Dear CityLine,

We have two problems which we are hoping to solve with one project.

1) a lack of light with our northern view from the living/dining room.

2) a very plain pass-through from the kitchen   

We cannot enlarge the pass-through because we would lose the little kitchen cabinetry we have.

PROJECT

– mounting different shapes and sizes of mirrors above and around the pass-through to reflect more light back into the room.

1. Do you have any advice or resources to suggest?

2. Do you have some different ideas?

Thanks,

Jeanne (pictured, above, with husband Bent and Mary Dobson)

Response, from guest expert Mary Dobson:

There are quite a few challenges with this opening. It is low on the wall, rather small and in a north-facing room that could use more light. Making the opening larger is not an option as there are cabinets on the other side of the wall that are needed and therefore can’t be removed.

One option would be to cover the entire opening and place a large mirror on that wall to take advantage of the light that does come in. Another would be to build in cabinets on that wall to create more storage and integrate the opening as part of that. The simplest option is to create some height above the opening with a series of mirrors to heighten the opening and again, bounce some light into the space.

Mary’s design drawing: