Dressing Mirror with Storage Cabinet (OneConcept)
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I received this product at no cost for evaluation and review purposes. I had been looking for a stand-alone bedroom mirror for months but could not find anything that would work with my traditional decor. When I saw this new product from OneConcept I could hardly believe it, from the photo it promised to be absolutely perfect … and it is! Mine is called Patricia, the other two variations are slightly different but just as pretty.
The armoire was carefully packed inside a double cardboard box and it was very easy and quick to put together, although two people are required. There is a clear assembly manual in English and German. An Allen key and all necessary mounting bolts and washers are provided, as well as a key to lock the storage cabinet. All you need is a Phillips-head screwdriver. The two side pieces are connected with a crossbar and a dowel, and the mirrored cabinet is then suspended by means of two decorative screws. Once the holding frame was assembled, the base of the feet seemed poorly machined as the whole thing wobbled (you can see the amount of clearance from the floor in the photo with the ruler). |
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However, with the weight of the cabinet in place, the wobble disappeared and the mirror now sits quite solidly over its shaped feet. The lockable door opens to reveal an intricate assortment of small compartments, hooks, notches and divided shelves, all lined in black velvet-like fabric. At the top, a discreet recessed LED light comes on automatically when the door is opened and switches off when the door is closed. There is a permanent OFF option as well. Two AAA batteries are needed (not included).
The interior of the cabinet was designed to organize and display a huge amount of small objects, jewellery, necklaces, earrings, brooches, ribbons, bows, hair clips or whatever you choose to store there. Any woman's dream! This is one of three similar designs, and I love its elegant bas-relief scroll moulding at the top and the bevelled edges. The cabinet pivots over its axis and can be secured in any one of four positions by inserting two wooden dowels in pre-drilled holes, giving different inclinations. Although not hugely wide, the mirror is very long and gives a perfect full-length view to check yourself after dressing. It would make a gorgeous addition to a bedroom, dressing room, landing or foyer. Although modern in look, it has a classic appeal and I think it would look great in a variety of settings. |
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Louisiana Bamboo Kitchen Cart (Klarstein)
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For some reason I really like the look of slatted doors, so this handsome cart appealed to me immediately. It is small enough to fit easily in most rooms, but can hold a surprising amount of stuff and it looks even better in person than in the photos.
The top measures 24” x 16” (or 60 cm x 40 cm) while the main cabinet is slightly smaller. At a height of 3 feet (91 cm), including the wheels, it is exactly the same level as my other kitchen island, and provides a very useful working surface. It's made of bamboo, which is a great eco-friendly material, and it is light enough but also quite solid. The finish has a slight tendency to splinter - as I found out when we put it together. I love the locking option on the casters, it actually works and keeps the cart steady when parked, but also easily moveable. As a long-time graduate of the IKEA school of furniture assembly, I found the building process easy enough. As usual, the main thing is to identify the various components and hardware, and follow the general sequence. This is facilitated as each component is numbered and cross-referenced, although the drawings are a bit too small for my ageing eyes. It took me a good hour, going slowly, but I found that everything was machined accurately and fit together. The screws for the drawer handles were too short but I had something suitable on hand and made it work. I really like how the various sections are designed for different functions. The bottom compartment is fronted by slatted doors which close with a magnet. You can pile a lot of stuff inside, I was quite surprised. The sliding basket is great for fruit and vegetables, but also for those awkward pasta or rice packets that don't stack very well in a cupboard. There is a shaped rack for five bottles and, above it, a shallow drawer where I like to keep small items such as garlic press, tongs, mixing spoons, spatulas, rolling pin, and the like. Once assembled, everything works, the drawer slides easily (unlike some I could mention), the doors hang straight and lock securely, the basket runs as it should. A good quality, very useful piece of additional furniture that would look equally good in a kitchen as in a dining room. I was sent this item for the purposes of evaluation and review, and am delighted with it.
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