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Good morning! Happy Wednesday!
Today I would like to talk about one of my favorite rooms in any house…the kitchen. Have you noticed over the past 10 years, maybe longer, that kitchens have evolved to a higher level of beauty? No longer is it just the functional room where we prepare food and bake the occasional batch of cookies or birthday cake.
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Don’t get me wrong, we’re still performing those tasks, and the kitchen remains the hub of the family for most of us…but boy, has it been elevated to so much more. It now warrants a specific decor.
I love this design transformation. I like the idea of one more room in the house that can reflect personality and livability with style, all the while retaining it’s official duty as sustenance central, counselors office, coffee shop and all round work room.
So, its no surprise that I love the unexpected addition of mirrors and paintings that you find in so many kitchens that grace the internet as well as magazine pages. Why not?! Although there are a few mirrors in locations that make me wonder how often the window cleaner comes out from beneath the sink to shine the glass!
This is one of my favorites, this kitchen appears to be smallish, but the mirror and light fixture gives it style and elegance.
The juxtaposition of a nod to industrial style while hanging a vintage/antique portrait painting, lovely.
I really like the looks of open shelving with a little painting, or two….so pretty and adds so much interest to the kitchen.
This kitchen is a little busy for me, but I love the Hermes lamp and the art on the easel at the end of the room.
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Isn’t this the greatest mirror for a kitchen? Notice the clock in the top of the mirror? I also like the refurbished vintage stove.
And last but not least, have you seen these mirrored subway tiles? How great would these be in a kitchen, if you could keep them free of water spots. 🙂
Do you have a mirror or painting in your kitchen? What do you think of the idea?
Thanks for stopping by, it’s always nice to chat. ♥ Karen
Garden, Home & Party 
Brenda Kincade said:
I love mirrors in kitchens!
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Karen B. said:
Brenda,
Me too!
Thank you for stopping by.
xo,
Karen
Victoria • Restoring our Victorian said:
It won’t surprise you that I am TOTALLY in the mirror-in-kitchen corner… and I like those mirrored subway tiles. (There is a bath I love them in… sort of a small/half bath, makes the room really glam but also seem bigger https://www.pinterest.com/pin/172403491959245139/ )
But over stove/sink I think a flat sheet of glass would be way easier to clean– those beveled edges look like the LAST thing I’d want to keep clean… Maybe when I get a maid?
Karen B. said:
I was going to say, you’ll have people that do that for you! hahaha. I saw a bathroom with Ann Sacks mirror tiles the other day (can’t remember where) and they were made to look like old mirror. Very cool. I guessed they were out of my budget! Karen
On Wed, Feb 18, 2015 at 6:49 AM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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Fran Baker said:
I like art and mirrors in a kitchen….I have a framed art print hanging on one side of my island and on one tall narrow wall space a free form display of plates.
Karen B. said:
Fran,
I have a piece of art on a wall on the far side of my kitchen, too. I wish I had more wall space for additional pieces, but it’s a small kitchen.
Thanks so much for stopping by.
Karen
Teresa @ Splendid Sass said:
I LOVE mirrors in the kitchen. I always think about how I would keep it clean, but I love mirrors behind the stovetop! The art is beautiful too.
Gorgeous post, Karen, and that is one of my favorites too.
Teresa
Karen B. said:
Teresa, I think it might be easier to wipe down a mirror than worry about grease splatter getting on a painting, but I still love the look. xo, Karen
On Wed, Feb 18, 2015 at 7:42 AM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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Vicki said:
This is a pretty look. The mirror with the clock is perfect for a kitchen. My parents installed mirrored backsplashes in their kitchen. They have clerestory windows above the cabinets, so the overall effect is very light and pretty.
Karen B. said:
Vicki, That sounds really pretty. I like the light mirrors reflect in a kitchen. Our kitchen is short on wall space. I do have a painting on one end of the kitchen, but no room for a mirror. xo, Karen
On Wed, Feb 18, 2015 at 8:34 AM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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msshe said:
Karen, I have used both in my kitchens. At a previous house I used a mirror over the sink to act as a window, since it was on an interior wall. Worked great to bounce the light around! Like your post! Sheila@mykentuckyliving
Karen B. said:
Sheila, Did you wipe it down each day? I wonder if I would go crazy with the amount of splatters that I would generate each day. I do love the idea of a lovely mirror replacing the feel of a window. Good idea. xo, Karen
On Wed, Feb 18, 2015 at 4:01 PM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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msshe said:
No…no wiping every day. Try Invisible Glass, a windshield cleaner! Sheila
Chronica Domus said:
I may be the lone voice here not liking mirrors in the kitchen, a room I see as purely for cooking and not preening. Don’t misunderstand, I enjoy a good looking kitchen that has been well thought out, and beautiful finishes, but I can’t warm to the idea of hanging a mirror in there too. As you already mentioned, cleaning some of those reflective surfaces would be quite the job, with no end in sight.
Karen B. said:
CD, I understand. I did hear from one reader that said she hung a mirror over her sink in one house because the sink was on an interior wall. That makes sense to me. I don’t think I’d use the mirror for looking at myself as much as reflecting light in an otherwise small, less than well-lit kitchen. Preening? That made me crack up. It takes all of my focus to follow recipes and prepare meals, I can’t imagine stopping to notice my harried self in the mirror! 🙂 Hahaha. Karen
On Wed, Feb 18, 2015 at 8:47 PM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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D'Arcy H said:
You must be reading my mind, as you’ll find out in one of my upcoming posts! Of course, my photos won’t be as grand. 🙂 I have to say, I don’t get the mirror above the stove or sink … it would need cleaning ALL the time! I really don’t want to watch myself do dishes or slave over a hot stove!! (But I do wish that vintage stove were in my kitchen.) –D’Arcy
Karen B. said:
D’Arcy, I love those old refurbished stoves. I have a friend that bought one, they are not inexpensive. I wish I had saved my grandmother’s old stove. Ha. I hear you on the location of the mirrors. I stupidly bought a stainless steel stove when we remodeled our kitchen with a black stove top. Talk about trying to keep a black car clean…throw grease splatters on it! I’ll look forward to your upcoming post…as I always do. 😉 xo, Karen
On Wed, Feb 18, 2015 at 9:43 PM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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Angela said:
Beautiful images–thank you.
The 5th post can be attributed here. I’m not affiliated, but rather am an avid fan:
http://www.mcalpinetankersleyblog.com/2013/12/17/kitchen-staff/
Karen B. said:
Angela,
Thanks so much for giving me a link to the picture. I’ve corrected the source info in my post. That site, finding home, is that yours? I have saved it and will go back and read more.
Thanks too for stopping by.
Karen
Angela said:
Most welcome, Karen, and I stumbled upon that site when remodeling my kitchen a few years ago. I love art in a kitchen. I spend too much time in mine not to incorporate some beauty in it. All of your images above are great examples–thank you for the eye candy!
Angela
Leslie Harris aka Gwen Moss said:
Karen I can’t believe I’ve never seen most of these images. I’ve always been a fan of seeing artwork strategically placed in a kitchen, but never thought of utilizing a mirror–especially in a poorly lit kitchen like mine. Hmmm you’ve got me thinking. Although I wince at the idea of a lot more wiping I would be willing to overlook for the beauty. Thanks for an inspiring post as usual!
Karen B. said:
Hahaha, I am so OCD I’d be constantly wiping down a mirror, which wouldn’t be bad over a sink, but those over a stove…not sure I’d want that task. There is an image that most probably have seen before—it’s the Lisa Luby Ryan mirror in a kitchen and it’s probably my all time favorite dream kitchen. Thanks for joining in the conversation, Leslie. Have a great weekend. Karen
On Thu, Feb 19, 2015 at 10:40 PM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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Nella said:
Karen, I love art in the kitchen…and have used it in mine…a small vintage painting of sheep behind my stove top, and a larger one of cows on a larger wall….mirrors look beautiful as well, but not sure I want to invest the time keeping them sparkling…great post, again! Thank you!
Karen B. said:
Nella, I love sheep or cows in a kitchen, especially vintage paintings. While I wouldn’t want the task of keeping a mirror spotless, it can add some light if one had a dark kitchen. I really liked the mirror with the clock in it, probably an antique. Thanks for stopping by. xo, Karen
On Fri, Feb 20, 2015 at 10:29 AM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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kristywharvey said:
Hey Karen! I love open shelving. Adding a painting or mirror is a great idea! And those subway tiles? WOW! Loving them!!! I hope you’re having a great week. Much love to you!!
