Glamour, reflected
Furniture covered in mirrors or made from metals polished to an I-can-see-myself sheen may seem like the height of vanity, but it can also be as practical as it is glamorous. Consider these upsides: * Reflective pieces redistribute the colors, patterns and textures of room decor, so you don’t have to look for furniture that matches floor and wall coverings. * While heavy, solid objects take up space, shiny surfaces and mirrors make small areas look larger. * The looking-glass look isn’t just for Deco and disco fans; now it comes in a wider range of styles. * Throw out the coasters. With mirrors and metal, you’ll never have to worry about water rings again. * When it comes to upkeep, Windex beats wax any day.
Hollywood high
This dapper dresser, clad in mirrors with mitered corners and standing on tapered wooden legs, looks clean and weightless despite its size. To soften the hard geometry of this contemporary nod to streamlined, midcentury design, add a polished chrome ball lamp or matte-white vases with prominent shoulders. Three-drawer Brighton mirrored dresser, $4,400; 1970s polished chrome lamps, $1,150 for two; silver-leaf tray, $125; vases, $35 to $45. Mecox Gardens, Los Angeles, (310) 358-9272.
French twist
Inset mirrors embellish an update of Empire and Louis XVI styles on a bench that looks luxe as a living-room ottoman or a dressing-table stool. The brass nailhead trim on this petite seat as well as the champagne interior found in a generously scaled, highly reflective mercury glass vase prove that silver and gold can get along. Upholstered bench, $775; vase, $125; mother of pearl tray, $275; faux bronze Chihuahua, $95; onyx votives, $30; moss spheres, from $28. Mecox Gardens.
Industrial modern
The counterweighted reading light, a machine-age design, achieves the appearance of sculpture in polished nickel, making it a standout in the living room, library or office. A sleek reimagining of a sturdy wooden chair in polished aluminum is equally at home with a stainless steel desk or a glass dining table. Pharmacy floor lamp, $875, at Mecox Gardens; Philippe Starck for Emeco Hudson chair, $969. Design Within Reach, Los Angeles, (323) 653 3923.
Bracing Minimalism
Adhering to the basic aesthetic of the Bauhaus, an early 20th century movement emphasizing functional forms, this 1963 table by Los Angeles designer Charles Hollis Jones is a timeless example of symmetry. The clear tabletop almost disappears, creating the illusion of free-standing rectangles in gleaming metal. Box Line nickel and Lucite accessory table, $1,400. L.A. Moderne Antiques, (310) 360-1656; Crystal rhinoceros figurines, $150 each, at Mecox Gardens.
Midcentury Neoclassic
Bucking Buck Rogers futurism, 1950s designers reinterpreted traditional shapes with decorative elements -- like the beveled antique mirrors on this cocktail table -- that define the contemporary version of Hollywood Regency. Mirrored vintage cocktail table, $7,500; Tommi Parzinger silver-plate bowl, $1,350; candlesticks, $1,400 a pair; flower compote, $2,650; candle holders, $1,050 a pair. Dragonette Decorative Arts, Los Angeles (310) 855-9091.