Well, I personally love sparkle and glitz on a buffet or sideboard. I pull out silver, crystal and my silver chest which is black with an Oriental pattern. I think DRs and buffet/sideboards are the place that you can do the sparkliest, shiniest things without fear of overdoing.

On first glance and not being able to see the bottom of the buffet in your picture, those 2 candelabras really overpower the scene for me.

If your ceiling is nice and tall, like well over 8 feet, I'd hang the mirror up and down, the long way, over the buffet instead of width wise as it now is. Then maybe you could use just one of those very ornate candelabras.

Because the candelabras are so tall I think the mirror might look better if it were hung vertical rather than horizontal. Or maybe just hanging it about 6"-8" higher might be all you need.
I agree with teedup that the candalabras as they stand now are too much for the mirror and buffet. Beautiful, but too much.

The ceiling's are 9' & I'd be able to hang the mirror vertically w/o a problem & DH will gladly do it. The buffet has drawers down the center to the flr. & doors on either side of the drawers.

Too be honest I have no clue what to do w/ the candelabra's at all! Don't know where to put them or how to utilize them. All I know is that I really like them for some reason even though they are not typically my style. They could easily go back to the attic I guess. They can't go on the flr. because w/ the kids they're just a head accident waiting to happen.

I fear I will never have a place to put them but I just can't part w/ them.

I love the candelabras! They are smashing. It sounds like you don't want to put them away, I wouldn't. The only thing I ever do with buffets, as my own quirky rule, is to try to put some sort or runner on it. You are a fabric lover if I remember correctly? Maybe you have something good for a base.

Other than that, I am clueless for that stuff. Judithva always has wonderful tablescapes, might want to check out her post on the gallery side (but you probably already know this).

Can you take some vertical sections out of the candlestands to make them lower? I ask, because I didn't discover I could do that for many years after I inherited mine. At their present config, they look too big for the buffet and too tall for the mirror, at least as far as I can see in the pic.

I occasionally do a full-on silver and crystal display, but I find it more satisfying to have a simpler look day to day. I like to rotate things on and off every week or ten days. There's no way I'd get to see my stuff regularly if I didn't. Do you eat in the DR every day? If so, then a changing display will be most enjoyable and give a sense of daily pleasure that reflects the seasons.

To me eye, a copper bowl of bittersweet berries and brilliant maple leaves in October, or a milk glass cakestand of Easter eggs, or a silver loving cup of peonies in June, or even (as there is today) a simple plate of ripening pears is more evocative of my home than having a silver service, plus pieces of cut crystal with the Limoges bonboniere thrown in. Each of those has it's day, just not all at once, for to me it runs the risk of looking like a shop display.

Molly~

Since the mirror is wider than the buffet plus with the height of the candelabras, I think I'd try it vertically as well. And it would probably only take one candelabra that way. Why don't you try that and post the photo again.

I can see one of the ornamentals that Housekeeping suggested and the candelabra either with or without a runner.

It's been awhile but here is a pic of it propped up vertically. I figured I'd get opinions 1st before actually asking DH to hang it. Better?

{{!gwi}}

I was going to suggest hanging the mirror vertically, because the candelabra are too tall with it horizontal. But now that I see the mirror vertically propped there, I think it is too tall that way - it overpowers the buffet.

So, I wonder if you could re-hang it horizontally. Then, do the candleabra come apart in sections? I know my mom's sterling ones do, and you can use them in various combinations. I am thinking that if you could take out the middle section where the little curliques are sticking out and the acanthus leaf pieces are above and below, and then put the rest of it back together, it would adjust the height sufficiently to work with the mirror hung horizontally.

Otherwise, I am wondering if there is another wall that could use the mirror hung vertically, and just use a great piece of art over the buffet, and then the candleabra.

I think the mirror could be hung horizontally although it is wider, but I think the candleabra are too big for the space either way, and like Les, I am wondering if you can reconfigure them. I have some that can be reconfigured so as not to be so tall and then use them elsewhere. Or maybe just use one candleabra in the center since 2 this large are too much for the space. Have you ever put them on your table? I am just wondering how that would go?

Well ... my personal feel, since you love every piece, is that every piece can be used there effectively. However, i think the spacial relationships between the items should be shifted just a bit ...

I would raise the mirror quite a bit - several inches, at least.

I would move the candle sticks IN so they're more "weighted" towards the middle of the buffet, instead of on the edges.

Also, make sure the mirror will reflect the candles when lit. I would see how it looks with the bottom of the mirror roughly at the base of where the "arms" of the candelabra begin.

That's all i'd do!

:)

I'm not feeling those candeleabra's. I think they are just too big. Maybe on the table they would look better. They are pretty, don't get me wrong, just too big for your buffet.

Also, what if the candles were changed out to a darker color. Those of you who know these things, would the darker colors maybe tone the candeleabra's down so they don't look so huge? I'm thnking the darker candles and the the candleabra's on the table might work.

And one more thought .... do you have two chairs that you could put on both sides of that buffet? I think this would sort of "widen" the lower "tier," assuming there's enough space for that to not look cluttery and as if too much furniture is stuffed into the room.

The candelabra's don't come apart. One of the few Bombay pieces that DIDN'T require assembly! Ha! Ha! I can take the candelabra's back to the attic. The mirror is only temporary until I can find a piece of art that is reasonably priced & that I know I will use in the next house.

I do have 2 chairs that I could put on either side of the buffet if I put the mirror horizontally again.

Okay - I will try these suggestions.

Thanks!

Before retiring the candelabras to the attic again, why not give it another try with the mirror hung horizontally, but a good bit higher so that the candles will be reflected, and then place a single candelabra in the center of the buffet. Artful stacks of books on either side of the candelebra could balance the display. And maybe change the candles to a warmer color that tones with the candelabra.

I love the candelabras.

I would just do a flat mat in between them. In Holland they do this thing where they lay small oriental rugs on the top of buffets and tables. I could really see one between your candelabras. But since that may be hard to find, maybe a tapestry?

Just a different idea here -- I do like the vertical mirror and the candleabras -- and I think the mirror will reflect the new chandelier very nicely too!

Please don't put the candelabras in the attic - you love them! Hang the mirror much higher horizontally keeping the candle parts in the mirror reflections, change the candles to a warmer darker color - even change them seasonally , and put a chair on each side of the buffet for balance. Add a beautiful runner or tapestry draped on the surface of the buffet and it would be stunning.
We should all display the things we love. You won't enjoy them in the attic - unless you have a private serene place up there just for you!

I second magothyrivergirl suggestions. I think the chairs will add a nice balance to even out the scale of the large candelabras.

I LOVE the mirror vertically with the candelabras! I tend to favor out-of-scale arrangements, though. I think they can look smashing, as long as not *everything* in the room is out of scale, but rather one piece or one wall with super large items.

The lines on those candelabras are just beautiful.

Put the mirror vertically but only 1" above buffet; then use candlelabras. For the holidays place a beautiful fabric draped across the buffet. Perhaps a great looking cut crystal bowl in the center.

Waterford

I like the miror but I'd hang it horizontally...and find other candleholders to use in front, not those. Sorry, but when I love something, I know it immediately. Maybe your quandry about where to use those candelabras is that you don't love them after all.
Susan