Karen B. said:
Hi Kristy, I know the mirrored subway tiles could be really effective in the right spot. I also saw some antique (looking) mirrored tiles in a bathroom that were fabulous. Have a great weekend, my friend. xo, Karen
On Fri, Feb 20, 2015 at 1:26 PM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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Linda Coble said:
Hi Karen,
Loved these images. Since I spend so much time in the kitchen, I’m all for making it homey and welcoming. As you know, I have a rather large display of decorative pitchers and teapots in my own kitchen. While I’m not against having a mirror in the kitchen, I wouldn’t want one above a sink or (especially) a cook top. I’d be cleaning it all the time! I love the use of beautiful framed art, however, and it’s easy to keep clean. My copper pots and pans are safely hung above a granite countertop where I don’t have to worry about spatters. I know . . . I know . . . I’ve become too practical for words!
Taylor Greenwalt said:
I love art in the kitchen…wish I had a place for it in my own kitchen…
Karen B. said:
Julie, Same with my galley sized kitchen. I do have one wall that has a painting on it, still some of this open shelving with little oil paintings are so appealing. Enjoy your weekend. xo, Karen
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cindy hattersley said:
I loved this post!! I think it is because we “live” in our kitchens now. There are more and more open floor plans where the kitchen is combined with the living and dining space. We want the space to be functional but personal. I love the look of a mirror over a stove but I am way too messy a cook for that look!!
Karen B. said:
Hi Cindy, I too am way too messy to enjoy a mirror over the stove, but maybe the kitchen sink would work. Especially if there wan’t a window over the sink. You’re right, our kitchens are open to the living spaces of a home, it makes sense that we would want that area to mirror the style of the rest. xo, Karen
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Karena said:
Hi Karen,
These kitchens all just make me feel god, they are so personal. The art, mirrors and artful accessories make them standouts! Right up my alley!
xoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena
Karen B. said:
Karena, I agree, there is something so appealing to a room that has more than just functional items, but items that reflect the owner…it is right up your alley. 🙂 xo, Karen
On Tue, Feb 24, 2015 at 9:24 AM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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Gretchen said:
As much time as we all spend our kitchens I think they should be as inviting as the rest of the house. I’ve always felt that well placed accessories can really inhance a kitchen. I love the idea of a mirror in a dark kitchen where it can act as a window – how clever!
Karen B. said:
Gretchen, Yes, I wish I would have thought of that when we lived in Texas, our kitchen could have used a mirror! xo, Karen
On Tue, Feb 24, 2015 at 3:49 PM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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The Lady's Life said:
Great pictures. I love mirrors. I like how they twinkle, and I like how they magically make a space larger, and I like how they bounce light all around a room, and reflect the outdoors. I like that the frames add some architectural interest to a room too. When I don’t know what to do with a wall, I put a mirror on it. Lol! I’m thinking about mirroring my backsplashes in the kitchen, but haven’t gotten around to having the glass company come out and tell me how many zillions it will cost. I love the subway tiles, but I’d have to investigate if/how they caulk/seal between them. I think just butted together there would be a strong likelihood of getting a lot of gunk in between. So pretty though. xo, N.
Karen B. said:
Nina, Have you seen the glass tiles by Ann Sacks. I wish I had saved the link to the image I saw a few weeks back. The mirrored tiles were made to look old and the tiles were over a bathtub. It was stunning. I’m with you, the mirrored subway tile could be more of a headache than a joy. I always try to weigh issues like “maintenance” with beauty! Hahaha. xo, Karen
On Thu, Feb 26, 2015 at 8:30 AM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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The Lady's Life said:
I probably have, because I think I know the one you’re talking about–but now I’ll have to go over to Pinterest and see if I can find the photo. 🙂 I do love that look, and I also pin just about every image I find with mirrored glass door panels. Lol, maybe I’m just a Magpie, and like things that sparkle!
Karen B. said:
Sparkle is good!
On Thu, Feb 26, 2015 at 10:02 AM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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