dgsinteriors: DGS Interiors

Before the invention of the mirror, a fascination with all things shiny began with the dawn of man and woman, when they first espied themselves in a pool of water.

Chinese mythology says that an alternate world existed behind every mirror -- a world filled with fantastical creatures which easily traveled between the two worlds -- until they began to wreak havoc. The portal would then be permanently sealed.

An updated stainless steel take on a classic
Chinese chair by ACF China.

Sideboard by Julia Gray Ltd.

In Greek mythology, Narcissus, not realizing that he was seeing himself, fell in love with his own reflection.

Narcissus marble by
John Gibson, 1838.

Side table from Century
Furniture.

Grove nickel studded console.

Masters of the Surrealist movements from Jean Cocteau to René Magritte have utilized the mirror as vehicles to blur the line between dreams and reality.

Jean Marais in Cocteau's 1950 masterpiece, "Orphée"

"The Dangerous Liason"
by Rene Magritte

By Rene Magritte, 1937.

Perhaps the mirror's position as between dimensions continuously draws us to them. Do they exist merely to satisfy our vanity? to check for fly-away hairs? cat hair on our black jackets? to re-apply lipstick? Or are they meant to convey a truth in a much more profound and ethereal way?

I don't know.

Console from Neiman Marcus.

For me, I've always been drawn to mirrored furniture -- perhaps because I am a fan of Old Hollywood. The past, because it is no longer in existence...at least in our dimension...has a romantic appeal which the glamour of Old Hollywood certainly satisfies. It was all about vanity and, let's face it, most of us are vain.

Accent tables from
Neiman Marcus

Haute House Claire
Mirrored Ottoman from
Horchow.

Side table from Hooker Furniture.

Side table from Arteriors
Home.

Sophia Buffet at Macy's.

Designer tip #1: Less is more when it comes to bold statements like mirrored furniture; if overused, mirror pieces can easily spill over the border into "tacky-land". However, if you dare to make an over-the-top statement, do it with taste. And for that, you may need to consult a professional...with taste.

Designer tip #2: No mirrors on the floor or ceiling.

*Thanks to Jennifer Vandemeer for correcting my grammar once again.

"From my rotting body, flowers shall grow and I am in them and that is eternity." ~Edvard Munch

Wreath with Crows, $69

http://www.williamssonoma.com/

Midnight Wall Sconce, $49.95

http://www.zgallerie.com/

Bronze Catacomb Sign, $695

http://www.gothicroseantiques.com/

Pierced Floral Sugar Basket with Red Lining, Sale: $372.00

httpwww.horchow.com/://

Scull Soap, $6

http://www.theevolutionstore.com/

"Oh, may I join the choir invisible. Of those immortal dead who live again."

~ George Eliot, The Choir Invisible

Happy Halloween. Are you afraid of the dark? I'm not. In fact, at times, I consider the dark to be my friend and Halloween to be one of my favorite times of the year. Like many, I enjoy the costumes, artifacts, symbols; all the relative accoutrement's associated with the season of the witch. The seemingly dark aura that surrounds such a spooky and haunted holiday seems to infer that it is inherently negative and associated only with that which is evil. But, in fact, the history of the origins of this ancient post-summer celebration suggests otherwise.

Girl in Web. Primitive hand hammered iron stand, $95

http://www.gothicroseantiques.com/

The practice of All-Hallows-Even (evening) finds it's origin in the Celtic harvest festival of Samhain, the earliest association of which (witch) is found in the Catholic celebration of All Saints Day dating back to around the 8th Century. This practice was kept up in the 16th Century by the Gaels and the Celts in the British Isles. One of the most recognizable of objects associated with Halloween is the Jack-O-Lantern, which originally acted as a symbol in remembrance of souls held in Purgatory.

The more modern imagery of Halloween borrows itself from such Gothic Victorian novels as Frankenstein and Dracula along with many horror movies from the 1930's and 1940's.

