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Mirror Mirror on the Wall . . . You've just got to GO !!!

By
Home Stager

When putting our Rockland County NY home on the market for sale it is important to get rid of anything that is going to date the home, even though these design choices were all the rage at one time.  Sometimes the things that were so expensive to install at the time are the exact things that date a home and mirrored walls are definitely out, especially smoked mirror.

It was once thought that mirrors on a wall made the room look larger.  After having spent the last few years removing mirrors from homes it seems to me that the rooms actually look larger once the mirrors are gone.  Wall to ceiling mirrors in a room reflect everything, the clutter, excess furniture, dated light fixtures, the hallways and adjoining rooms.  This wall to ceiling visual clutter overwhelms most rooms.  

Consider these examples:

  

  

  

  

These transformations were further enhanced with accessories, paint and lighting changes. Each was done on a tight budget and homeowners own furnishings were used whenever possible.  

If you are listing your Rockland County NY home for sale call Rockland Home Staging first.  We will help you get your home ready for sale.  (845)731-9510.   

 

Marci Toliver
438-4642 - Mauldin, SC
Anderson SC, Spartanburg,Greenville SC, Home Staging
Maureen- Im sure that you were able to convince the homeowners to remove the mirror- However- Im a Princess- I need the mirror - got to have the mirror
Mar 29, 2008 02:40 PM
Maureen Maureen
Orangeburg, NY

Elaine - If that's all it takes I may reconsider mirroring my bathroom.  LOL

Marci - I guess that Mirrored homes are truly for the beautiful people of the world. :) 

Mar 30, 2008 01:03 AM
Renee Pratta
Renewed Rooms - North Myrtle Beach, SC
Renewed Rooms - SC

Maureen.  I agree and your work is wonderful. 

I've only done one home that had mirror attached.  The mirror was there since 1977...it was comical trying to get it off the wall...but once done the result ended up being my favorite areas we staged.

 wet bar

Mar 30, 2008 01:17 AM
Maureen Maureen
Orangeburg, NY
Renee - Removing the mirror really updates the space.  The marbled mirror are particularly dated.  
Mar 30, 2008 02:37 AM
Rob & Jeannie Steward - Realtors®
RE/MAX Advantage - Nashville, TN
We Work TWICE As Hard For You! - Ashton Group
I could've used these examples when we listed a home last August. The mirrored wall tiles are still up, however I did manage to get the bedroom with the carpeted walls re-drywalled. As more boomers retire I fear we will be faced with more Brady Bunch era decor challenges. Believe it or not, I still come across kitchen appliances in Avocado Green or Harvest Gold. I wonder how long before stainless steel is out and the new rage is in?  
Mar 31, 2008 05:06 AM
Michael Truiano
BHG Rand Realty - Nanuet, NY
removing mirrors sounds like a dangerous job maureen, i hope you have good insurance :)
Mar 31, 2008 06:15 AM
Maureen Maureen
Orangeburg, NY

Jeannie - So true, people don't want to buy their parent's home.  

Michael - I do have insurance but removing wall mirror is a job for professionals.  I leave it to a local glass company to remove the mirror.  You do bring up an important point, whenever you are referring subcontractors to a client it is important to make sure that they are licensed and insured.

Mar 31, 2008 06:39 AM
Anthony Stokes-Pereira
Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty - Nanuet, NY
Realtor

Hi Maureen;

Great post and very good tips, I always do appreciate your post. Good Luck!!

Apr 02, 2008 03:39 AM
Karen Dembsky
Peachtree Home Staging LLC, Home Staging in Atlanta, GA - Peachtree City, GA
Atlanta Home Staging
Good job, girlfriend.  Just had a client take down the mirrors -- floor to ceiling, in a formal living room -- what a difference.  Love your clever title, as always!
Apr 02, 2008 04:57 AM
Janis Gaines
Staging Sells Eugene Homes - Eugene, OR
Home Stager Eugene OR - The Notably Well-Dressed H

Nothing like duplicating "visual static" with a full wall of mirrors. I can just imagine the alternative of taking a hammer those mirrors. DId you think of breaking the glass into tiny pieces afterwards and laying them into a new mosaic counter top as a keepsake for the homeowners...just kidding!

The afters look WAY better! Great job!

Apr 02, 2008 05:20 AM
Maureen Maureen
Orangeburg, NY

Janis - too funny!

Anthony -  Mirrors must have been a big trend by us at one point in time.

Karen -  thanks for stopping by.

Apr 02, 2008 06:26 AM
Mary Lou Teague
HOME STYLE AND STAGING LLC - Knoxville, TN
Home Style and Staging Knoxville. TN
Very Informative post, thanks for sharing, I have never come across that situation but glad to know that the wall can be removed for around $250.. that is a steal.
Apr 02, 2008 06:52 AM
Phyllis Pafumi
ReStyled to Sell Home Staging New Jersey - Old Bridge, NJ
ReStyled to Sell Staging Homes NJ

I have found lately that I am sounding like a broken record when I am speaking to clients about mirrors. The  one thing I keep reiterating is that the mirror keeps reflecting all their clutter. I also find it to be a very confusing room with the mirrors. Your work looks great.

Phyllis Pafumi

Apr 02, 2008 02:16 PM
Maureen Maureen
Orangeburg, NY
Pnyllis - me too, I guess it was an east coast thing. 
Apr 03, 2008 12:27 AM
Kathy Riggle
STAGING SMART N SOLD - Houston, TX
Houston Home Staging

All the after photos look so much better, Maureen. Thanks for the post on this topic.

Kathy

Apr 03, 2008 07:26 AM
Kristi Oliver
Atlanta Staging & Design - Atlanta, GA
Atlanta Georgia Home Stager
Wow, the rooms really look SO much larger!
Apr 03, 2008 07:34 AM
Jackson West
Reveal Estate Home Staging - Vancouver - Vancouver, BC

Those mirrors are Fantastic...at doubling the chaos and confusing the focal point.

Nice work here Maureen, the living room transformation is especially stellar. How did the homeowner react when they saw the walls after the mirror was removed? That adhesive looks pretty nasty! I often tell my clients that things are going to look worse before they look better. Send me the mirrors if you still have them so I can make some disco balls and start staging night clubs please.

Apr 03, 2008 03:51 PM
Maureen Maureen
Orangeburg, NY

Kathy - it may not come up as often in other areas but around here there are mirrors everywhere.

Kristi - They really do.

Jackson - I always prep clients, I work with a fantastic painter so it's not too bad.  The picture of that living room does not do it justice, it was a really fun project.   

Apr 04, 2008 12:49 AM
Rosemary Brooks
BMC Real Estate - 209-910-3706 - Stockton, CA
The Mother & Daughter Realty Team
Great differences, thanks for sharing.  It truly does make a difference.  Staging is good, but it is getting harder to sell it to the homeowners - with times being so hard these days.
Apr 11, 2008 09:25 PM
Kim Dillon
Creative Eye Home Staging - West Chester, PA

Maureen, it was great to get an idea of the cost to remove them.  I don't see them too often, but did recently and didn't address the issue.  Now I think I should have!

Kim Dillon, Creative Eye Home Staging

Apr 12, 2008 03:20 PM