Dear Leanne: I have plate mirrors in my bathrooms and am considering removing them for framed mirrors. The only reason I am doing this is for a more updated and sophisticated look. I actually love the effect the full mirror offers, so I am hesitant to change this. What are you seeing in bathrooms at the moment?

A: I know I have recommended removing these plate mirrors and replacing them with elegantly framed mirrors, but . I just came back from a trip and stayed in a fabulous new hotel in Vegas called The Encore. This suite encapsulated sophistication and luxury. Interestingly enough, they incorporated plate mirrors in the bathroom designs, with a few adjustments to the infamous, 1980s bathroom mirrors.

Rather than lighting coming above the mirror, the lighting fixture was drilled into the mirror on each side of the vanity. With the mirror now behind the light, the reflection expanded not only the view, but also the light.

This would best be done with the assistance of a professional, as you want to safely drill into the mirror and be sure that the hole lines up with the electrical outlet. You would need to pull electrical wiring from the existing outlet to the new side fixtures and finish the wall above. To complete the design, an opulent frame was attached to the mirror. The overall effect was fabulous!

Dear Leanne: We were wondering if you could help us with a design dilemma. We have just purchased a character home that we absolutely love.

Our challenge is the dining room. On one side of the room is a bank of bookshelves that spans the entire wall (right to left), but only goes to four feet in height. This home has dark wood floors, cream baseboards and cove mouldings. The bookshelves match the baseboards, but the solid cream wall unit looks out of place with formal dining furniture.

How do you create a formal dining room with this unit? We are worried about removing them as they are anchored onto plaster walls and have noticed hairline cracks.

A: Built-in wall units were noted but not considered the norm for homes built in the early to mid1900s. With the practicality of kitchen cabinets and bedroom closets, the concept of built-in storage made its way into the dining room. This came in handy as less furniture was required -a particular benefit during tough economic times.

This design element showed up in traditional-style homes and in designs inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright. The challenge was, and is today, to integrate visual appeal into the functionality of these storage units.

You need to consider a few points in this space:

1. Do you have space for shelves and your existing furniture?

2. Does the furniture block the view of the items on the shelf, rendering them difficult to access?

3. Is the bookcase causing the light fixture to be offset rather than centred above the table?

If you are not completely enamoured by the bookshelves, I would seek advice to have them removed. Consult with a plaster specialist, as they have likely experienced this type of query before.

If you can safely remove the units and repair holes and cracks, then you are free to decorate this space as you desire.

If you like the look but want to enhance its design appeal, then there are a few things that you can do.

Wall units such as these can showcase beautiful crystal or glass items. To provide the best contrast, change the colour of the units to a shade closer to your table.

If you have a mahogany table, for example, refinish the unit in a similar tone.

The unit will become a focal point, but now with a specific function: showcasing your beautiful glass and crystal (or other objets d'art).

Another option is to paint the unit the same colour as the walls. This minimizes the presence of the unit, allowing it to blend into the room. The trick now is to place on the shelves only those items that won't detract from the room's ambience.

These rooms also adapt beautifully to reading rooms or studies, so you may want to consider repurposing this space. Many home designs of this period have the living room and the dining room flanking either side of the front door. If both rooms are similar in size, consider switching them -make this room the living room and the other the dining room.

You can add mouldings and decorative edges to the top and front of the units if they are simple and utilitarian in design. Avoid overfilling the shelves, but use the space to display various items.

To balance your wall unit, select three prominent items you wish to display. Place one on an upper shelf on the right, one on the left and one on a lower shelf in the middle. Continue to fill in the shelves by working the complete wall.

Step back and make adjustments. When you add books to shelves, try to select spine colours that work well together and always leave breathing space.

Leanne Brownoff is an Edmonton interior design consultant who welcomes your questions at l ea nnebro w no f f @ s ha w. ca . Answers will be featured in her column, as high volumes prevent individual e-mail responses. Also follow her at t w i t t er. co m/ L ea nneB ro w no f f