Explore a mirror framed in laminated ash plywood

Laminated plywood is not a compromise here, it is the right material for the job. Thin layers of ash are bonded with the grain of each layer running across the one beneath, which produces a panel far more stable than a single piece of solid timber of the same thickness. It will not cup or split as the seasons change, and it allows the 90 x 60 cm frame to stay slim while remaining rigid enough to hold the glass true.

The surface keeps a natural finish, so the pale, straight grain of ash is left visible rather than stained down. Ash is one of the lightest-toned hardwoods in common use, and that brightness is what makes this ash mirror suit rooms built from white walls, raw linen and blond timber. The edge of the plywood is part of the design, showing the stacked layers as a fine striped detail.

Where to hang it, and what it pairs with

The mirror arrives with fittings to hang it on the wall, so no additional bracket is needed; you supply only the fixings suited to your wall construction. At 90 x 60 cm it works in either orientation. Hung landscape above a console or a chest of drawers it widens the wall; hung portrait in a cloakroom or beside a door it gives a head-and-shoulders reflection at a comfortable height.

Because the frame is ash in a natural finish, it sits more quietly beside pale oak and painted surfaces than a dark hardwood would, and it reflects rather than absorbs the light in a small room. The piece can be combined with the rest of its collection, which makes it straightforward to repeat the same laminated plywood detail across a hallway or a bedroom. Keep it clean with a dry or barely damp cloth on the timber and a separate glass cloth on the mirror.