
Refurbish an antique mirror with Ginger Coffer Designs
Ginger Coffer, founder of Ginger Coffer Designs, specializes in refurbishing antique and new mirrors, drawing inspiration from various sources to create unique home décor pieces. Coffer frequently scouts estate sales and garage sales, particularly in areas like Uptown New Orleans, to find mirrors with potential. She focuses on pieces that are well-priced and can be transformed into something exceptional through her design process. Her work is inspired by the 18th-century French trumeau mirror, blending classical and contemporary aesthetics. This involves using custom-painted frames and adding bronzed architectural elements such as medallions and crests, all within a subtle color palette of neutrals, taupes, and dusky blues. An example of her creations includes a faux-antique mirror featuring speckled glass contrasted with a clean wood frame, and a small mirror with baroque curlicues ascending from its upper margin.
Coffer's venture into mirror refurbishing originated from a personal need to find specific mirrors for her home. Unable to locate the ideal French antique trumeau mirrors, which are often expensive and rare, she decided to create her own. Her background, influenced by her engineer father's DIY ethos, encouraged her to research ornamentation suppliers and collaborate with a carpenter for frame assembly. This initial project was so successful and enjoyable that it became an addiction, leading to custom-built mirrors adorning every room in her house. Friends and family were impressed by her creations, prompting her to take on commissions for others.
Coffer advocates for the strategic use of mirrors in home decoration, highlighting their ability to enhance a space visually. She notes that while art is a common choice for wall décor, a combination of art and mirrors can be more effective. Mirrors are particularly useful for bringing light into a room and making smaller spaces feel larger. However, she cautions that mirrors placed too high on walls might not achieve this expansive effect. She recommends positioning mirrors to reflect beautiful objects, such as chandeliers or distinctive furniture pieces, thereby maximizing their decorative impact. This approach can also be used to create a focal point in a room with a large mirror or to avoid merely expanding a space if that is not the desired outcome.
Since establishing her business in 2009, Coffer has developed a consistent creative process. She acquires mirrors or frames, which are then sent to a carpenter for cutting or reassembly with new frames and hardware. She personally handles the ornamental additions, painting, and finishing touches in her garage or backyard. Her design ideas are diverse, stemming from online platforms like Pinterest, decorating magazines, modern art, and the architectural richness of New Orleans. A significant portion of her work involves custom orders, as clients often require mirrors of specific sizes for particular spaces. This allows her to bring clients' visions to life, leveraging her New Orleans upbringing and its vibrant artistic and architectural environment.
Beyond mirrors, Coffer has expanded into furniture restoration, successfully upcycling pieces such as a vintage drop-leaf table transformed with a refinished surface and colored legs. She also refurbished metal candleholders, applying a textured painting technique to give them a snow-covered appearance. These refurbished items are showcased and sold at Vita, a boutique on Metairie Road owned by her friend Erin Ewing. This collaboration provides Coffer with a platform to display her work, attracting customers who appreciate the blend of fashion, art, and home furnishings. For Coffer, the primary motivation is the creative fulfillment derived from her projects, focusing on achieving the perfect finish, molding, paint color, or embellishment. She views each mirror frame as a work of art, emphasizing her passion for the creative process over the commercial aspects of her business.
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