all mirrors can double the size of the room

Press, 10 May 1979, Page 11

all mirrors can double the size of the room

Covering a wall surface with mirrors lends a look of elegance to a room, frequently giving an effect of spaciousness you can get no other way. By reflecting light and the images of surrounding walls, ceiling, and furnishings, these tile mirrors can brighten a room and — visually — double its size. The type of mirror most easily installed by homeowners comes in about 30 cm square size, 3 mm thick. They are available in both plain and decorative (usually gold-veined or smoky) finishes. Decorative squares are more expensive than plain ones. In each box of mirror

squares, you usually will find a sheet of small, double-edged tape squares used for installing them. Peel tape squares off this sheet and press one about 2.5 cm inside each corner of a mirror square. Then remove the covering paper on each tape square and press the mirror to the wall.

But be sure to position mirror squares carefully — once they adhere to “ the wall, they are difficult to remove. If you have to remove a misplaced square, insert a straightedge under the square near each piece of tape and gently prise up. To cut mirror tiles, you will need a crayon or grease pencil, a straightedge, and a glass cutter (available from a glass dealer or at a hardware store).

Straight cuts are easy to make, but do not try to remove less than 5 cm because the glass may break unevenly; have these narrow cuts made by a professional glass cutter. Using the crayon, mark the two edges of the glass

where you want to make the cut. Hold the straightedge firmly against the glass, between the two marks.

Then, squeezing the glass cutter firmly between your second finger and thumb, draw the cutting wheel across the surface of the glass, guiding it against the straightedge and pressing just hard enough to score the glass. Do this only once per cut. Then place the mirror tile on a table so that the scored cutting line is directly above the table’s edge. Hold the largest section against the table top and, with the other hand, firmly grasp the tile on the other side of the cutting line and snap downward. If the tile was properly scored, the break should be clean.

Regular mirrors are generally thicker, larger, and therefore considerably heavier than mirror tiles, and certainly more expensive. For these reasons, it is best to consult a professional glazier before you decide to use them.