Catrina
http://www.fuego718.com/

The celebration of The Day of the Dead or El Dia de Los Muertes begins it's festivities starting November 1st in many Latin American countries, most notably Mexico. It is also celebrated in South America and many Catholic countries in Europe as well. It is all at once a solemn and joyful event that basically focuses on the remembrance of family members who have passed on. Many family social gatherings take place during the two days of this holiday and include trips to cemeteries where their loved ones rest for eternity. The celebration of the Day of the Dead has gained much popularity here in the states, possibly due to the assimilation of said Latin cultures into ours as well as an evolutionary response to a puritan heritage never having engaged in such traditions.

Day of the Dead
http://www.fuego718.com/
(Located in Williamsburg, NYC)

Recently this curious cat crawled her way through the Internet and visited some of her favorite virtual haunts digging up a smattering of unusual and peculiar objects as well as some very cool home furnishings reminiscent of the spirit, imagery and colors of Halloween. You may fancy such curiosities as mere decorations to be enjoyed during the holiday that comes but once a year, or perhaps you are truly possessed by a lifelong fascination of the unseen and mysterious and have a need to outfit your home as such. I have included many symbolically inspired examples that serve to to evoke deep introspection with an invocation to revisit to the inner vaults of the mind.

I hope you enjoy the plethora of examples I have procured for you as potential inhabitants to reside in your three-dimensional abode. At any rate they are here to enjoy now as you can't take them with you and I doubt that Halloween is celebrated in the afterlife. I am going to assume that after we depart this life that we know, the big mystery is over. But who knows..maybe only the shadow..

Window treatment. To the trade
http://www.vollfischbacher.ch/

Linen upholstered wing chair, $1,898
http://www.anthropologie.com/

Pillow, $128
http://www.anthropologie.com/

Skeleton image on pillow. Download image for $1
http://www.etsy.com/

Valence, $32
http://www.shopplasticland.com/

Check out the hauntingly beautiful "Chair Series" from artist Pat Genova

http://www.patgenova.com/

"Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before." ~ Edgar Allan Poe

Little Lizzie Borden, $185
http://www.gothicroseantiques.com/

Talon Candlestick, Tall, $58

http://www.anthropologie.com/

“My mission in life is to make everybody as uneasy as possible. I think we should all be as uneasy as possible, because that's what the world is like.”

― Edward Gorey, Ascending Peculiarity: Edward Gorey on Edward Gorey

Firescreen, $370
http://www.horchow.com/

Black beaded trim. To the trade
http://www.kravet.com/

To the trade.
http://www.vollfischbacher.ch/

Black Crow Coir Mat, $27
http://www.uncommongoods.com/

Hand woven carpet

http://www.kravet.com/

Ghost Chair by Donghia. To the Trade

http://www.donghia.com/

Wall covering. To the trade.
http://www.leejofa.com/

Halloween Ghost - Needle Felted Miniature, $79
http://www.etsy.com/

Pair of Vintage Bergeres upholstered in Black patent leather
with white gesso finish. C. 1940
http://www.janshowers.com/

Hand-crafted witch black hat society purse, item# 180738217689, $65
http://www.ebay.com/

Italian marble coaster, $15
http://www.theevolutionstore.com/

Gelatin silver print of "The Unborn" by the great Gothic Surrealist photographer Clarence John Laughlin. It is signed by the artist.
http://www.stephendaitergallery.com/

Photography by Everett McCourt
http://www.everettmccourt.com/

Crystal Flower stems - black - set of three, $23.85
http://www.zgallerie.com/

Pere Lachaise Cemetary, Paris

I could not end this blog without mentioning that more black cats and dogs in animal shelters are less likely to be adopted and more likely to be euthanized than any other shelter animal. Animals are neither objects nor accessories, but I could not pass up the opportunity as an animal lover and activist to promote adopting a pet rather than buying

one.