....Gabrielle

nycer I like your suggestion, but it could be rather pricey, not to mention how much time this project could take. I guess I'm so busy with other things right now but when my super brought up some mirrors to my apartment to show me how the view would be reflected, it seemed real nice. I thought I could do this rather fast.

But now I can see that this could take some time if one does it right. Just don't have the time.

Thanks so much gabrielle; I printed the picture. It really looks very good. And yes the elevator/door can be a problem.

drdrd makes a very good point. My first apartment had a beautiful city view, and a gorgeous water view only if you went up to the windows and looked directly right. With the addition of wall-to-wall mirrors on the opposite wall, it, to my surprise and delight, brought the water view onto my wall, so that I ultimately arranged my furniture to look at the mirror, instead of the windows. When I sold, the broker listed it as having a water view, and it sold for more than the unit downstairs with a "city" view. So the mirror did increase the value of my unit.

And as someone above said, don't be afraid to express yourself and what you like in your space. I'm tired of what people think are passe. Frankly, I HATE granite, and I bet in a few years it will be passe and subway tiles will come back in the kitchen as they now are in the bath......

>I've seen beautifully framed oversized floor to ceiling mirrors secured against a wall, gorgeous! The frame should match your decor style, and be in scale with the mirror (ie oversized too).

That's why I asked what kind of windows you had.

"Frankly, I HATE granite, and I bet in a few years it will be passe and subway tiles will come back in the kitchen as they now are in the bath......"

Subway tiles are already in the kitchen.

I hope you don't mean using tiles as a countertop surface. *SHUDDER* Oh so '80s.

Isn't granite already passé, and did subway tiles ever leave the kitchen? And yes, tiles as a countertop surface are indeed so '80s in most cases, but I'm not so sure formica is a better choice.

I'm quite sure Formica is a much better choice.

Grooves and grout on a food prep countertop make absolutely no sense at all.

That is a fair point.

I hate floor to ceiling mirror tiles, but I LOVE large hanging mirrors and standing mirrors. You can go to a frame store and have them made to your specifications. You can hang two or three mirrors next to each other to cover a large wall if one mirror would be too heavy. The mirrors are great for reflecting light and showing off a view that isn't apparent straight on. The best part is you can take them with you.

My fav industrial chic mirror

http://www.environmentfurniture.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/5e06319eda06f020e43594a9c230972d/b/e/beam-mirror_4.jpg

I guess I, or someone else, missed the point. Someone early in the post said "... do what you want and don't be afraid to express yourself." Something to that effect. I have a prewar apartment and I redid the kitchen tlle to look exactly as it did in the 30s, i.e., small, hexagonal, black and white. I'm sure most of you would hate them and call them passe, but I love them. I love to cook, entertain often, and wouldn't trade my teensy kitchen for anything in the world. I'm in contract for an apartment with an even smaller kitchen, and I intend to do it exactly that way. Home Depot on 23rd has them, and I love them. I'm going to do the floor too. Don't hate me or send mean messages, please. Aren't we all trying to be nice to each other????

Riccardo, I love those hexagonal tiles too. If you've got a teensy kitchen, what about mirroring the area between the counter & the cabinets? I think it's a great look.

"I wouldn't go so far as to say wall mirrors are easily removed. "

It's easy in the sense that if streetsmart decides to later remove the mirror, he/she calls the original installer or a contractor to do the work. Sure, it might be a couple/few days work & probably not cheap to restore the wall, but it's very do-able. So, in that sense, it's easy.

Work that ain't easy: Prewar apts where the maid's room has been eliminated/incorporated into the kitchen to make an enlarged kitchen. It's an expensive & lengthy job to restore to the original configuration, plus ya need bld permission and DOB permits, so not easy.

Riccardo, I love those tiles you describe and I like that you've honored the bld's prewar theme.

Riccardo, I'm another fan of those small b&w hex tiles. So charming and a lovely look in that kind of space. Love the old "sanitary movement" white subway tiles on the walls too. I know from your post that you cook so how about a restored period stove/range in the kitchen too? Love them! You really can make our small Manhattan kitchens functional and beautiful too....not everything has to been done to a "chefs kitchen" standard or covered in stainless. If you are making this your home rather than thinking of it as an "investment", go for what you love and makes you happy!

Riccardo, count me in as another vote in favor of being authentic to the period of the building (within reason, of course).

You can't go wrong with black and white.

Riccardo, in your case, there's a huge overlap in your taste and what other people like. I am another fan of the black and white hexagonal tiles.

Thanks to all with your wonderful suggestions, especially since I'm just starting my little project. I NEVER would have thought of mirror as a backsplash, but I LOVE the idea. But for someone who cooks and chops often, wouldn't it be hard to maintain? I'd hate to see splatters and drops on it. I just went on line and located a beautiful vintage range, and it just might fit, albeit very tightly. Perhaps I could extend the kitchen into the living room area by 6" and somehow camoflage (sp?)the addition so one wouldn't notice it when you come into the foyer........... Any ideas?

God I love this site. Do you guys ever get together and discuss things in person?? If it is appropriate to ask, I'd love to have you over for Manhattans and Martinis when the project is finished. I even entertain in the prewar faahion..... Cheers to you all!!1!1

^ Riccardo65, I agree. I'm a pre-war freak, and others have told me that Nick & Nora should serve martinis in my apartment. :)

I totally love the concept of your kitchen.

IMO Passe, not for me. If I am buying my first thought upon seeing would be "going to have to rip those out". But still, if it's your thing... Then again why not hedge with some awesome freestanding mirrors such as those at Old Good Things (made of turn of the 20th century tin ceiling tile) or if want more contempory feel ABC has some gorgeous free-standing mirrors of all styles. Just my two cents/

Are there any art deco ones???? I'm starting to like freestanding mirrors. Elegant and contemporary at the same time.

"Are there any art deco ones????"

Most definitely. Check out Olde Good Things in Chelsea, 124 W. 24. They're loaded with them, and it's a fun place to browse:

http://www.ogtstore.com/

Thanks Lucy. I'm going to go there.

And Bernie,yes I think freestanding is the way to go. I spoke to the mirror installation guys and it seems that a lot of glue will be used and lots of other toxic stuff. I am thinking that the floor to ceiling mirror would reflect the view the best, but the thought of all that glue literally makes me sick.

I'll have to go with the free standing mirrors. I already checked out a few at Boconcepts, West Elm and Design Within Reach. There was one at West Elm that wasn't bad,but not that great.

Thanks all for all this wonderful feedback.

If ya like art deco, this is a great place, but it's mostly furniture & quite expensive: http://venfieldnyc.com

Streetsmart,
How about getting a custom made free standing mirror, so it's the perfect dimension? Maybe price it out? Sorry, not able to recommend a glass/mirror shop.

Rosen Paramount for glass.

Ali,
have your worked with them or know someone who did? Their web site is awesome.